The 1970’s Living Room

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hey, everybody, and welcome back to Oh my God, the seventies.
Sorry I have to change that up every time and
make it interesting. But anyway, let's talk more about the seventies.
First of all, I want to apologize I still have
a very hoarse voice from the flu. But anyway, we

(00:25):
talked last time, it's getting fun. Now. We were talking
about avocado appliances in this nineteen seventies kitchen, and we're
gonna step away now from the kitchen and we are
going to enter the living room. It was the undisputed
social hub of the era. We're gonna forget the sterile,

(00:47):
minimalist living spaces that are popular today because the nineteen
seventies living room was let's say, vibrant. It was often chaos.
It was just an explosion of color, lots of texture
and personality. And it was definitely interpreted through the lens

(01:12):
of shag carpet. And we're going to go back to
the macroma wall hangings. So let's picture this. The room
is dominated by a massive, plush sectional sofa, usually in
a bold pattern think swirling florals or geometric designs, in

(01:36):
lots of earth tones, often a rich brown, mustard yellow
or burnt orange. This wasn't just a place to sit.
It was a statement, for sure, a statement to the
decades embrace of comfort, casual living, and socialization. We're gonna

(02:00):
forget about delicate, spindly legs. These sofas were built to
withstand family gatherings. They were close to the floor. They
were for impromptu parties and the occasional impromptu nap after
a particularly potent batch of homemade sangria. The arrangement of
the furniture was less about fung shue and more about

(02:23):
maximizing space for maximum lounging. It didn't matter if you
walked in the door and walked directly into the back
of the couch. No, it was more about maximizing space
for maximum lounging. Coffee tables were typically very low to
the ground, offering often featuring glass tops and chunky wooden bases,

(02:46):
perfect for displaying those ubiquitous ash trays that were brimming
with half smoked cigarettes and scattering of coasters featuring questionable artwork.
These load tables, coupled with the sprawling sectional, created a relaxed,
informal atmosphere. Let me tell you really quick a story

(03:09):
about a particularly square, sharp edged coffee table. I was
a little girl. I was in my cousin's finished basement,
featuring a huge bar, a massive pool table, and of
course the ever present picture of Farah Faucet in her

(03:35):
rust colored bathing suit. Mm hm. Anyway, I was crawling
up or standing on the top of a chair, and
this very rude boy that lived next to my cousins
came and shoved me because he thought he was cool. Well,
he shoved me right off the chair. I fell back

(03:55):
and hit my head on the corner of one of
these very low, very sharp square coffee tables. Well, of
course I cracked my head open, and what ensued was
a very traumatic ride in the car to get several
stitches in the back of my head. So I don't

(04:16):
really like those seventies coffee tables. But anyway, the seventies
living room was the epicenter of family life. This was
long before the ubiquitous presence of televisions in every room.
The living room was where families gathered, where board games
were played, where albums were listened to, and where the

(04:37):
most important conversations unfolded. It served as a stage for
everything from intense debates about the Watergate scandal to hushed
whispers about the latest episode of Happy Days. It was
a space where generational gaps were bridged, or, perhaps more accurately,

(04:58):
where those gaps were occasionally viihilated by a clash of
differing musical tastes. Of course, no nineteen seventies living room
was complete without the obligatory shag carpet. These weren't just carpets.
They were statement pieces, fluffy, thick, and often in a

(05:18):
color that dared to clash spectacularly with the rest of
the rooms. Decor imagine the deep swirling pile, a visual
trap that swallowed errant toys. I think about matchbox cars
and lost socks with equal enthusiasm. The practicality of shag

(05:42):
carpets might be debatable, but their contribution to the overall
nineteen seventies esthetic is undeniable. They added a layer of
texture and visual warmth that complemented the most opulent furnishings,
offering a soft, yielding surface upon which to sprawl and unwind.

(06:03):
Cleaning them was another matter entirely, but who had time
for that when there was a party to prepare for.
Then there were the walls, often adorned with macrimae, wall hangings,
intricate tapestries depicting scenes from nature, or abstract geometric designs.

(06:23):
These weren't mere decorations. They were works of art in
their own right, hand crafted with pains taking attention to detail. Macrama,
with its intricate knots and textures, perfectly reflected the hand
crafted bohemian spirit of the era. Alongside macromay, you'd find posters,

(06:43):
often featuring iconic rock stars or psychedelic artwork, adding a
vibrant splash of color to an already saturated palate. This
was a generation that wasn't afraid to express themselves, and
their living rooms reflected that rebellion spirit. The lighting, too,
played a crucial role in shaping the mood of the

(07:06):
nineteen seventies living room. Instead of harsh overhead lighting, there
was a presence preference excuse me, for softer, warmer alternatives.
Lava lamps, with their mesmerizing, bubbling lava cast an ethereal glow,
creating an almost hypnotic ambiance. Floor lamps with large sculptural

(07:29):
shades provided ambient lighting, while smaller table lamps, often with
fringed or beaded shades, added a touch of elegance. The
aim wasn't necessarily to illuminate the room fully. The goal
was to create a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere where conversations could
flow easily and spirits could soar. Beyond the major pieces,

(07:53):
the nineteen seventies living room was littered with an array
of smaller yet equally important accessories. Plants, real and artificial
were popular, contributing to the sense of the casual atmosphere.
Potted ferns and ivy draped from hanging baskets, while plastic

(08:14):
plants in vibrant hues added a splash of color to
shells and corners. These plants weren't just decorative, they reflected
a burgeoning environmental consciousness, an awareness of the need to
connect with nature in an increasingly urbanized world. The record

(08:34):
player sat proudly in a corner, a testament to the
decades's love affair with music. Stacks of vinyl albums with
their bold cover art served as both musical libraries and
decorative elements, adding a personal touch to the room. And
let's not forget the ever present aroma of incense, a

(08:57):
constant reminder of the era's exploration of spirituality and alternative lifestyles.
The air often hummed with the scent of pachuli, sandalwood,
or a heady mix of both, adding another layer to
the living room's already complex century sensory experience. The nineteen

(09:21):
seventies living room is a kaleidoscope chaos reflected in generations
embrace of individuality and self expression. It was a space
of comfort, conversation, and collective experience where family and friends gathered,
shared stories, and created memories that continue to resonate today.

(09:43):
While the avocado appliances may have been replaced by stainless
steel and the shag carpets traded for hardwood floors, the
essence of the nineteen seventies living room lives on a
place when, a reminder of a time when homes were
more than just spaces. They were living, breathing expressions of

(10:05):
the people who inhabited them. Thank you so much for
tuning in, and we'll see you next time.