15 Pieces of Furniture Everyone Had in the ’70s
A wild mash-up of shag carpets, bean bags, and waterbeds, 1970s furniture turned every home into a groovy, laid-back playground of bold colors, funky shapes, and unapologetic comfort.
- Alyana Aguja
- 5 min read
The 1970s were a heyday of daring, eclectic furniture that defied boundaries between function and style. From shag carpets in plush fabrics and modular sectionals to rattan peacock chairs and Lucite tables of the future, each piece spoke volumes of laid-back living and expressive individuality. This was a decade in which houses were transformed into groovy sanctuaries — cozy, funky, and unapologetically cool.
1. Papasan Chair
Image from Ubuy Philippines
From Southeast Asia, the papasan chair was a staple of 1970s boho style. Its large, bowl-scaled pillow and rattan construction made it the ultimate reading/lounging chair or listened-to Fleetwood-Mac chair. The chair’s earthy, nature-inspired look was in line with the decade’s appreciation for natural textures and relaxed feel.
2. Bean Bag Chair
Image from Next Direct
Initially becoming popular in the late ’60s, the bean bag chair burst into mainstream living rooms in the ’70s. Filled with polystyrene beads and upholstered in vinyl or shag, it reflected the youth culture’s rebellion against stiff, formal furniture. Simple to plunk into and haul around, it was a standard in rec rooms and children’s bedrooms.
3. Waterbed
Image from Mr Waterbed
Invented by Charles Hall in 1968, the waterbed reached the height of popularity in the ’70s as a badge of modernity and sexual freedom. Padded and fringed with vinyl or wood headboards and mirrors, these beds were half fashion statement and half sleeping space. Lemming-like, despite the constant leaks and heat problems, became a far-out necessity.
4. Macramé Plant Hangers
Image from Simply Frayed
Although not technically furniture, macramé plant holders were so common that they became part of the visual furniture environment. Crafted from cotton rope, the holders supported spider plants and pothos in every sunny nook. They symbolized the period’s acceptance of do-it-yourself culture and indoor plants.
5. Modular Sectional Sofa
Image from Ubuy Philippines
The sectional modular was the solution to a new type of social living room — flowing, casual, and conversation-oriented. These low-to-the-ground, overstuffed sofas covered in corduroy or velour upholstery could be reconfigured to accommodate parties, family movie nights, or Sunday afternoon napping. Roche Bobois was at the forefront of bringing this concept into a modernist classic.
6. Conversation Pit
Image from Wikipedia
While more of an architectural feature, sunken living room seating, usually custom-designed, operates similarly to gigantic furniture. Shaggy, bright upholstery cushioned these pits to accommodate entertaining friends over cocktails or fondue. Intimacy and flow were the goals, eschewing the stiff formality of previous decades.
7. Lucite Coffee Table
Image from Designers Collection
Lucite (acrylic glass) created a sense of light and space that made Lucite coffee tables very popular in the 1970s. Most commonly combined with chrome or brass trim, they were futuristic-looking and trendy. They complemented the period’s dark wood paneling and shag carpet well.
8. Wicker Peacock Chair
Image from eBay.ph
Spread by pop culture and numerous album covers (recall The Addicts or Rolling Stone photo shoots?), the peacock chair was a sign of counterculture hip. Constructed of woven rattan or wicker, with an exaggeratedly tall, flared back, it was like a throne for the artistically inclined. It was exotic and slightly theatrical — ideal for making a visual splash.
9. Shag Carpet (Wall-to-Wall or Rugs)
Image from This Old House
Again, not furniture exactly, but shag rugs were so thick and ubiquitous they basically qualified as a furniture layer. Burnt orange, avocado green, and goldenrod were among the deep-pile carpets available in these colorways of the era. They padded hardwood floors and were frequently accompanied by bean bags or low-slung sofas for optimal loungeability.
10. Space-Saver Dinette Set
Image from Shopee Philippines
Small and normally round or oval, pedestal-based dinette sets arrived as the standard for informal 1970s kitchens. Usually constructed of Formica tops and vinyl seats in brown tones, they were made for functionality and aesthetic appeal. The rise of eat-in kitchens rendered the piece a convenient fixture in middle-class residences.
11. Pole Tension Lamps
Image from Decade Five
These floor-to-ceiling, adjustable lamps with multiple cone-shaped shades were not only functional but also groovy. Frequently set in corners or behind sofas, their directionally adjustable heads could provide ambient or task lighting. With brass, chrome, or even avocado green finishes, they illuminated the decade — literally and aesthetically.
12. Faux Wood Paneling Furniture
Image from Shopee Philippines
Dressers, desks, and entertainment centers covered with faux wood veneer (usually particleboard underneath) were affordable ways to achieve a “natural” appearance. Sears and Montgomery Ward sold entire bedroom or living room sets with this laminate surface. It might have been imitation, but it was a hallmark design choice of the time.
13. TV Console Cabinet
Image from Ashley Furniture PH
Prior to flat screens, televisions were huge furniture pieces frequently housed in walnut or mahogany-style cabinets. Consoles, which contained speakers or record players, frequently served as credenzas or sideboards for decoration. TV viewing was a family ritual, and the console was the living room’s media altar.
14. Rolling Bar Cart
Image from Ubuy Philippines
With cocktail culture in high swing and entertaining at home increasing, the rolling bar cart was a far-out necessity. Typically chrome or brass, with mirrored or glass shelves, it held decanters, highball glasses, and maybe even a bottle of Galliano. It was the sign of sophistication — and a party.
15. Hanging Egg Chair
Image from Sika-Design.eu
A swiveling icon of space-age style, the suspended egg chair was hung from the ceiling or a stand, providing an intimate, cocoon-like atmosphere. Frequently constructed of molded plastic or wicker with a cushioned interior, it was futuristic but warm. These chairs converted a corner of the house into a personal retreat — ideal for playing vinyl or fantasizing.