Bedrooms of the 1970s Revisited

A nostalgic look back at the decor trends that defined the decade

Mar. 18, 2026 at 10:03pm

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House Beautiful magazine's archives offer a glimpse into the distinctive bedroom designs that were popular in the 1970s. From avocado green color schemes to bold floral patterns and four-poster beds, these retro spaces capture the eclectic and vibrant aesthetic of the era.

Why it matters

The 1970s was a pivotal decade for home design, as homeowners embraced more expressive and personalized styles that moved away from the more formal and restrained looks of previous eras. Revisiting these archived bedroom designs provides insight into the evolving tastes and cultural influences that shaped residential interiors during this transformative period.

The details

The featured bedrooms showcase a range of 1970s design elements, including floral chintz fabrics, bold color palettes, rustic Americana influences, and creative use of textures like shag carpeting and flannel upholstery. Designers also experimented with unconventional bed frames, such as faux-bamboo four-poster beds and carpeted platform beds. Many of the spaces also incorporated eclectic mixes of antique and contemporary furnishings to achieve a warm, lived-in aesthetic.

  • The bedrooms were featured in House Beautiful magazine between 1970 and 1979.
  • The earliest featured bedroom was from the April 1970 issue, while the latest was from the January 1979 issue.

The players

House Beautiful

A longstanding American home design magazine that has chronicled interior design trends and styles since 1896.

Joseph Braswell

A designer whose work was featured in the April 1970 issue of House Beautiful.

David Eugene Bell

The Director of Interior Design for Bloomingdale's in New York, whose work was featured in the August 1971 issue of House Beautiful.

Rosemary Robinson

A designer whose work was featured in the August 1972 issue of House Beautiful.

Renny Saltzman

A designer whose work was featured in the September 1974 issue of House Beautiful.

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What they’re saying

“Snow white—lots of it—crisped with cool blue, green, and the tangy zest of citron.”

— Lester Grundy, Editor

“Cheerful! [It] reflects a yearning that city slickers often have for life in the country.”

— Editor

“Frankly feminine" is how he described the primary bedroom: "Giving the bedroom an unexpected scale, the ersatz four-poster hung with a hushed floral chintz and lined in a brilliant cyclamen pink.”

— Lester Grundy, Editor

The takeaway

The archived bedrooms from the 1970s showcase the decade's bold, eclectic, and highly personal approach to home design, which marked a significant departure from the more restrained aesthetics of previous eras. These vibrant spaces offer a nostalgic glimpse into the evolving tastes and cultural influences that shaped residential interiors during this transformative period.