'70s Retro Decorations

Black Light

• A black light is a special bulb that uses fluorescence to make objects look like they're glowing, according to the GE Lighting website. Black lights were especially popular in the 1970s. They do not offer much ambient light, which means they cannot light a hallway or make a stairway safe. Although they were often reserved for parties back in the day, you can use them just about anywhere and anytime today to create the mood you want. Combine a black light with a lava lamp for a very 1970s look. Or use a black light to illuminate movie or '70s pop posters.

Bean-Bag Chairs

• Bean-bag chairs became popular in the 1970s. A bean-bag chair is a vinyl bag filled with small, hard pellets. The result is a bag that engulfs you when you sit in it. Bean-bag chairs were popular in dorm rooms throughout the 1970s and 1980s. One drawback was that the insides often spilled out because too many people jumped or fell on them. This is why the bean-bag chair you find at the vintage store probably has gray duct tape over one or more torn seams.

Space-Age Furniture

• The 1970s was the decade immediately following the first successful flight to the moon. One of the furniture trends that started in the '70s was space age. It was minimalistic, with straight lines and thin cushions. If you are looking for 1970s retro decorations, there is no mistaking an end table or couch from the 1970s.

Beads

• Many an apartment in the 1960s had beads hanging in doorways and against windows. But this trend persisted into the 1970s and became associated with the 1970s as a retro decoration.

Mirrors

• In the '70s, mirrors on walls and ceilings were popular, as were revolving disco globes. The globes were covered in mirrors and were fixtures in discos and dance clubs. To use a disco ball as a '70s retro decoration, hang it from the ceiling, allow it to spin, and shine a white light on it. The light will bounce off the mirrors and hit the walls in a variety of colors.