Retro Fabric of the '70s

Colors

• While the 1960s introduced a wild color palette of shocking pink and lime green, the fabrics of the 1970s toned down the spectrum by using muted earth tones. Many are familiar with the "harvest gold" and "avocado green" kitchen appliances that manufacturers offered during the decade. These drab hues -- brown, green and gold -- also appeared in home furnishing and fashion fabrics in solids, paisleys, geometric and color-blocked prints.

Textures

• Fabric designers of the 1970s used fabrics with nap. Corduroy, velour and fake fur fabrics enjoyed widespread popularity during the decade. Many retro 1970s sofas were made of green, gold, red or purple velvet. Many a "bachelor pad" in the 1970s had a dark brown velour sectional on the shag carpeting in the living room. Macrame accessories, such as plant hangers and wall hangings, added interest in earth tones of brown, orange, yellow and olive green.

Prints

• The home decor fabrics of the 1970s featured a diverse range of prints. The repetitive, geometric pop-art prints of the 1970s gave the decade a modern feel, and cute mushroom- and daisy-themed prints dominated the era's kitchens. The iconic yellow smiley face first became popular during the 1970s. Many home decorators accessorized with patchwork country fabrics, and the tie-dye craze of the late 1960s continued to influence fabrics into the 1970s.

The Look

• Putting together a 1970s retro room starts with a wall-to-wall shag carpet, geometric-patterned vinyl tile flooring or a "Rubik's Cube" area rug. A gold velvet sofa with a smoked glass coffee table and a pair of brown recliners help create the look of the 1970s. In the kitchen, orange woven placemats with brown owl-print napkins and brightly colored daisy-print curtains help carry the theme from room to room.