Wood surfaces, plush sofas, warm bright shades, and patterned wallpapers – the cozy atmosphere of the 70s is back. We picked our favorites from the design treasures of the decade. Enliven your home with a hint of nostalgia!
Luster of brass
The sculptural appearance, geometric shapes, and shiny details describe the features of the 70s lighting. Gubi’s Multi-Lite is originally from 1972 yet it enjoys great popularity in today’s homes. Designed by Louis Weisdorf, the floor lamp brings variety to the space – it reflects light up, down, and to the sided.
• Gubi's Multi-Lite floor lamp >
• All floor lamps >
Flying glass art
Did you know that Oiva Toikka's iconic glass birds date back to 1972? The first Flycatchers were made depending on the color of the glass mass available at the moment. Over the years, Toikka’s mouth-blown glass birds have become beloved gifts and desirable collectibles. The newest members of the bird family are the Flycatcher made of recycled glass and the Amethyst Bird 2021.
• Iittala's Birds by Toikka Flycatcher >
• All art glass >
Soft embrace
The round, soft curves are common in the design of the era. The Pacha lounge chair is a delightful creation of Pierre Paulin from 1975. Paulin's idea was to bring people closer to the floor and guarantee a relaxed sitting position. The plush appearance and the clean-lined silhouette suit well also to a contemporary interior.
• Gubi's Pacha lounge chair >
• All armchairs >
A spot of color
Green, orange, and yellow — vibrant colors weren’t avoided in the 70s. The Danish icon from 1972, Panthella table lamp, delights with a simplistic design and acrylic material and finds its place in both retro-inspired and Scandinavian homes. Verner Panton's Mini table lamp is available in a bright orange shade spreading the retro style.
• Louis Poulsen's Panthella Mini table lamp >
• All table lamps >
Hunger for nostalgia
A table setting is an effortless way to bring personality to everyday dinners as well as celebrations. The Esteri pattern by Esteri Tomula was introduced in 1973 in honor of the centenary of Arabia, and its decorative floral pattern adds the trends of the 70s to the table. Today, the beloved ornament brings joy on modern dishware and kitchen textiles.
• Arabia's Esteri serving platter >
• All tableware >
The Finnish classic
Many of us remember certain objects from childhood, and in addition to their aesthetic value, they are associated with a lot of nostalgia and emotions. One such object is definitely the Pässi by the Aarikka, which symbolizes Finnish perseverance. Designed by Kaija Aarikka in 1973, the wooden Pässi figurine is nowadays one of Aarikka's best-known products. Unpainted wood represents a typical characteristic of the time.
• Aarikka's Pässi figurine >
• All decorative objects >
Bold patterns
The products in Marimekko's Kaksoset series are decorated with a spectacular feline print that charms with contrasting, natural tones. Textile designer Maija Isola designed the Kaksoset (“Twins”) pattern during her career as a painter back in 1970, when she often created both painting and fabric design on the same subject. The bath towel is made of soft cotton terry.
• Marimekko Kaksoset bath towel >
• All bathroom textiles >
The real eye-catcher
The Tatu table lamp by Santa & Cole represents the Spanish pop culture of the 1970s. André Ricard found inspiration for the lamp published in 1972 from an airplane reading light – it allowed him to read without disturbing his sleeping spouse. Made of ABS plastic, the Tatu consists of three reversible sections that can be easily adjusted according to your needs.
• Santa & Cole's Tatu table lamp >
• All lighting >
Ergonomic design
In the 1970s the ergonomics took a turning point and more and more attention was paid to the shapes of furniture. Among others, the pioneer was Yrjö Kukkapuro who wanted to combine the ergonomics that support the body with timeless aesthetics and ecology. Created in 1969, the Remmi lounge chair features high-quality leather upholstery and an elegant steel frame.
• Yrjö Kukkapuro's Remmi lounge chair >
• All chairs >
See also:
• All furniture at Finnish Design Shop >
• 1960s decor delights with round shapes and bright colors >
Text: Sarianna Määttänen Images: Manufacturers