The 1970s was a decade that didn’t know the meaning of the word “subtle.” It was an era defined by bold experimentation, where interior design involved as much hair as the people living in the house and technology was beginning to shrink just enough to fit into our wood-paneled dens. For the average family, the list of must-haves was a strange mix of high-tech dreams and low-tech comforts, ranging from revolutionary kitchen gadgets to rocks that were sold as domesticated companions.
Looking back, it’s easy to giggle at the color palettes and the abundance of synthetic fabrics, but at the time, these items represented the height of modern living. Every one of these must-haves tells a story about a world that was moving away from the rigid structures of the ’60s and leaning into a more relaxed, “groovy” lifestyle. Whether you were rocking a mood ring or heating up a fondue pot, these 20 staples were the essential ingredients for a perfect 1970s home.
1. The Pet Rock
In 1975, Gary Dahl became a millionaire by selling a product that literally grew on trees, or rather, sat on the ground. The Pet Rock was the ultimate “no-maintenance” companion, coming in a cardboard carrier with breathing holes and a manual on how to teach your rock to “sit” and “stay.”
2. Bean bag chairs
Before ergonomic office chairs were a thing, the bean bag was the ultimate ’70s floor seating that prioritized “cool” over actual back support. They were notoriously difficult to stand up from gracefully, often resulting in a slow-motion roll onto the carpet, but they were the perfect spot for a long afternoon of reading comic books.
3. Platform shoes
Not just reserved for the disco floor, platform shoes were a daily must-have that added a few extra inches of cork or wood to everyone’s height. Whether you were rocking bell-bottoms or a midi skirt, these towering shoes were the definitive fashion statement that made every sidewalk feel like a catwalk.
4. Fondue sets
Entertaining guests in the ’70s almost always involved a communal pot of melted cheese or chocolate. The fondue set was the social centerpiece of the decade, though many of them eventually ended up gathering dust in the back of the pantry once the novelty of dipping bread into hot Gruyère wore off.
5. Mood rings
Before we had apps to track our stress levels, we had heat-sensitive liquid crystals on our fingers. The mood ring was a massive fad that promised to reveal your inner emotions based on color changes; blue meant you were relaxed, while black meant you were probably just cold.
Trending on The Scroller
6. Wood-paneled station wagons
The “Family Truckster” aesthetic was the peak of 1970s automotive luxury, featuring faux-wood vinyl siding that supposedly made a car look more sophisticated. These massive vehicles were the kings of the suburban driveway, often featuring rear-facing seats where kids could wave at the cars behind them.
7. 8-track tape players
Long before the cassette took over, the 8-track was the cutting-edge way to bring your music into your car. The most annoying part of this “must-have” was the loud clack the machine made mid-song as it switched programs, often interrupting the best part of a guitar solo.
8. Waterbeds
For a few years, sleeping on a giant bag of water was considered the height of ergonomic luxury and “cool.” While they were famously difficult to get out of and could potentially flood your apartment, many people swore by the heated, wave-like motion for a better night’s rest.
Sign up for our newsletter
9. Electric popcorn poppers
Before the convenience of microwave bags, these self-stirring machines were a Friday night staple that turned every living room into a mini movie theater. The rhythmic sound of the kernels hitting the plastic dome and the smell of melting butter was the universal signal that it was time for the family to gather around the TV.
10. CB radios
“Breaker, breaker 1-9!” Following the success of movies like Smokey and the Bandit, everyone wanted a CB (Citizens Band) radio in their car to talk like a trucker. It was the original social media, allowing strangers to chat over the airwaves using secret “handles” to hide their identities.
11. Crock pots
The slow cooker revolutionized the American kitchen in the ’70s, promising a hot meal for working families without any effort. It was the first “set it and forget it” gadget, and by 1975, it was estimated that over 80% of American households owned one.
12. Tufted crushed velvet sofas
If your sofa wasn’t made of a fabric that looked different every time you brushed your hand against it, you were doing the ’70s wrong. Crushed velvet in deep reds or mustard yellows provided a heavy, luxurious look that was surprisingly durable, though it was a magnet for pet hair.
13. Rotary phones in “Harvest Gold”
While the phone itself was an old invention, the ’70s introduced the “designer” colors that matched your kitchen appliances. Having a wall-mounted rotary phone in Harvest Gold or Avocado Green was the ultimate sign of a coordinated, modern home.
14. Disco balls (the home version)
As the disco craze swept the nation, many people tried to bring a bit of Studio 54 into their own basements. Small, motorized disco balls were sold in department stores, allowing you to turn your Saturday night party into a shimmering light show with just a flip of a switch.
15. Tupperware “Fix-N-Mix” bowls
The 1970s was the peak of the Tupperware party era, and the “Fix-N-Mix” bowl was the holy grail of food storage. These massive, colorful bowls with the “burping” seal were essential for making the era’s famous (and often bizarre) Jell-O salads.
16. Blacklight posters
If you wanted your bedroom to feel like a portal to another dimension, a blacklight poster featuring fuzzy velvet textures and neon colors was essential. These posters transformed standard basement walls into glowing works of art, often featuring psychedelic landscapes or popular rock bands that only truly “came alive” once the lights went down.
17. Leisure suits
The leisure suit was the ’70s answer to “business casual,” replacing the stiff wool suit with stretchy polyester in shades of baby blue and mint green. It was designed for the man who wanted to go straight from a day at the office to a night on the dance floor without ever having to change his wide-collared shirt.
18. Polaroid SX-70 cameras
This folding camera was a marvel of 1970s engineering, allowing families to see their photos develop right before their eyes in a matter of minutes. There was a unique magic in the ritual of the square photo popping out of the front and the frantic (though unnecessary) “shaking” of the picture to help it develop faster.
19. Atari 2600
Released in late 1977, the Atari 2600 brought the arcade experience into the home and changed the face of entertainment forever. With its wood-grained console and simple joysticks, it turned living rooms across the country into competitive arenas for pixelated games like Combat and Pitfall.
20. Sun-In hair lightener
For anyone dreaming of a “California beach” look without actually going to the ocean, a bottle of Sun-In was a bathroom cabinet staple. You’d spray it on and sit in the sun, hoping for golden highlights but often ending up with a very distinct, 1970s shade of bright orange that served as a rite of passage for many teens.
Want more nostalgia?
Looking back at these vintage must-haves reminds us that the 1970s was a decade that truly embraced fun and individuality over boring minimalism. While we might not want to bring back the waterbeds or the wood paneling, there is no denying the tactile charm of an era that wasn’t afraid to be a little weird. If you enjoyed this groovy trip through time, be sure to check out these 18 Things 70s Parents Let Kids Do, or these 20 of the Weirdest Looking Cars From The 1970s. You may also enjoy these 19 Wildest Celebrity Parties of the 1970s and 1980s.
