Retro Thursday: 1970s Kitchen

After the 1960s, kitchens began to change a bit. The oven and range became one unit instead of two separate appliances. Instead of tile countertops like before, people used Formica counters in the 1970s. The popular colors of the 1970s were also different from before. Kitchens were shaded in outdoorsy or “earthy” colors like avocado green, burnt orange, or harvest yellow. Appliances were shaded with colors like these as well. Cabinets were wood that was usually stained with a dark brown. It was also popular for cabinets not to have door handles. 

Below is a picture of a 1970s kitchen. As you can see, the cabinets are a dark brown color. The range and stove are one unit. The harvest gold color is being used in this kitchen as well. The kitchen counter is Formica. Everything is matching which was a popular feature in 1970s kitchens.

Here you can see the harvest gold color again. The laminate floor was popular in the 1970s.

Here is an example of an avocado green kitchen. The color extends from the countertops to the oven/range and the hood. Also, the dark brown cabinet color is not only on the cabinets; check out the microwave!

The cabinets are beginning to be a little bit lighter into the late 1970s. Check out the avocado green carpet in this kitchen!

Here is an example of the red copper color used in some 1970s kitchens. This looks like a combination of a 1960s and 1970s kitchen with the brick wall and wood cabinets from the sixties and the harvest gold countertops and wall paper and patterned flooring from the seventies. 

Although the 1970s were a change from previous decades, this is the type of kitchen that a lot of this generation’s parents probably grew up in and remembers. A lot of kitchens today all have so many similarities because everyone wants to have the latest models of everything like granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. In the 1970s, people attempted to be unique and original in their kitchens and you don’t see a lot of that today.

Pictures are courtesy of uglyhousephotos.com.