8 home features from the ’70s that were ahead of their time

The ’70s gets mocked for avocado appliances and shag carpet, but not everything was a miss. Some design choices from that decade were actually smart—and many are making a comeback today.

Open Floor Plans

Knocking down walls wasn’t common before the ’70s.

That’s when open layouts started showing up in suburban homes, and the idea stuck. The flow between kitchen, dining, and living areas is still one of the most requested features in modern builds.

Energy-Efficient Windows

The energy crisis of the ’70s pushed homeowners to look for better insulation.

Double-pane windows became popular, and they remain the standard today. They keep homes warmer in winter, cooler in summer, and save on bills—proof that not all ’70s changes were bad.

Skylights

Adding natural light from above became trendy in the ’70s.

Today, skylights are still a smart upgrade when you want more daylight without sacrificing privacy. The designs are better now, but the original idea was ahead of its time.

Earth Tones

While avocado green was overused, earthy palettes weren’t wrong.

Warm browns, beiges, and terracottas created cozy interiors. Those shades are back in style now, proving that the ’70s had a point when it came to grounding a space in natural colors.

Conversation Pits

Lowered seating areas looked funky, but the goal made sense: creating a cozy, social space.

Modern designers are reimagining this with sunken lounges and built-in seating that feel fresh. The idea of designing rooms around connection was a good one.

Solar Panels

Solar technology took off in the ’70s.

Even though it wasn’t efficient back then, the fact that people were trying to harness renewable energy decades ago shows how forward-thinking it really was. Today’s solar panels are more advanced, but the roots go back to that era.

Sliding Glass Doors

Bringing the outdoors in was a big theme of the ’70s.

Sliding doors opened homes to patios and backyards, and that lifestyle-driven feature is still desirable today. It made sense then and makes sense now.

Indoor Plants as Decor

Houseplants boomed in popularity during the ’70s.

Macrame hangers may have dated, but the idea of filling your home with greenery never did. Indoor plants remain one of the most affordable and effective ways to make a house feel alive.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.