Color Recall: The 1970's

Installment number three in my mother's 'color recall' series, in which she remembers the colors of her decades and I then share how to incorporate the colors in modern decor....

COLOR RECALL

There were two colors hard to avoid in the 1970’s:  orange and yellow...

via art skool damage


image via retro renovation

They spread their citrusy cheeriness in home décor and clothing and just about everywhere.   Perhaps people were sick of the dull gold, avocado, and rust of the previous decade and chose these two colors to represent a new outlook on life.  

Vintage 70's Dress via Etsy

I always liked orange, but apparently it didn’t like me.  I proudly wore an orange pure silk blouse with beige lace trim on an excursion with a single friend of mine.  She kept asking if I was feeling well and my eldest daughter said I looked yellow.  In later years when I had my colors done in the “are you a summer, spring, winter or autumn?” era, I found out that orange, along with camel, were my absolute no-no’s and I haven’t worn either color since.  

via zoe zombie

Orange as a home accent is forever etched in my mind  because of the home of an acquaintance.  She lived in an elegant, but rustic A-frame home in a heavily wooded development in southern Virginia.   One evening, my husband and I were invited to a party at her house.  She answered the door looking terribly sophisticated in an orange silk halter top and skimpy white shorts (I was jealous!)-- large orange and turquoise beads circled her neck.

via color lovers

She led us into her open living-dining room area where the color orange literally coruscated from silk pillows, dinnerware, glasses, and fruit bowls.  A wonderful mobile with shiny orange objects dangled gracefully from the high ceiling.  It was impossible to be in a bad mood in that room, mostly because of her graciousness and the warmth emanating from the color orange. 

via flikr

via art skool damage

Returning to my earlier mention of the other 70s color, yellow-- I have to say it was not my favorite, but there were, of course, yellow objects in my home at that time.  I had to keep up with the trend.    

-Sandy Tuberson 

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Thanks again mom for another fun post! I think I know which decade I like the best...bring on the orange, yellow and chrome. Below are some modern interpretations of 70's use of bright color...

If too much orange is overwhelming, why not add just a splash on the ceiling...

Lynn Amon

Or maybe you want to spice up your dining area...

unknown (please leave a comment if you know the source)

via Elle Decor

Did you know Farrow & Ball, a wonderful eco-friendly paint source, came out with a new color this year???? It's called Charlotte's Locks and it is possibly the most gorgeous shade of orange...

image via Farrow & Ball

And lastly I can't forget yellow! My first home was painted bright yellow through out and it always looked cheerful. 

A bright yellow living room looks more current than ever, as evidenced in Rebecca Robertson's living room featured on Martha Stewart...

image via Martha Stewart

I don't think you could ever be down coming home to this...

image via Scandinavian Retreat

I could go on and on, but I shall stop here as I plan on revisiting color in future posts. I have always loved color and will be sharing pictures of my first home with you all, as soon as I digitize them. My family referred to it as the citrus house, as yellow, touches of orange and bright lime permeated throughout my home with turquoise and navy accents. Needless to say it was a cheerful home!!! 

Hope you all have a wonderfully warm and colorful week!! xx Danielle