Flash Back With Far-Out Items That Were in Every 70s Home

Want something gaudier than McDonald's Grimace character, but that is just as magnetic? Look no further than 70s décor. From the stylish prisons that were papasan chairs to putting avocado on your appliances and not on your toast, these are a few of our favorite 70s decorations that definitely need to make a comeback.

Avocado belongs on toast....but does it belong on the toaster? In the 1970s, the toast was more likely to go into something avocado than to contain it as a spread. Among a myriad of earth-tone colors, avocado green was universally acknowledged as the best choice.

And why wouldn't it be? Any kitchen item or appliance that could have a touch of color was coated in avocado green. Toasters, knives, blenders, coffee pots, silverware, dishes, and oh-so much more. Things didn't stop there, either. Carpets, furniture - avocado green was all the rage. It was décor virus that nobody wanted to cure until the 70s ended.

On those cold winter evenings when your bladder absolutely won't let you sleep, you can't help but wish you could warm your tootsies on the cozy toilet rugs from your childhood. In the 70s, if you wanted to update your bathroom without spending more than a handful of car change, you could just switch out the color on your matching shag toilet seat covers and bathmats (sounds super sanitary, right?).

Where-oh-where has the colorful bathroom décor gone? We'd like to take a moment of silence for the many bathrooms completely covered in shag carpeting (oh god, the WALLS) that were absolutely wrecked by the mold colonies that moved in. That bathroom trend can and should stay in the past.

Papsan chairs were to the 1970s what waterbeds were to the 1980s: awesome in theory but totally terrible. These bed-sized circular cushions sat precariously on the small drum-sized base and looked so inviting. Who wouldn't want to take a spin in a chair where you could curl up like a contented cat?

But getting in and curling up wasn't the problem. With our lack of cat-like reflexes, it was the hope of ever getting out. One wrong move, and you had an injured ankle that was stuck between the frame and base, along with a face full of shag carpet. But we'd be lying if we said we wouldn't still take our chances in one today.

Wood wall hangings. Fuzzy stools. Dish towels. If it could have a mushroom on it, then it had to have a mushroom on it. Why were mushrooms all the rage? Take one look at the *cough* recreational activities *cough*, and it's not a too big of stretch to see why people were inspired by good old 'shrooms. These shroom-tastic decorations gave you and your friends' houses the ultimate mad-cap vibes.

Shag carpeting wasn't just for the bathroom - it was for everything! If you had allergies in the 70s, then you'd rather gallivant around town than stay indoors.

The reason? That dust and dander-infested shag carpeting. Granted, it was awesome feeling the plush piles cushion your stride, but it was truly impossible to clean. Only in the 70s would people have created a trend that made their lives more difficult.

Crochet exploded in the 1970s, with its craft-oriented style and bright array of colors. Everyone had an aunt or cousin who could whip them up a beautiful crochet afghan in an afternoon. Getting sleepy in front of the Saturday morning cartoons? Just reach back behind you, and there's a vibrant and well-loved granny square blanket for you to cover up with. And these handmade blankets were just one of the many vintage household items to come out of 1970s.

Wood paneling was the shiplap of the 1970s. Every trendy home's walls were decked in mid-tone wood panels. And we're not talking about a rustic cabin in the woods type of style; no, we're talking "one too many cigarettes and this thing goes up in flames."

The thin, artificial-looking veneer darkened innumerable 70s rooms - and sometimes even the ceiling. All the better to show off the avocado or bright orange-colored shag that inevitably accompanied it.

Hide 'n seek was just as fun in the 70s as it is today, and you've got those massive, heavy tapestry curtains to thank. Looking back, it's no wonder everyone in the neighborhood had a pair of printed floor-length heavy curtains hanging from every window. With that wood paneling, there just wasn't that much to look at. But, they made for an awesome hiding spot, and for that, we think you should say goodbye to those wispy fashion curtains and bring back the drapery of old.

Boldly printed tissue box covers and cozies were the definition of volun-told décor in the 1970s. You couldn't possibly leave a tissue box uncovered in a respectable suburban home. It'd absolutely ruin that Mother Earth vibe the middle-class parents on the cul-de-sac were going for. Instead, your tissue boxes (and practically every other exposed surface) needed a cozy cover.

Today, bedspreads are super tame in comparison to their 70s predecessors. So you thought Vera Bradley paisley prints from the 2000s were busy. Just take one look at a floral comforter from 1974. The brighter the colors and the more pain inducing the print, the better. And while they don't quite match the ultimate beige look of homes today, they do bring out that giddiness of childhood with a single glance.

Who needs a stable, hearty piece of furniture you could pass down for generations when you can get a flimsy piece of furniture that stabs you and disintegrates after a few years? Wicker was king in the 1970s. Whether it was wastepaper baskets or outdoor lawn chairs, it needed to have that hand-crafted look. And who cared if was comfortable so long as it looked cool? But the joke is on you because original peacock chairs from the 70s are worth far more today than any unbreakable dinner table your grandparents ever had.

If you grew up in the 70s, we bet you've still got a sizable record collection. Any respectable music lover's house had to have at least one record holder. Though, the more racks of records you had, the more cred you could get at the Record Bar. From simple metal trays to absolutely massive cabinets, your prized record holders aren't such a thing of the past anymore if today's vinyl sales are anything to go by.

Needless to say, a dinner spread in the 1970s wasn't complete if the ashtray didn't sit right beside the butter dish or casserole. Just like parents before them, practically everyone in the 70s smoked…something. And, with all that wood paneling, you had to put those ashes somewhere. Thankfully, there were glass ashtrays at every five and dime, and souvenir ones perfect for sending to those distant cousins you weren't really close with.

Growing up in the 1970s, decorating your first home felt like such a colorful adventure. You won't find a speck of harvest gold or avocado green splashed across modern kitchens, but that shouldn't stop you from bringing some 70s joy into your 21^st century home.