Remember when having a microwave made you feel like you were living in the space age? Or when ordering a shrimp cocktail at Denny’s felt like the height of sophistication? The 1970s were a magical time when our definition of “fancy” was charmingly simple, and honestly, a lot more attainable than today’s luxury standards. Looking back, it’s amazing how impressed we were by things that now seem pretty basic—but maybe that’s what made those times so special.
1. Shag Carpeting Throughout the Entire House
Nothing said “I’ve made it” quite like wall-to-wall shag carpeting in harvest gold or burnt orange. We thought we were living like Hugh Hefner with those deep, luxurious fibers that felt so plush under our bare feet. The deeper the pile, the fancier it seemed, and if you had it in your bathroom too, well, you were practically royalty. Apartment Therapy goes into the nuances of just why this fluffy flooring was so popular.
Of course, we quickly learned that shag carpet was a nightmare to maintain and a magnet for every piece of lint, crumb, and mysterious debris in the house. Those long fibers trapped everything from dropped earrings to last week’s potato chip crumbs, making vacuuming an Olympic sport. But back then, we didn’t care—we felt like we were walking on clouds, even if those clouds were slowly collecting a decade’s worth of dust and pet hair.
2. TV Dinners on Aluminum Trays
The Swanson TV dinner was the pinnacle of modern convenience and sophistication in our minds. Here was a complete meal that cooked itself in the oven while we watched “The Brady Bunch,” with each food item perfectly compartmentalized in its own little section. We felt like astronauts eating space-age cuisine, especially when they introduced those fancy “international” varieties like Salisbury steak or chicken à la king. Smithsonian Magazine takes a big bite out of the remarkable history of these revolutionary culinary creations.
Looking back, those aluminum trays contained what was essentially cafeteria food that had been frozen and repackaged. The portions were tiny, the vegetables were mushy, and the meat was questionable at best. But there was something undeniably exciting about peeling back that foil cover to reveal your perfectly portioned dinner, even if the mashed potatoes looked more like vanilla pudding and the peas had the texture of little green pebbles.
3. Fondue Parties for Every Occasion
Speaking of fondue, nothing screamed “elegant dinner party” quite like gathering around a pot of melted cheese or chocolate with long forks. We thought we were bringing European sophistication to suburban America, turning every meal into an interactive social event. The fondue pot became the centerpiece of dinner parties, and we’d spend hours dipping bread, vegetables, and fruit while feeling incredibly cosmopolitan.
What we didn’t realize was that fondue was basically just melted cheese or chocolate that required everyone to double-dip with the same utensils. The novelty wore off pretty quickly when you realized you were essentially eating glorified nachos that took forever to consume. Plus, there was always that one person who lost their bread cube in the pot, creating an awkward fishing expedition that slowed down the entire meal.
4. A Bar Cart in the Living Room
Every sophisticated home had a bar cart prominently displayed in the living room, stocked with bottles of whiskey, gin, and those fancy decanters that made everything look expensive. We thought we were channeling Don Draper or some other suave television character when we rolled that cart over to mix drinks for guests. The more bottles you had on display, the more worldly and refined you appeared to be. Gentlemans Portion explores whether fondue parties might be poised for a comeback today, and such a prospect is positively delectable.
In reality, most of those bottles sat there gathering dust because we usually ended up drinking beer or wine anyway. The bar cart became more of a decorative piece than a functional one, often holding the same three bottles for years while we pretended to be cocktail connoisseurs. But having it there made us feel like we could throw a sophisticated soirée at a moment’s notice, even if our idea of entertaining was usually just having the neighbors over for fondue.
5. Water Beds with Mirrored Headboards
The water bed was the ultimate symbol of modern luxury and sensuality in the ’70s bedroom. Combined with a mirrored headboard and some mood lighting, you felt like you had created your own personal love den straight out of a romance novel. The gentle undulation of the water mattress seemed so futuristic and sophisticated compared to those boring old spring mattresses our parents used.
The reality was that water beds were prone to leaks, extremely heavy, and required special heaters that ran up your electricity bill. Getting out of bed became a calculated maneuver to avoid creating tidal waves, and forget about jumping into bed dramatically—you’d end up seasick. Those mirrored headboards just collected dust and provided unfortunate viewing angles that nobody really wanted to see, but we thought they made us look like international jet-setters.
6. Cocktail Parties with Cheese Cubes and Toothpicks
The height of entertaining sophistication was arranging cheese cubes and cocktail olives on toothpicks, displayed on your finest serving platter. We thought we were recreating the glamorous cocktail parties we saw in movies, where beautiful people mingled with drinks and sophisticated hors d’oeuvres. Adding a few crackers and some Ritz with spray cheese felt like we were competing with the finest catering companies.
These parties usually devolved into everyone standing around awkwardly, trying to balance a drink while attempting to eat cheese cubes without looking ridiculous. The toothpicks created tiny trash piles on every surface, and someone always managed to drop cheese on the shag carpet. But we felt so adult and refined, even if our “cocktail party” was really just our usual group of friends eating snacks and drinking slightly better wine than usual.
7. Macramé Plant Hangers Everywhere
Nothing said “I’m in touch with nature and the latest trends” quite like macramé plant hangers suspended from every available ceiling hook. We thought we were bringing organic, handcrafted artistry into our homes while showcasing our green thumbs with hanging gardens. The more intricate the knotwork, the more sophisticated and bohemian we felt.
Most of us had no idea how to properly care for hanging plants, so our beautiful spider plants and philodendrons usually ended up looking more like dying octopi than lush greenery. The macramé holders collected dust and looked increasingly sad as the plants withered, but we kept them up because taking them down felt like admitting defeat. Plus, making those intricate knots had taken hours, and we weren’t about to waste all that effort just because the plants had given up on life.
8. Color-Coordinated Appliances in Harvest Gold or Avocado Green
Having all your kitchen appliances match in harvest gold or avocado green was the ultimate in interior design sophistication. We thought we were so ahead of the curve, moving beyond boring white appliances to create a cohesive, designer look that screamed “modern homemaker.” The bolder the color, the more fashion-forward and daring we felt.
These colored appliances were often more expensive than their white counterparts, and we paid extra for what was essentially just a different paint job. When the trend inevitably passed, we were stuck with harvest gold refrigerators and avocado dishwashers that looked dated and impossible to match with any new décor. But for a brief, shining moment, we felt like we were living in the pages of Better Homes and Gardens.
9. Conversation Pits with Built-in Seating
The sunken living room, or “conversation pit,” was the absolute pinnacle of architectural sophistication and modern design. We thought we were living like the Jetsons with our futuristic seating arrangements that encouraged intimate gatherings and meaningful discussions. Having friends literally look up to you from your lowered living space felt like the height of cool, modern living.
In practice, conversation pits were often awkward to navigate, especially for older relatives or anyone wearing a dress. They collected dust, were impossible to rearrange when you wanted a change, and created weird traffic flow patterns through the house. Plus, if someone spilled something, it was trapped in the pit forever, creating a permanently stained monument to that one party where someone knocked over the punch bowl.
10. CB Radios for “Important” Communication
Having a CB radio made you feel connected to a whole network of sophisticated truckers and important people conducting serious business over the airwaves. We thought we were part of some exclusive club, using cool handles and special lingo that made every conversation sound urgent and professional. Being able to communicate with people miles away felt incredibly high-tech and important.
Most CB conversations consisted of people saying “breaker, breaker” and then having absolutely nothing interesting to communicate. We’d spend hours listening to truckers complain about traffic or weather, pretending it was fascinating while secretly hoping for some kind of dramatic emergency that would make our CB radio purchase worthwhile. The novelty wore off quickly when we realized we were basically paying to eavesdrop on very boring strangers.
11. Elaborate Jell-O Molds for Special Occasions
Creating towering Jell-O molds with suspended fruit, vegetables, or even seafood was considered the height of culinary artistry and hostess sophistication. We thought we were creating edible sculptures that would impress our guests and demonstrate our advanced cooking skills. The more complicated the mold and the more ingredients suspended inside, the fancier the final result appeared.
These elaborate creations often looked better than they tasted, combining flavors that had no business being together in the name of visual appeal. Getting them to unmold properly was always a nail-biting experience, and half the time they’d collapse into a colorful, wiggly mess on the serving platter. But when they worked, we felt like professional caterers who had mastered the most sophisticated of culinary arts.
12. His and Hers Matching Outfits
Coordinating outfits with your spouse was the ultimate display of togetherness and fashion sophistication, whether it was matching polyester leisure suits or complementary color schemes. We thought we looked like glamorous power couples straight out of a fashion magazine, showing the world how in sync and stylish we were. The bolder the patterns and colors, the more fashion-forward we felt.
Looking at old photos now, those matching outfits often made couples look more like they were wearing uniforms than expressing individual style. The polyester fabrics didn’t breathe, the patterns were often overwhelming, and coordinating every outfit became a logistical nightmare that took the spontaneity out of getting dressed. But at the time, we thought we were the epitome of couples’ fashion goals, even if we were really just walking advertisements for the local department store’s latest synthetic fabric collection.
What’s funny is that our ’70s definition of “fancy” was often more about having fun and feeling special than actually impressing anyone else. Maybe we were onto something with our simpler pleasures and easier-to-achieve dreams of sophistication. Sure, our shag carpets trapped everything and our fondue parties were kind of gross, but at least we knew how to feel fancy without breaking the bank or stressing about keeping up with impossible standards.
This story 12 Things We Thought Were Fancy in the ’70s—That Were Actually Pretty Basic was first published on Takes Me Back.
