Remember when your bedroom wasn’t just a place to sleep, but your personal sanctuary that screamed rebellion, creativity, and pure groovy vibes? The ’60s and ’70s were decades when bedroom décor became a form of self-expression, mixing peace signs with platform shoes, and where every surface told a story about who you were becoming. Whether you were channeling your inner flower child or embracing the disco fever, your room was your canvas, and boy, did we paint some wild masterpieces.
1. Macramé Wall Hangings
Those intricate rope and cord creations weren’t just wall décor – they were practically a rite of passage for anyone with even a hint of bohemian spirit. You either made them yourself during those long summer afternoons or begged your crafty aunt to teach you the mystical art of knotting. The bigger and more elaborate the design, the cooler you were, and everyone knew that owl macramé piece was the crown jewel of bedroom sophistication.
Macramé wasn’t just about following patterns; it was about creating something with your own hands in an increasingly manufactured world. These hangings caught the light filtering through those beaded curtains just right, casting intricate shadows that danced on your walls like some kind of hippie magic. When friends came over, they’d inevitably reach out to touch the textured artwork, running their fingers through the carefully crafted knots that represented hours of patient, meditative work.
2. Bean Bag Chairs
Forget traditional furniture – if you had a genuine bean bag chair, you were living in the future, man. These vinyl or corduroy-covered sacks filled with tiny polystyrene beads were the ultimate symbol of casual, anti-establishment living. You’d flop down into one after school, and it would perfectly mold to your body like a hug from the universe itself.
The best part was watching visitors try to gracefully lower themselves into your bean bag, only to practically disappear into its squishy embrace with a whoosh of shifting beads. Sure, getting up required some serious momentum and usually looked about as elegant as a baby seal trying to climb a rock, but that was half the charm. These chairs came in wild colors like burnt orange, avocado green, and that perfect sunshine yellow that somehow made everything feel more optimistic.
3. Blacklight Posters
Nothing said “far out” quite like a blacklight poster that transformed your room into a psychedelic wonderland when you flipped that purple switch. These weren’t just decorations; they were portals to another dimension where mushrooms glowed neon pink and peace signs pulsed with electric blue energy. Every head shop and college bookstore had walls lined with these trippy masterpieces, from zodiac signs to abstract geometric patterns that seemed to move and breathe under that magical ultraviolet glow.
The ritual of turning off the regular lights and switching on that blacklight tube was like performing some kind of modern magic trick. Suddenly, your ordinary bedroom became a cosmic disco where white t-shirts glowed like ghostly apparitions and your teeth looked like they belonged in a science fiction movie. Friends would gather around, mesmerized by how the fluorescent inks seemed to leap off the poster and dance in the purple darkness, creating an atmosphere that felt both mysterious and totally groovy.
4. Lava Lamps
The hypnotic dance of colored wax floating through liquid was pure meditation in motion, and every cool bedroom had at least one of these mesmerizing fixtures. You’d plug it in and wait with the patience of a zen monk for that first blob to warm up and start its slow-motion ballet up and down the glass cylinder. Red wax in clear liquid was classic, but the really adventurous souls went for wild combinations like orange and blue or that cosmic purple that looked like it came straight from outer space.
There was something almost spiritual about watching those glowing globs merge and separate, creating ever-changing abstract sculptures that never repeated the same pattern twice. Late at night, that soft, colored light was the perfect companion for deep conversations about life, the universe, and everything in between. The gentle heat radiating from the lamp created a cozy microclimate in your room, and the soft bubbling sound became as comforting as a cat’s purr.
5. Shag Carpeting
Walking barefoot across that thick, luxurious pile felt like strolling through a meadow of synthetic grass, and every step was a small pleasure for your toes. Shag wasn’t just carpeting; it was a lifestyle choice that announced to the world that you valued comfort over convention and weren’t afraid of a little maintenance. The deeper the pile, the more righteous your pad, whether you went for classic avocado green, burnt orange, or that daring sunshine yellow that could blind you on a sunny morning.
Sure, you lost the occasional earring or guitar pick in those deep fibers, and vacuuming required the patience of a saint with a serious arm workout. But there was nothing quite like sprawling out on that plush surface with your friends, creating conversation circles that felt more intimate than any formal seating arrangement. The way the light caught those long strands created a constantly shifting texture that made your floor look like a calm, colorful sea.
6. Hanging Bead Curtains
Those cascading strands of plastic, bamboo, or wooden beads weren’t just room dividers – they were your personal entrance to coolness that announced your arrival with a gentle musical chime. Every doorway became a mystical threshold where you could pause for that perfect dramatic entrance, letting the beads part around you like some kind of groovy curtain call. The sound they made when disturbed was like wind chimes having a conversation, creating a soundtrack for your daily life that felt both exotic and zen.
The really committed decorators coordinated their bead colors with their overall room scheme, mixing earth tones with bright accent colors that caught the light from those blacklight posters and lava lamps. Friends would unconsciously play with the beads while talking, running their fingers through the strands in an absent-minded meditation that somehow made conversations flow more naturally. When a breeze from an open window set them swaying, your whole room felt alive with gentle, rhythmic movement.
7. Waterbed
Sleeping on a waterbed was like floating on a gentle ocean every single night, though it took some serious skill to master the art of getting in and out without creating a tidal wave. These liquid mattresses weren’t just furniture; they were a statement about embracing new technology and rejecting the rigid, traditional world of box springs and conventional comfort. The better models came with heaters to keep that water at the perfect temperature, creating a warm, womb-like cocoon that made getting up on cold mornings nearly impossible.
The gentle sway and subtle movement meant you were constantly being rocked to sleep like a baby, though sharing the bed required some serious coordination to avoid launching your partner into orbit with every shift. Late-night conversations took on a dreamy quality as you both bobbed gently on your personal sea, and the soft sloshing sound became as soothing as distant waves on a beach. Sure, one puncture could turn your bedroom into an indoor swimming pool, but the risk only added to the waterbed’s rebellious appeal.
8. Wood Paneling Walls
Those rich, warm wood tones instantly transformed any bedroom into a cozy den that felt like a cross between a mountain cabin and a sophisticated lounge. Real wood paneling was the ultimate luxury, but even the more affordable wood-grain contact paper could create that same earthy, natural vibe that made your space feel grounded and authentic. The vertical lines created an illusion of height that made even small bedrooms feel more spacious and architectural.
Wood paneling was the perfect backdrop for all your other groovy décor, providing a natural canvas that made those blacklight posters pop and gave your macramé hangings a rustic context that felt totally organic. The warm tones created a golden-hour glow even on cloudy days, and the texture added visual interest that plain painted walls just couldn’t match. When friends ran their hands along the grooves, it was like reading the room’s personality in braille – textured, warm, and unmistakably cool.
9. Platform Bed
Sleeping closer to the ground wasn’t just about saving space – it was about embracing a more natural, Eastern-inspired approach to rest that felt both modern and ancient at the same time. These low-profile beds, often just a mattress on a simple wooden frame, created clean lines that made your room feel more spacious and zen-like. The Japanese influence was undeniable, and having a platform bed meant you were sophisticated enough to appreciate minimalist design principles.
The lower profile created interesting sight lines in your room, making those hanging plants and wall decorations more prominent while giving the space an intimate, grounded feeling. Getting up required a bit more effort than hopping out of a traditional bed, but the ritual of rising from your low perch felt more intentional and mindful. Many platform beds came with built-in storage underneath, perfect for stashing your record collection or hiding those items your parents didn’t need to discover during their periodic room inspections.
10. Hanging Plants
Macramé plant hangers filled with trailing spider plants, wandering jew, or pothos turned your bedroom into a personal jungle that cleaned the air while looking absolutely divine. These green cascades softened all those hard edges and geometric patterns, bringing life and natural beauty into your carefully curated space. The care and attention these plants required created a daily ritual of watering and pruning that connected you to the natural world, even in your suburban bedroom.
Nothing said “I’m a deep, earthy person” quite like a thriving collection of hanging greenery that reached toward whatever natural light filtered through your windows. The way those long tendrils moved in the breeze from your window fan created constant, gentle motion that made your room feel alive and breathing. Friends would always comment on your green thumb, and successfully propagating new plants from cuttings felt like wielding some kind of botanical magic that proved you were truly one with nature.
11. Paisley Bedding
Those swirling, teardrop patterns in rich jewel tones transformed your sleeping space into something that looked like it came straight from a Persian palace or an Indian marketplace. Paisley wasn’t just a design; it was a ticket to exotic destinations and ancient cultures that felt mysteriously sophisticated and worldly. The intricate patterns seemed to shift and dance depending on how the light hit them, creating visual interest that made your bed the focal point of the entire room.
The best paisley bedding came in color combinations that looked like sunset over the desert – deep purples, burnt oranges, golden yellows, and rich browns that coordinated perfectly with your wood paneling and shag carpeting. These weren’t just sheets and pillowcases; they were textiles that told stories of far-off places and ancient traditions, making every night feel like you were sleeping in a exotic tent on the Silk Road. The slightly rough texture of the cotton added to the authentic, handcrafted feel that made mass-produced bedding seem boring and ordinary.
12. Record Collection Display
Your albums weren’t just music; they were your autobiography written in vinyl, and displaying them properly was an art form that revealed your soul to anyone who entered your domain. Whether you had a proper record crate, improvised shelving, or just stacks leaning against the wall, your collection was a conversation starter that could make or break new friendships. The larger your collection, the more serious your commitment to the counterculture, and everyone knew that finding rare pressings or bootlegs was like discovering buried treasure.
The ritual of flipping through someone’s record collection was like reading their diary, revealing their musical journey from mainstream radio hits to obscure psychedelic gems that proved their underground credibility. Album covers became part of your room’s décor, with iconic artwork like “Dark Side of the Moon” or “Abbey Road” serving double duty as both music and visual art. The slight warping of well-played albums and the occasional scratch told stories of late-night listening sessions and parties where your favorite songs provided the soundtrack to some of the best times of your life.
Your bedroom in the ’60s and ’70s wasn’t just a place to sleep – it was your personal statement, your creative expression, and your escape from the straight-laced world outside your door. These weren’t just decorating choices; they were declarations of independence that said you were part of something bigger, something groovy, something that your parents probably didn’t quite understand but secretly admired. Looking back, those rooms captured a moment in time when young people believed they could change the world, starting with their own four walls, one macramé hanging and bean bag chair at a time.
This story 12 Things in a ’60s or ’70s Bedroom That Defined the Whole Vibe was first published on Takes Me Back.
