If any decade can claim to be the party decade, it’s the 1970s. From West Coast house parties with aging hippies to discotheques like Studio 54, the 1970s knew how to throw a rager. Outdo every party you’ve been to with these authentic and creative 70s-themed party decoration ideas.
Disco Ball
If there’s one décor item you should splurge on for your 70s-themed party, it’s a disco ball. High-quality mirror balls aren’t cheap, but they’re worth every penny. If your guests walk into a dimmed room with a disco ball bouncing light across the walls, they’re immediately in the mood to party.
If you can’t afford to splurge on a rotating mirror ball, consider a much smaller colorful disco ball light. Just plug this floor light in, and it’ll cast a rainbow of colors around the room.
Shag Rugs
While we don’t suggest fully committing to the bit and installing shag carpeting in your house, we do encourage you to pick up some shag rugs instead. Fuzzier than your bath mats and just as hard to clean, these brightly colored pieces of floor décor will help transform your space into a 70s daydream.
Don’t skimp on the colors when you pick out your shag rugs. Think rich oranges, reds, dark greens, and browns. Or, if you can find a great deal, thrift some genuine shag rugs online.
Flower Centerpieces
The 1970s really embraced natural motifs in a way people hadn’t seen since the Art Nouveau movement some 70+ years earlier. Don’t feel like you need to spend a ton on fresh flowers; fake ones from the craft store will look just fine.
Grab some cheap vases from the thrift store and fill them with daises, sunflowers, chrysanthemums, and poppies. The bolder the color, the better. You can’t go wrong with classic white and yellow daises, but branch out with turquoise, orange, pink, and green.
Tie-Dyed Tablecloths
Attend a child’s birthday party or a sloppy 21st celebration, and you’ll understand why you should never leave a kitchen table uncovered when you’re hosting a party. Keep your beautiful table nice and pristine with a tie-dyed tablecloth.
While tie-dye had started in the late 60s, it continued on through the early 70s. While being on theme, it’ll hide any of those clumsy jungle juice spills like a champ.
Door Beads
Set the tone for a laid-back party with some door beads. Door beads were a staple in 70s homes and tricked-out airbrushed vans. From simple beads tied onto strings to elaborate wooden bead art that you hate to walk through, door beads are the kind of authentic decoration that’ll take your party up a notch.
Potted Plants
In 2024, you’ve got a better chance of being a plant mom than having a house with a conservatory. But even if you don’t nurse little pothos and monstera plants every day, you can still capture that earthy vibe that every 1970s home wanted. Fake plants are practically as good as the real thing (and much less stressful).
Curate a cute picture corner spot for your 1970s party with a few fake green houseplants. Make sure you pick up varied sizes, heights, and colors because they’ll reflect the light differently and create beautiful depth and shadow in your pictures.
Lava Lamps
Lava lamps are a mainstay of the 1960s and 1970s and add a cool ambiance to any 70s-inspired party. The best part? They haven’t changed much since they first came out, so lava lamps from Amazon will look just as good as the genuine stuff.
In the 1970s, there was a big shift towards ambient lighting. So, you can’t have too many alternative light sources at your party. If you’re forced to use the overhead ones, then you’re not doing it right.
Bean Bag Chairs
Everyone needs a place to lounge at a party. Frat parties have their suspiciously stained curb couches and yours needs its own comfy seating. If you want to stick true to the 70s theme but not break the bank, grab some cheap bean bags. Bean bags were all the rage in the 70s, and they’ll be just as popular with your guests today.
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Tapestries
Floor-to-ceiling tapestries are also a great idea if you’re looking for something that maximizes on space but doesn’t require a lot of set-up. On websites like Society6, you can get vintage-inspired tapestries in a variety of sizes and prices. Think colorful florals and earthy geometric patterns when picking out your party tapestry.
Now, these are on the pricier end of the decoration spectrum, so you should probably make sure you really like the tapestry and will want to use it in the future before dropping your credit card info.
Ceiling Streamers
Parties in the 70s weren’t these classy affairs. They were full of your typical party décor, too. One we think will mesh great with the other decorations on our list is ceiling streamers. You’ll probably have to order streamers in the right prints or colors to match your other decorations, but they’re so easy to set up that it’s worth the shipping and handling.
Simply twist the streamers and tape them in rows across the top of your ceiling. This will add some dimension to a boring room, and some extra color because this is supposed to be the 70s, so you’ve got to have some color.
70s Party Decorations That Put the Fun in Funky
Whether you’re just having a few friends over to chill at your pad or you’re planning a slammin’ party the whole neighborhood will want to attend, the devil is in the details. Make your party unforgettable with these absolutely far-out 70s-inspired decoration ideas.