1970s Home Decor: Bring Retro Style to Your Walls

Need more help choosing the right scale? Explore our gallery wall sizes guide to match layouts to beds, sofas, hallways, and more.

Ready to try a retro grid or organic cluster? Turn your photos and retro prints into stylish picture tiles. Just peel, stick, and reposition until your 70s wall feels just right.

Step 1: Pick a palette and theme

Choose a focused look. Desert Sunset uses rust, camel, and cream. Avocado Groove leans olive, avocado, and mustard. Teal plus terracotta adds a lively contrast. Your palette will guide image selection, frames, and any supporting textiles.

Step 2: Curate image types

Blend personal and graphic. Vintage family scans, plants, record covers, retro typography, geometric abstracts, and candid Polaroid-style shots work well together. Mixtiles also offers Fine Art Prints if you need ready-to-hang retro graphics to round out the set.

Step 3: Choose tile styles and finishes

Keep one or two frame finishes for cohesion. For a 70s look, try warm wood-like frames with cream borders, or black frames around bold color fields. You can mix Photo Tiles and Canvas Prints for texture while keeping the palette consistent.

Step 4: Layout formulas that always work

Symmetry feels modern while clusters feel relaxed. Try a 3 × 3 grid for a tidy statement, a two-row rail for corridors, or an organic cluster that wraps around a focal point like a mirror or plant. The sizing table above will help you scale the layout to your wall.

Step 5: Place, adjust, and perfect

Mixtiles tiles use stick-and-restick adhesive or a magnet system depending on style. That means you can hang confidently on painted walls without nails, then fine-tune the spacing. Mount your tiles as follows:

1. Wipe the wall with a dry cloth, then lightly mark your layout centerline;
2. Peel and place the first tile at eye level, step back, and check alignment with a small level;
3. Add remaining tiles, keeping 1 to 2 inches of spacing, then press each tile firmly for a few seconds.

Care tips: Dust with a soft dry cloth. Avoid sprays or water. Mixtiles are designed to stay put for years, and they remove cleanly when you are ready to refresh.

What are budget-friendly ways to get the 70s vibe fast?

Start on the walls first, then layer in small decor. A focused palette and a few tactile pieces will go a long way. You can scale up over time without starting over.

Start with the walls

Paint one accent wall in clay or ochre and add a 6 to 9 tile Mixtiles gallery. This gives instant atmosphere. Because the tiles are repositionable, you can rearrange or update images with seasonal color stories.

Small swaps, big impact

Switch pillow covers to corduroy or velvet, add a rattan or mushroom table lamp, and bring in a thrifted ceramic planter. These touches echo the look of 1970s home decor without a full makeover.

Plants and greenery

Pothos, monstera, and snake plants thrive in many homes and add that organic 70s feel. Photograph your plants up close and print them as Mixtiles to tie the room together. Save the rest of your plant photos in a Mixtiles memory photo book for a mini mood library.

Are there dos and do nots for 1970s home decor?

Yes. A few simple principles keep the style cohesive and comfortable. Repeat colors, mix textures, and leave breathing room. Avoid crowding too many loud patterns in one view.

Do

Ground bold colors with warm neutrals and natural materials. Repeat key hues at least three times around the room so the eye can connect the dots. Mix smooth and tactile textures to create depth, then leave negative space so the composition can breathe.

Do not

Do not overload clashing patterns in the same scale. Do not forget lighting layers, because the 70s vibe needs warm lamps and soft glow. Avoid relying only on novelty objects. Comfort comes first, so choose textures and seating that feel as good as they look.

Can you get the 70s look in a small space or rental?

Absolutely. Use lighter woods, vertical layouts, and removable elements. Mixtiles are ideal in rentals since you can stick, restick, and remove cleanly when it is time to move.

Small-space strategies

Stack art vertically to draw the eye up. Use mirrors to bounce light and keep the palette airy with cream, sand, and a single accent like terracotta. Compact curves, such as a round side table or mushroom lamp, nod to the 70s without crowding.

Renter-friendly moves

Build your wall with Mixtiles and add peel-and-stick wallpaper on one accent wall. Use freestanding shelves for vintage ceramics and plug-in globe sconces to avoid electrical work. When you move, peel and pack. You can store Mixtiles safely by covering adhesive backs with wax paper.

Need inspiration? What are five ready-to-copy Mixtiles wall recipes?

Steal these palettes and image mixes, then customize with your photos, Fine Art Prints, and favorite lyrics or quotes. Each recipe balances color, texture, and pattern for a modern 70s feel.

Recipe 1: Desert Disco, 9 tiles

Palette: terracotta, mustard, cream. Mix arch abstracts, a disco ball photo, and warm-toned portraits. Use wood-like frames with cream borders for a mellow glow.

Recipe 2: Avocado Groove, 8 tiles

Palette: avocado, olive, brown. Combine botanical prints, close-ups of leaves, and vintage family scans. Add one typography tile with a favorite saying for rhythm.

Recipe 3: Mod Geometry, 12 tiles

Palette: teal, orange, navy. Arrange bold geometric patterns in a 3 × 4 grid for a crisp, contemporary take on 1970s home decor. Keep frames black for contrast.

Recipe 4: Boho Rattan, 7 tiles

Palette: sand, camel, rust. Photograph woven textures and sunbursts, then mix with a few soft-focus landscapes. Canvas Prints add extra tactile depth in this set.

Recipe 5: Vinyl Lover, 10 tiles

Palette: chocolate, cream, marigold. Scan record sleeves and concert tickets, then add a portrait or two. Finish with a Mixtiles Wall Sign featuring your favorite lyric or family name.

1970s home decor is about warmth, texture, and joy. Focus on a cohesive palette, a few key materials, and renter-friendly wall art to capture that groovy, grounded vibe without overwhelming your space. Mixtiles helps you build flexible, retro-inspired galleries you can stick, restyle, and refresh as your collection grows, no nails and no stress, all personality.

Create your 1970s-inspired wall today. Upload your photos to make beautiful custom canvas prints and get them delivered to your door, ready to peel, stick, and love.