Updating That 1970s House

If you’re of a “certain age,” you likely have a particular fondness for all things from the 1970s. The avocado green, burnt orange, and harvest gold color palette of the era may strike a particular nerve in your psyche and take you back to the simpler times of your youth. 

It was the 1970s style, and it was great while it lasted. But now it’s time for it to go! 

If your home was built in the 1970s and hasn’t seen a design change since, you’re probably overwhelmed with a long list of renovation ideas. In this article, we’ll help you sort through them and understand which ones might give you the biggest bang for your buck. We’ll also share some before and after photos from a client project to show you that big changes are possible! 

6 Ideas for Updating a 1970s House

There are a number of small renovation projects you can do to make the world of a difference in your 1970s home. We recommend trying one or more of these to start seeing an instant change: 

1. Paint your walls — Goodbye, avocado green!

2. Change your trim — Whether that means replacing it with something new or simply painting over it, choose a brighter stain or color for a modernizing effect. 

3. Replace your flooring — Replace any shag carpet or grungy laminate flooring with something fresh and clean, like hardwood. 

4. Find new cabinets and countertops — Kitchens are the main entertaining spaces for many families. Consider putting cabinet and countertop upgrades at the top of your list. 

5. Knock down some walls — To achieve the open floor plan you’re hoping for, you’ll likely have to remove some walls. Be sure to check if they’re load-bearing beforehand (and if you’ll need any building permits to do so). 

6. Update appliances — From a new refrigerator to an upgraded bathroom faucet, appliance upgrades can improve both the appearance and performance of your home.

However, the best way to rid your home of all its dated 1970s features is to take on a whole-home remodeling project. You’ll get everything you want done at once, and you’ll be able to enjoy a gorgeous, modernized home sooner. If that’s in your budget, it’s time to contact a design-build firm that can help. 

Updating That 1970s House: A Meadowlark Client Success Story

Updating a 1970s house isn’t just possible — it’s one of the most highly rewarding remodeling projects to take on. With the right contractor, you can completely transform your home into the modern space you’ve always dreamed of. Here are some before and after shots from a recent client project we completed here at Meadowlark. 

Before Updates: Nostalgia & Dark Features of the 1970s

Prior to its renovation, our client’s house immediately met guests with a decidedly 1970s style. Aside from the color scheme, there were so many features that would make any 1970s kid smile and remind them of their childhood, including: 

• Dark-stained trim and cabinets

• Closed-concept floor plan

• Drop ceilings with fluorescent lighting

• Kitchen peninsula with a "passthrough" into the breakfast area

Back then, these features were a staple to the average American household. Today, they elicit a “What were they thinking?!” response from anyone with a heart for design. Just take a look at these photos!

After Updates: Modern Flair & Functional, Re-Designed Spaces

At the time they purchased the home (well past the 1970s era), our clients had already started brainstorming serious changes they wanted to make. 

Aside from cosmetic touches, they wanted to maximize the functionality of the first-floor spaces and allow for better flow between the kitchen and adjoining rooms. They had a growing family and a love for entertaining, so they envisioned a space that would accommodate large gatherings and easily flow onto their back patio and into their beautiful yard. 

Here’s how our team at Meadowlark responded to those design requests:

First of all, reconfiguring the space without blasting out all of the walls required some out-of-the-box thinking. Our designers quickly concluded that tweaking the existing kitchen layout just wasn’t going to work. Instead, we threw out the old layout and created a large galley configuration with a wall of sliders that provided easy access to the back patio, as well as loads of natural light. Clever reworking of spaces also added much-needed storage opportunities and opened up the kitchen into the family room. 

Other areas - like the front entry, powder room, living room, and mudroom were all reconfigured and updated to increase function and add extra storage space without adding square footage or moving major walls. 

Want to see our full library of before and after photos from this 1970s house update? Check them out here. 

Ready to Update Your 1970s House? Let’s Talk!

Wondering what you can do to update your 1970s house? Start a conversation about the possibilities with our expert design-build team at Meadowlark. You could be our next client success story!