Colours of the 1970s

Though there was a carryover of the Hippy sub culture from the late 1960s the 1970s embraced several aspects – the home spun/creative and ultimately rustic/romantic country style with Laura Ashley mini printed floral wallpaper and fabrics and peasant maxi dresses and the upwardly moving disco dancing Afro permed, platform shoe and hot pants, jump suited and bell bottom brigade who were free and easy – part of what was called at the time the ‘Me’ decade – full of student protests, feminism, environmental issues, fuel/oil crisis and the ‘space race’ – helped by the advent of microwaves, VCRs, shagpile carpet and lava lamps. The re-discovery of real wood for furniture morphed into panelled walls and kitchen cabinetry and benchtops and presented as chunky colonial styling. Wallpaper was bold, stronger in colour and pictorial or covered all over with trellis patterns, spots, stripes and mini print flowers with curtains and clothing to match. Bathroom fittings were almond ivory, avocado and chocolate, floors were orange or brown and inspired by terracotta tiles and stoves were brown or pumpkin orange or ochre gold.

Bright colours of the era were (from the BS5252 collection):

Resene Midnight	Resene Cardin Green	Resene Midnight	Resene Ming
Resene Plum	Resene Hot Purple	Resene Hot Chile	Resene Guardsman Red
Resene Brown Bramble	Resene Rich Gold	Resene Reno Sand	Resene Golden Sand
Resene Verdun Green	Resene Hacienda

More neutrals were used and they started to make their presence known, with colours such as:

Resene Calico	Resene Colonial White	Resene Champagne	Resene Solitaire	Resene Pearl Lusta
Resene Soft Amber

Soft muted pastels and mid tones appeared, in tones such as:

Resene Siam	Resene Flax	Resene Thistle
Resene Kashmir Blue	Resene Rock Blue	Resene Spindle
Resene Dolphin	Resene Spun Pearl	Resene French Grey	Resene Blue Haze
Resene Envy	Resene Cascade	Resene Opal	Resene Jungle Mist
Resene Mexican Red	Resene Blossom	Resene Shilo	Resene Wafer	Resene Dawn Pink

Information thanks to Carolyn Atkinson.