Revisit retro

Shagpile, geometric patterns, abstract flower prints and lashings of orange can only mean one thing - the Seventies.
PA Photo/Katya da Grunwald/Ryland Peters & SmallPA Photo/Katya da Grunwald/Ryland Peters & Small
PA Photo/Katya da Grunwald/Ryland Peters & Small

It may fill you with nostalgia for bell-bottoms, Walkmans and - that ultimate dippy-hippy accessory - hanging dream catchers, not to mention the music.

If you bopped to the likes of Bee Gees’ Stayin’ Alive and The Village People’s YMCA, or enjoyed Abigail’s Party-style evenings, you may simply cringe with embarrassment at your dated decor and antics.

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If so, avert your eyes, because this is the decade style never forgot, and it’s having another moment in the sun. Luckily, it’s all slicked up and ready to groove again, with some suitably contemporary twists.

While this reincarnation gives a nod to Seventies chic, there’s a fresh, much more edgy approach to what’s being dubbed ‘Bohemian Modern’.

“This is for people who are creative, unconventional and shun the status quo in interiors, and want to do so with flair and success,” enthuses Emily Henson, the unofficial high priestess of the theme and who’s written a guide to creating the look in her new book, Bohemian Modern.

“Of course, you can indulge in the cliches of the era, macrame wall hangings and plant holders, houseplants en masse, and vibrantly coloured kilim rugs, but there’s also plenty of ways to be innovative and contrast those elements with polished concrete work surfaces, sleek modern art and focusing on design which makes this so, so current for today.”

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Maybe you’d like some vintage furniture in your home; think a ceiling hung swing chair or a glitzy drinks trolley, but don’t want things to feel too retro. In which case, quirky touches may be all that’s needed to hint at Boho. For instance, suspend a glitter ball from the ceiling, or paint a piece of furniture in a bold, earthy, glossy hue and you’ve given a hint to the past in a thoroughly modern way.

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