Last Updated on December 19, 2022
The 70s was a wonderful time. People had fun pushing the boundaries when it came to fashion, music, and art. Walt Disney World opened its doors, HBO premiered on television and Steven King started scaring generations of readers.
If you want to hold a 70s themed party, you have one of the most versatile canvases in front of you. But if you feel a little lost, no worries. Our guide will help you to plan an unforgettable bash!
Dashing Decor
The most important part of a 70s themed party is the decor. Even if your guests wear modern clothes and eat food from 2021 – but the room or garden resembles a time capsule from fifty years ago – they will love your event! Let’s have a look at the most nostalgic and iconic decor ideas from the 1970s.
Furniture
The 70s loved their sofas. You can easily transform your sofa into a golden oldie by adding sequined cushions, gold or silver drapes, and perhaps a beaded throw. If you want to go all out with the party-disco theme, you can also hire sofas or seats that are neon-colored and glow from within.
Other furniture pieces reminiscent of the 1970s include barstools, large silver framed mirrors, and doorways with curtains instead of doors. The latter can include beaded strings or sparkling threads.
Plants
Plants are a good idea if you’re aiming for a more muted 70s affair rather than a disco bash. Potplants were exceptionally popular during that era and will add an authentic touch. Here are the top 70s foliage choices for your party!
- Delicious Monster
- Pothos
- Snake plant
- Spider plant
- Ferns
- Ficus
- African violets.
Disco Decoration Ideas
Some of the most exhilarating 70s parties center around a disco theme. There are several ways that you can recreate the atmosphere but here are great starters to get your creative juices flowing.
- Use disco balls. You can hang several from the ceiling, add them as centerpieces to all the tables or next to doors.
- Tightly packed balloons are also popular. You can cluster them around pillars or up a wall.
- Silhouette panels showing dancers.
- An illuminated dance floor.
- Kaleidoscope lights.
Extra Decoration Touches
Small nuances are often the thing that wows guests. So make sure to invite the finer details of the 70s to your party for true authenticity! We’ve compiled a quick list of extras that will definitely add the right atmosphere to your event.
- Stay true to the colors. The 70s loved bright colors and dual combinations. The most popular included yellow and orange, brown and yellow, pink and green, bright green and blue, and black and white.
- Old vinyl records.
- Fuzzy dice.
- Hang a few 70s posters on the walls.
- Play a 70s show on the TV.
- Use 1970s fonts.
Magical Music
If this is your first time holding a 70s themed party and you’re a bit concerned that the music might suck, don’t be. This era produced legends. Some of their music remains hot hits on radio stations the world over today. Play any of these bands at your bash and your guests will love the authentic flavor of your vibes.
- The Eagles
- Pink Floyd
- Aerosmith
- The Rolling Stones
- Journey
- Blondie
- Simon and Garfunkel
- Queen
- The Beach Boys
- Boney M.
Dress to Impress
When you send out the invitations, you have to decide what the dress code is going to be. You can either tell them to come as they are – or dress like party animals from the 70s! You can suggest a few fashion tips and if this era’s style is not your strong suit, here are the most popular and iconic fashion trends of the 1970s.
- Bell-bottom pants.
- Tight shirts.
- One-piece jumpsuits.
- Large wigs.
- Hoop earrings.
- Roller skates.
- Peace sign necklaces.
- Satin dress.
- Oversized sunglasses.
- Platform shoes.
- Beret hats.
- Metallic or bright makeup.
- Mini dress.
Create a 1970s Menu
This era’s party food is a little different from what you are probably used to! At most parties today, there are platters, chips and dip, and other stuff that is ready to eat out of boxes. But during the 70s, people made an effort to create fun and beautiful dishes. Many of them were served as meals instead of snacks.
You don’t have to go through all this effort. But if you’re shooting for the most authentic 70s themed party on the block, then there are plenty of recipes from the 1970s that you can try. Don’t forget the appetizers, cocktails and disco drinks!
Party Activities
Party activities are a great way to celebrate the 1970s. They don’t necessarily have to be authentic parlor games from this era but you can organize competitive games or group activities that highlight something from 1970s entertainment.
Top Tip: Hand out prizes to the winners!
- Hold a Rubik’s Cube competition.
- Sing karaoke songs from the 1970s.
- Teach disco dancing.
- Play a 1970s trivia game.
- Hold a fashion parade.
- Play a vintage game like Spin the Bottle and Twister.
FAQ
Q: What was the Main Theme of the 1970s?
The 1970s continued the peace and love movement that had begun in the 1960s. For this reason, people wore peace signs and continued a free-spirited culture of parties, love, and promoting human rights.
Q: What Should I Wear to a 70s Party?
A popular choice for both men and women include bell-bottom pants, boots, big wigs, shirts with big lapels, large sunglasses, and a peace sign necklace.
Q: Why is it Called a Disco?
The proper term is “discotheque.” It is a French word that means “library of phonograph records.” This came from the fact that dance clubs preferred to play records instead of hiring a live band. During the 1960s, when the concept became popular in the United States, the word was shorted to “disco.”
Q: Was There Popular Sayings or Slang in the 1970s?
- Far out/bomb/funky – something is impressive in a strange way.
- Groovy/radical – something is cool in a popular way.
- Off the hook/out of sight – amazing to the extreme.