Millennials are Obsessed with This Ridiculed 1970s Home Design Trend – Find Out Why It's Making a Huge Comeback!

In a surprising twist of interior design fate, a trend from the 1970s that many thought had been flushed away into the annals of history is resurfacing with a modern twist. Yes, dear readers of the Seniors Discount Club, the avocado bathroom suite, once the epitome of dated decor, is now being embraced by the younger generation!


The Great Bathroom Report, conducted by home improvement giant Wickes, has revealed a startling affection for the avocado hue among British homeowners aged 25 to 34. A significant 27 percent of millennials surveyed expressed a desire to incorporate this once-maligned color into their bathroom renovations. This is a stark contrast to the sentiments of older generations who lived through the 1970s and are less than thrilled to see the color making a comeback.


compressed-avocado green.jpeg
Current homeowners prefer their bathroom staples such as toilets, bathtubs, and sinks in a muted avocado green colour. Image Credit: Pexels/Alejandro Robles Duque


But before you start reminiscing about the bold and often brash interiors of the past, it's important to note that today's avocado is not the same eye-watering shade that might still haunt your memories. The modern interpretation of the avocado bathroom is a nod to the past, with a contemporary and sophisticated approach. Think less garish, more zen.


Tim Richards, head of bathrooms at Wickes, suggests that the new avocado green reflects a desire for tranquility and a connection to nature, as well as the minimalist calm of Japanese design. It's a softer, more muted green that can create a serene and organic atmosphere in the bathroom.

Social media trends support this resurgence, with Pinterest reporting a 350 percent increase in searches for 'dark green bathroom' and a staggering 2,670 percent rise in interest for 'green home decor'. It seems that the allure of this earthy tone is not limited to bathrooms but is spreading throughout the home.

Professor Deborah Sugg Ryan, a British design historian and TV presenter, acknowledges that while the avocado bathrooms of the 1970s were a definitive trend of the era, the modern revival is far more refined. Millennials are not looking to recreate the past exactly as it was but are instead taking elements they like and giving them a fresh, updated look.


This newfound appreciation for avocado green is a far cry from just five years ago when experts believed that an avocado bathroom suite could devalue a home by nearly £5,000 (About $9,700). At that time, surveys indicated that if a new homeowner inherited such a bathroom, it would be the first thing to go.

While avocado is making a comeback, not all 1970s trends are experiencing the same revival. Wood panelling, built-in bars, heavily patterned carpets, and Artex ceilings remain in the past, with no signs of a resurgence. It seems that the selective memory of millennials has filtered out the less favorable aspects of 1970s design.

For our seasoned members who may still be skeptical about this trend, it's worth considering the cyclical nature of fashion and design. What was once old can indeed become new again, with a few adjustments for modern tastes. And who knows, perhaps there's a certain charm in seeing a new generation find beauty in what was once familiar to us.

Key Takeaways

  • Avocado-coloured bathroom suites from the 1970s are making a comeback amongst younger homeowners, particularly those aged 25 to 34.
  • The Great Bathroom Report by Wickes found that over a quarter of millennials would choose this colour for their bathroom renovations.
  • The modern interpretation of the avocado bathroom trend is more subtle, incorporating the colour with a lighter touch and more understated design elements.
  • Despite its past reputation of reducing property value, the report indicates a significant shift in preference, contrasting earlier beliefs about the colour's impact on home desirability.
We'd love to hear your thoughts on this design development. Do you have any avocado bathroom memories or horror stories to share? Or maybe you're a fan of the color's comeback? Let us know in the comments below, and let's discuss the ever-spinning wheel of design trends!
 
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In my parents first home in the early 60s my parents had the pink bath loo and pedestal basin with black tiles.
Another house we lived in in the
Sorry finish off now the house had all blue. When my husband and l bought our home it had the 50s lemon. I only had the cast iron bath painted last year white looks amazing and bought an antique parlour stand put a round white basin on top nice taps had the shower base painted white put in marble look wet walls came up beautiful.
Kind to all Vicki
 

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