Vintage design wasn’t exactly afraid of a little color. Homeowners covered walls in busy patterns, installed brightly colored bathroom fixtures, and occasionally decided their living rooms needed an entirely different floor level. Restaurants and shopping malls got equally adventurous, with dramatic lighting and unusual furniture that made ordinary spaces surprisingly memorable. Some of these ideas were genuinely clever, while others probably required a very patient interior designer. Either way, it’s hard to look at these rooms without appreciating how much personality went into them. Forget playing it safe with neutral walls and matching furniture. Here are 15 vintage photos featuring some wonderfully bold design choices.

The Kitchen Went Full Earth Tones

A 1970s designer kitchen features wood cabinetry, tiled countertops, and warm brown finishes, with hardly a neutral surface anywhere in sight.

A Living Room With Its Own Pit

This 1970s den features a sunken conversation area, built-in seating, a fireplace, and a television tucked into the surrounding architecture.

Pink Tiles, Black Trim, No Compromises

An original 1950s bathroom pairs pink wall tiles with black borders, a tiled countertop, and a patterned floor that has survived decades of changing tastes.

The Bedroom Had a Built-In Entertainment Center

A bedroom design published in 1984 places a television and stereo equipment directly into the wall, with dedicated compartments for each component.

Wallpaper With a Lot to Say

Installed during the 1970s, this illustrated hallway wallpaper survived in a family home for decades, featuring a playful pattern its owners have struggled to identify.

The Mall Was Dressed to Impress

A 1986 photograph captures the interior of a New Jersey shopping mall, complete with the elaborate architectural details that made mall trips an event.

One Chair, Plenty of Personality

This vintage lounge chair has a distinctive sculptural frame and generously padded upholstery, with a matching sofa reportedly purchased alongside it.

Even the Toilet Got a Platform

A vintage 1980s bathroom advertisement shows colorful fixtures, small tiles, and a toilet raised on its own platform.

A Swimming Pool With Serious Retro Energy

This indoor swimming pool, photographed at a hotel in Germany’s Black Forest, features distinctly retro architecture surrounding the water.

Green Was Basically a Neutral

An empty 1970s living room features wall-to-wall green shag carpeting, matching curtains, a brick fireplace, and a large landscape painting.

The Restaurant Had Main Character Energy

This 1987 restaurant interior features glossy black tiles with pastel accents, pink neon lighting, patterned carpeting, and rows of high-backed booths.

A Hair Salon From the Future

A New York hair salon featured in a 1987 store design book uses sharply geometric furniture and a sleek interior for its styling stations.

The Carpet Was the Main Attraction

This vintage-style sculpted green carpet features a pronounced textured pattern, with different pile heights creating a design across the floor.

A Dining Room Straight Out of 1975

Two women pose inside a dining room photographed in May 1975, surrounded by the furniture and decorative choices of the period.

Grandma’s Dream Kitchen Was Very Green

A kitchen designed in 1979 and preserved by the owner’s family shows how thoroughly one color scheme could take over an entire cooking space.

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