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Retro Organizing Ideas: That 70’s Home

May 19th, 2008 by Carissa SAHMmy Says

Get your organizing groove on with these resources and recollections on 70s era homemaking.

Read: Sidetracked Home Executives: From Pigpen to Paradise

First published in 1977, Sidetracked Home Executives tracks the story of sisters Pam Young and Peggy Jones as they develop a simple organizing system to pull themselves out of clutter chaos.

All you need to follow the "Slob Sisters" cleaning plan:

Motivation: The Sidetracked Home Executives book may give you the kick in the bell bottom pants you need!
Index Cards: Grab a multicolored pack for color coding chores in the school supplies aisle at any discount store for about a buck.
Card File: A simple black plastic index card file will do, but if you dig 70s style, search "vintage recipe box" on ebay to discover cool retro boxes sized just right for index cards.

Craft: Remember when everybody had a funky macrame plant hanger in the rec room? Put a modern spin on the 70s hemp craze with this free tutorial at on making a macrame ipod case.

Store: Keep guitar picks, love beads, or bobby pins to hold back your ironed bangs in this retro-inspired wood mushroom trinket box. $30 for 4×6 size on etsy.

Read:

It’s Fashionable to be an Old-Fashioned Housewife Again for resources on blogs and books designed to keep the art of homemaking alive in the 21st century.

The 1970s Home Economist. Reprint of a 1977 article on the commercial impact of housewives entering the workforce with commentary by the Retro Housewife.

Organize: Keep bills, lists, and kitchen or office accessories organized with the Retro Kitchen Organizer, $30 at rubyjane.com.

Just for Fun: Housewife Magazine Ads of the 70s photo collection on flickr. I remember sneakily climbing onto the kitchen counter to get to my mom’s stash of Ayds diet "candy"–they looked an tasted just like caramels, but I suspect they were laced with caffeine and diuretics. No wonder I never went to sleep when we had a babysitter!

What did your home look like in the 70s? Join the love-in at the forum!

[photo source]

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