The surprising interiors trend that’s up 24 per cent year-on-year: The ‘70s sunken lounge

When you think of the 1960s and 1970s and interiors trends of the time, there is one thing that comes to mind.

Sunken lounges or conversation pits first hurtled into our homes more than 50 years ago when the retro design piece reflected a shift shift towards open-plan living and suburban entertaining.

Its recessed design preserved sightlines, created a sense of openness and encouraged intimate gatherings, making them a symbol of the era’s relaxed cocktail-party culture.

Fresh from Milan Design Week, the trend is being reimagined as the modern conversation pit, with low-slung modular seating, organic curves and tactile textures emerging as key ways to create more intimate zones within open-plan homes.

New Temple & Webster data shows searches for modular, curved and sectional seating are up 24 per cent year on year, while searches for its modular and curved sofa collections have grown 240 per cent.

The modern version delivers the same inviting atmosphere without architectural renovation, recreated through curved modular sofas, tactile fabrics, warm earthy tones and flexible layouts designed to bring people together.

While the 70s aesthetic was defined by plush velour, velvet and shag carpeting, today’s conversation pit embraces bouclé, chenille, textured linen and performance velvet, delivering the same warmth and comfort through a more refined lens.

Lucy Sutherland, Director of Insights & Trends at Temple & Webster, says the trend reflects a broader shift towards conversation-first living as we increasingly look for ways to disengage from our screens.

“As personal devices become the primary way we consume content, the TV is no longer the sole focal point of the living room,” she said.

“Furniture can finally turn inward again, creating spaces designed for conversation rather than passive viewing.”

One of the reasons why Aussies are once again loving the mid-century look is because it works in our modern open-plan homes.

The layout solves a common spatial puzzle in modern homes, creating intimacy within open spaces without compromising light or flow.

“The original conversation pit required architectural changes and built-in seating,” Lucy said.

“Today’s version achieves the same inviting atmosphere through low-profile, flexible furniture, making it an accessible way to create a cosy, social zone.