Steampunk in the interior: history, features, photos

Steampunk is a style that definitely cannot be called common. Not every owner dares to use it in his home, and besides, the creation of such an interior will require significant material investments. An original and distinctive steampunk will suit those who are not afraid to take risks and make an impression, sometimes even contradictory.

Steampunk kitchen interior

Steampunk living room

Who is this style for

Are you reading science fiction and an avid fan of HG Wells or Jules Verne? Then you are moving in the right direction. The works of these writers became a source of inspiration for designers, allowing the steampunk style to be born..

Such an apartment is a small isolated world in which creative extraordinary personalities will feel comfortable. In addition, its creation requires a special aesthetic taste and design skills..

If you recognize yourself, then feel free to act, because the steampunk style is definitely for you..

Steampunk room design

A bit of history

Steampunk is not just a trend in interior design. This style also spread in the field of painting, literature and architecture. Disputes about its appearance do not stop, but it is reliably known that it acquired its modern interpretation in the 60-80s of the last century..

This style is of particular interest for the reason that it reflects an alternative reality, the future through the eyes of a person from the past. It belongs to the category of retro-futurism, carries a touch of the era of Queen Victoria and echoes of fantasies about the development of the steam engine.

Stylish steampunk bedroom design

Steampunk style room design

Steampunk bathroom

What is it like

The most accurate description can be given literally in three words: steampunk is “the future from the past.” It was created as a result of an amazing mixture of Victorian elements and unusual mechanisms, and embodies the fantasies of the people of the twentieth century. It is characterized by an abundance of fantasy devices, pipes, gears, lever lamps and other elements of technology. The man of that time considered the steam engine to be the main engine of progress, therefore all the designs used in this style were inspired by it..

Steampunk room

A special place in the design of the room is given to heating and water supply systems. What is usually hidden in an ordinary apartment, it is customary to flaunt in steampunk style..

Such interiors are often decorated with completely atypical decorative elements. The images of various aircraft such as balloons and airships often contribute to steampunk interior design..

Bright steampunk bedroom

Steampunk features

Like any other style, steampunk has its own characteristics..

Blurred timeframes.

Steampunk does not at all force you to abandon all the latest inventions of mankind in 50 years. To give modern electronics the effect of antiquity, they are painted in the color of copper or framed with wood. An interesting tactical move is the combination of techniques from different times. For example, a modern tile can be replaced with a gas one, and a keyboard can be found made in the form of a typewriter..

Steampunk room

Steampunk style room design

Steampunk room interior

Naturalness.

In the last century, synthetic materials have not yet become widespread, so the steampunk style in the interior implies naturalness and natural materials for decoration, as well as decoration of premises..

Fiction.

The interior should be reminiscent of travel in time and space, and the more distant its details are from reality, the better. Antique clocks and compasses, rotating gears, as well as pirate paraphernalia will fit here very well..

Stylish steampunk room design

Victorian spirit.

The ideal steampunk room resembles the dwelling of a scientist-inventor from the last century. Decorate it with various elements of steam engines, place furniture in Victorian style and the interior will be almost ready.

Original lighting.

There is definitely no place for modern lamps and lighting fixtures. The best option is gas lamps, which can also be replaced with lamps made with an antique effect..

Steampunk light room

Steampunk in the interior of the room

Colors and materials

The steampunk style is a kind of nostalgia for times long gone. Therefore, the materials used here are characteristic of the twentieth century: brass, iron, leather and wood. Moreover, they are used not only in furniture and accessories, but also a wall finish that imitates them is selected..

Preference is given to rough textures and raw materials, emphasizing the industrial character of the design and making the interior even more spectacular.

Steampunk room

The color palette of the style is muted, even a little gloomy. The main colors are:

beige;
Brown;
black;
Gray.

It is quite permissible to supplement them with shades of red, blue and dark green, as well as any colors with a metallic sheen.

Steampunk room interior

Luxurious steampunk room

Furniture and accessories

When decorating your interior in steampunk style, you don’t have to buy new furniture and upgrade equipment. Old or artificially aged objects will give the apartment a special charm and fit perfectly into the general appearance of the room.

Steampunk furniture is purchased not only in antique shops, but also made independently. It looks simple and completely uncomplicated. Even industrial shelves will do.

However, it is necessary to focus on belonging to the Victorian era. An exquisite sofa with leather upholstery, wooden cabinet furniture, as well as elegant metal fittings are suitable for this..

Stylish steampunk room design

Furniture should be of high quality and solid, look expensive and noble, emphasizing the wealth of the owner. It is preferable to dwell on dark shades of wood, but lightened wood is also suitable for rooms with modest sizes. The decor should be restrained and laconic, and present in the form of metal corners and forged hinges.

Books and bookshelves give the room a special flavor. Chests, boxes and open shelves are also used for storing things..

In search of accessories, head to the attic. Everything that was simply a pity to throw away before will now become a stylish addition to your interior. Feel free to get out chests, boxes, antique clocks, TVs and telephones, and arrange them in your bedroom or living room.

Steampunk bedroom

Steampunk room

Lighting

Steampunk style in the interior of any room pays special attention to lamps. It is they who create the mood, bring this or that atmosphere into the room..

What kind of lighting is better to organize? There are a couple of great ideas.

Industrial style luminaires. The abundance of pipes, deliberately bare wires or even ordinary incandescent lamps will be a reference to the era of industrialization..
Classic or Victorian chandeliers. Such a luxury item will suit an apartment with a high ceiling and owners with good taste. Such a light source will attract attention to itself, so you need to try to make it look not too pretentious and fit into the overall design of the room..

Steampunk red room

Steampunk living room

The steampunk living room will immediately let guests know that the owners of this apartment are creative and non-standard people. In order to make an impression, you do not need lush decor, expensive modern technology, or luxury furniture. You only need a creative approach and a willingness to implement the most daring ideas..

The main task of arranging a steampunk living room is to properly distribute the space. The room should not be cluttered, but also not look empty. Let your living room feel like a creative mess and move around with ease and convenience..

Steampunk room design

Consider lighting in advance. Choose original luminaires with soft, subdued light. Look out for Victorian chandeliers and metal sconces.

The decoration of the room is carried out in such a way that the freshness of the renovation is not striking: old wooden parquet, rough plaster or untreated brick on the walls. Designers also suggest using wallpaper with an unusual pattern. It can be an imitation of natural wood or stone, images of various mechanisms or geographical maps..

The color palette of steampunk is quite restrained, so it is better to save bright solutions for another occasion. However, it is perfectly acceptable to diversify the interior with several catchy details: sofa cushions, carpets, curtains or other items..

Beautiful steampunk room

Forget boring standard furniture and accessories. Structures striking the imagination of a man of the twentieth century, tables and chairs on wheels, metal racks with a rusty coating – all these ideas are the embodiment of steampunk in its purest form..

Decorate the walls with maps showing the way to pirate treasures or abstract schemes of intricate mechanisms.

Steampunk light room

Steampunk in the bathroom

The bathroom and toilet open up a wide scope for the designer to decorate the apartment in the steampunk style. These rooms are ideal for creating such an interior..

A network of decorative pipes and levers will create the desired effect, and their copper tube counterparts can become an alternative to furniture. The sink and bathroom are usually made of stainless metals and noble materials such as marble or granite..

Steampunk room interior

Even ordinary cranes are real works of art here. As if they came to us from the past centuries, these details create the effect of antiquity inherent in steampunk.

It is customary to decorate the walls with decorative tiles in the appropriate theme. Pay attention to the tiles with images of balloons, steam locomotives or an imitation of an old map – that’s what we need..

Summarizing all of the above, we present the main steampunk “chips” that must be used to create the right interior.

Interior element	Peculiarity
Space planning	Not too spacious, but also not cluttered interior. Creative clutter effect.
Materials (edit)	Natural materials characteristic of the last century: Wood Brass Copper Leather
Color spectrum	Calm muted colors: beige, brown, gray.
Finishing	Antique effect Wallpaper and tiles with themed designs Wood parquet Rough textures, raw materials
Lighting	Soft dim light Unusual lamps Victorian chandeliers
Furniture	Old or artificially aged items Leather upholstery Laconic decor Metal parts and structures
Accessories	Pipes, levers, gears and other mechanical elements are used. The more unusual the accessory, the better..

Steampunk room design

Amazing and unique steampunk will not please everyone, but such an original idea will impress everyone. Immerse yourself in the past while simultaneously looking into an alternative future. The steampunk style in the interior of any room is a portal to a parallel reality, enchanting and alluring.