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Have you heard of steampunk decor? This is a unique mix in which the purely mechanical, hydraulic and steam technology enables the production of machines with futuristic operation. The steampunk color palette isn’t as popular as other ways to decorate your home, but it’s its uniqueness that makes it so attractive.
The bold combination between the Victorian style and the gears gives it a warmer touch than that of the industrial decor and is much more metallic than that of the rustic decor. Gear mechanism fans will love these easy-to-implement interiors, but let’s learn something about gender first.
What is Steampunk about?
Image source: Jenn Hannotte / Hannotte Interiors
The idea of Steampunk originally emerged as a sub-genre of science fiction, in which advanced technologies were mixed with Victorian and outdated buildings, which is why it is very rare to know them as a style of decoration.
Image source: D’Amore Interiors
Historically, steampunk was not very popular even in the 1980s when it was created and was a niche genre for most viewers. However, new technologies and forms of entertainment have resumed steampunk several times, for example films or video games, which has made it very popular.
Image source: Jenn Hannotte / Hannotte Interiors
It is currently relatively easy to find furniture, clothing, and other decorative items with this style. Although part of the magic of the genre, adapting used metal items to a more modern and imaginative style.
The unique appearance of this bold mix of ideas, in which machines worthy of the industrial revolution become true pieces of Gothic art, creates an elegant and very versatile style that we can easily adapt to our tastes.
Design basics: steampunk colors
Image source: Theresa Fein
The Steampunk color palette presents us with a theme in which dark and metallic colors dominate. Whether copper, brown or black, this rusty and industrial appearance lets us experiment with Victorian elements and preserve the futuristic imagination.
These colors can be combined with other neutral tones, but unlike other styles like minimalism, here we have to make sure they are as dark as possible.
To create some contrasts, it is important to use just the right amount of light colors in the composition. However, this can be fixed if we simply add metallic tones to the environment.
The fact that it’s an industrialized style doesn’t mean that we can’t add colors like blue or green as long as they stay in a dark spectrum, it works perfectly within the steampunk color scheme.
Use of the steampunk design in our house
Image source: D’Amore Interiors
As already mentioned, the Steampunk color palette uses heavily metallic objects with a worn look. With the help of dark colors that give it a Gothic tone, these create a feeling of warmth that makes it possible to keep the rooms cozy.
Copper and bronze are metals that are naturally steampunk in appearance and can be easily molded into any type of mechanical part.
Image source: D’Amore Interiors
Since the design generally has no shiny metals, it is complemented by matt walls and floors. For floors, some choose to leave it uncoated for a rustic look, while the walls benefit from the eggshell surfaces and the installation of wood details.
If you still don’t know what to use, here is a list of some options and materials that you can use to create a steampunk room.
Dark rooms
Image source: Shorten rooms
Colors that should be considered when painting our room include brown, black, dark red, dark green, sepia, cream, and any metallic color, regardless of whether it is brown.
There are no restrictions if you want to combine the colors or if you just want to use one. This is free at your discretion. As long as the dark environment is preserved, everything has a steampunk result, which we then add to the decoration.
For example, metal shelves or leather armchairs retain the Victorian atmosphere and can be combined very well with all of the colors mentioned above.
The best materials to get the style
Image source: Laperla London
If we choose the right materials, half of the decoration work will be done since we don’t need any additional touch-ups to make them work in the environment. If we use materials that adapt to the steampunk theme from the start, we can make future changes more easily.
Since it’s inspired by the industrial revolution, it’s normal for us to have a lot of copper materials. However, you can’t allow rust to dominate just because you need to mix some luxurious-looking colors to get the Victorian look.
Image source: Modern vintage mix
One of the non-metallic materials that work in the steampunk style is leather. It comes in dark colors and has textures that create an aged look.
Some decorative ideas are suitcases and shelves made of leather, wood and forged metal parts. Wooden tables with metal-coated edges create a medieval style that harmonises perfectly with the most modern patterns.
Place gears anywhere
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If there is one element that shouldn’t be missing in any steampunk room, these are the gears. One can say that they work well even when put in clothes. All this decoration made of mechanical devices is ideal for decorating walls and furniture.
Another important element is the steam engine. The more unusual, the better for the overall finish.
Image source: ModVic LLC
If you don’t want to be too far from reality, you can always place old relics of the industrial revolution. Between the wear and tear and yesterday’s mechanical operation that is exposed, we guarantee that they perfectly match the requirements of this style.
A house decorated with antiques
Image source: Recovery resources
Many people believe that you cannot get a striking home with worn decorations and furniture. This is wrong, and it is enough to estimate worn-out furniture that has been restored to realize that it can still perform its function and achieve visual impact.
You can get the best steampunk color palette from antiques or used furniture. The only way to buy new furniture from the factory is to buy it in the Victorian style (which are easy to spot because they contain lots of details and accessories).
Image source: Theresa Fein
Many antique shops and restoration workshops are responsible for building furniture from recycled materials that will help you achieve the desired steampunk style.
The general guideline is that it has an appearance with few nifty details, since functionality was more important than design in the industrial revolution. The color scheme can vary between dark and blue tones, but is always applied to old objects.
Don’t hide the stones
Image source: Giovani Magana
A century ago there was no time to create beautiful appearances on industrial facades. That’s why almost all of them had exposed brick walls. Exposed bricks are still widely used in all types of constructions today, and if we’re looking for the industrial style of steampunk, this can be an economical solution to achieve this.
There are cases where we cannot expose the walls. In these situations, we recommend installing wallpaper with a Victorian pattern that protects the wall and maintains the desired style.
Hang cards on the wall instead of paintings
Image source: Wallpaperdirect
For some reason, old-style maps are found in every room. Perhaps it is because of the conquest movements and revolutions of yesteryear when it was always good to have a map on hand.
However, the steampunk is no different, so some maps, globe and even a lampshade with a printed map are essential design elements.
Do not put the lights aside
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The old lamps in which candles were placed, or those that later worked with oil, are an example of the metal making that has an industrial steampunk look.
Do you remember the big cathode tubes? This is a piece of glass that can be perfectly adapted as a lamp. Other elements that work to illuminate our space are pipes and bottles, as they create a certain old-fashioned science fiction environment.
Use the tubes as lighting and add them as part of the decoration. It is common in industry to see pipes running from side to side, so we can impress our guests when they see a wall that came straight from a factory 100 years ago.
As with any science fiction style, just have fun
Image source: Wallpaperdirect
Steampunk decoration was born as a subgenre of science fiction and, like many others, doesn’t necessarily have a number of parameters that we have to follow to achieve the style.
Aside from the dark colors, some industrial elements, or Victorian antiques in the corners, our decision will be what we end up placing or not.
If you have an ornament that you think will fit the design, just place it and check if it works. Try many objects until you are happy with the result.
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