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Have you heard about the Steampunk decor? This is a unique mix where purely mechanical, hydraulic and steam technology allows the manufacture of machines with futuristic operations. The Steampunk color palette is not as popular as other ways to decorate your home, but it is its uniqueness that makes it so attractive.
The bold combination between the Victorian style and the gears give it a warmer touch than that of the Industrial Decor, and much more metallic than that of the Rustic Decor. Fans of gear-based mechanisms will be delighted with these easy-to-implement interior designs, but first, let’s learn a little about the gender.
What is steampunk about?
Image source: Jenn Hannotte / Hannotte Interiors
Originally, the idea of Steampunk emerged as a subgenre of science fiction where advanced technologies were mixed with Victorian and outdated buildings, which is why it is very rare to know it as a decoration style.
Image source: D’Amore Interiors
Historically, Steampunk was not very popular even in the 80s when it originated, being a niche genre for most audiences. However, new technologies and forms of entertainment have resumed Steampunk on multiple occasions, such as movies or video games, which has made it very popular.
Image source: Jenn Hannotte / Hannotte Interiors
At present, it is relatively easy to find furniture, clothing and other decorative items with this style. Although part of the magic of the genre is to adapt second-hand metal items to a more modern and fanciful style.
The unique appearance offered by this bold mixture of ideas, where machinery worthy of the industrial revolution becomes true pieces of Gothic arts, ends up creating an elegant and very versatile style, which we can adapt to our tastes easily.
Design basics: Steampunk colors
Image source: Theresa Fine
Steampunk color palette puts us in front of a theme where dark and metallic colors are dominant. Whether copper, brown or black, this rusty and industrial appearance is what makes us experiment with Victorian elements and maintain the futuristic fantasy.
These colors can be combined with other neutral tones, but unlike other styles such as minimalism, here we must ensure that they are as dark as possible.
To create some contrasts it is essential to use just the right amount of light colors within the composition, although this can be resolved if we simply add metallic tones to the environment.
The fact that we are dealing with an industrialized style doesn’t mean that we cannot add colors such as blue or green, as long as they remain within a dark spectrum it will work perfectly within the steampunk color scheme.
Applying the Steampunk design inside our home
Image source: D’Amore Interiors
As we mentioned previously, the Steampunk color palette has a strong use of metallic objects of worn appearance. These, with the help of dark colors that give it a gothic tone, create a feeling of warmth that allows keeping the rooms cozy.
Copper and bronze are metals that have a Steampunk appearance by nature and are easily moldable to make any kind of mechanical part.
Image source: D’Amore Interiors
As the design, in general, does not have shiny finish metals, it is complemented with matt colored walls and floors. In the case of floors, some choose to leave it without any coating to achieve a rustic appearance, while the walls benefit from the finishes in eggshell and with 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
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Among the colors that are worth considering when painting our room are brown, black, dark red, dark green, sepia, cream, and any metallic paint regardless of whether it is brown.
There are no limitations when you want to combine the colors or if you simply want to use one, this is free at your discretion, as long as the dark environment is maintained, everything will have a Steampunk result that we will then complement with the decoration.
For example, metal shelves or leather armchairs maintain the Victorian atmosphere and combine very well with all the colors we mentioned previously.
The best materials to get into the style
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If we select the right materials, half of the decoration work will be ready, since we will not need additional touch-ups to make them work within the environment. Similarly, if we use materials that adapt to the Steampunk theme from the beginning, we can make future changes more easily.
As it is inspired by the industrial revolution, it is normal for us to have many materials made of copper. However, you cannot let rust be the only thing that prevails since to preserve the Victorian appearance you need to mix some luxurious-looking colors.
Image source: Modern Vintage Mix
One of the non-metallic materials that work within the Steampunk style is leather. It comes in dark colors and has textures that create an aged appearance.
Some decorative ideas include trunks and shelves made in leather, wood and forged metal parts. Wooden tables with metal-coated edges create a medieval style that can work perfectly with the most modern patterns.
Place gears everywhere
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If there is an element that cannot be missing in any Steampunk room, these are the gears. It can be said that they even work great when placed in clothing. All this decoration composed of mechanical gadgets works ideally to decorate walls and furniture.
Another important element is the steam engine. These, the more fanciful, the better for the overall finish.
Image source: ModVic LLC
If you don’t want to get too far from reality, you can always place old relics of the industrial revolution; between the wear they have and the mechanical operation of yesteryear that is exposed to view, we guarantee that they perfectly meet what is sought in this style.
A house decorated with antiques
Image source: Restoration Resources
Many people believe that you cannot get a flashy home using worn decorations and furnishings. This is false, and it is enough to appreciate worn-out furniture that has been restored to appreciate that they can still fulfill their function and create visual impact.
The best Steampunk color palette is obtained from antiques or second-hand furniture. The only way you should consider buying new furniture from the factory is if they are Victorian style (which are easily recognized as they have a lot of details and accessories).
Image source: Theresa Fine
Many antique stores and restoration workshops are responsible for building furniture from recovered materials that can help you achieve the Steampunk style you are looking for.
The general guideline is that it has an appearance with few refined details since the functionality was more important in the industrial revolution than design. The color scheme can vary between dark and blue tones but always applied to old objects.
Don’t hide the bricks
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 uncovered brick walls. Today, exposed bricks are still widely used in all types of constructions, and if we look for the industrial style of Steampunk, this may be an economical solution to achieve it.
There are occasions when we cannot leave the walls exposed. For these situations, we recommend installing wallpaper with some Victorian pattern that protects the wall and maintains all the style we are looking for.
Instead of paintings, hang maps on the wall
Image source: Wallpaperdirect
For some reason, old maps are found in each old-style room. Perhaps it is due to the movements of conquests and revolutions of past times where it was always good to have a map at hand.
Whatever the case, the Steampunk is no different, so some map, globe, and even a lampshade with a printed map are essential design elements.
Don’t put aside the lighting
Image source: West Ninth Vintage
The old lamps where candles were placed, or those that later worked with oil, are an example of metal manufacturing that has an industrial Steampunk appearance.
Remember the big cathode tubes? These are a piece of glassware that can be perfectly adapted to be a lamp. Other elements that work for the lighting of our room are pipes and bottles since they create a certain old-fashioned science fiction environment.
Take advantage of the pipes as lighting and add them as part of the decoration. In the industries, it is common to see pipes that go from one side to the other, so we will be able to impress our guests when they see a wall that seems taken directly from a factory from 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, it does not necessarily have a line of parameters that we must follow to achieve the style.
Beyond the dark colors, some industrial elements, or to have Victorian antiques in the corners, what we place or not at the end will be our decision.
If you have any ornament that you think can fit the design, simply place it and see if it works. Try many objects until you are satisfied with the result.
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