On the one hand, steampunk refers to the Victorian era, the industrial revolution, on the other hand, it is associated with famous fairy-tale aesthetics from science fiction films. It is also called Victorian Science Fiction! How to create a steampunk style in the interior with your own hands, photos of room design, tips on how to choose furniture, accessories, lighting - this will be discussed in the article.
What is Steampunk style?
The name of the peculiar style arose from a combination of two English words:
- “steam” - steam, which became a symbol of inventions of the 19th century;
- “punk” – a tendency refers to rebellion, rebellion, breaking of normal patterns.
This is steampunk, combining Victorian elegance, surprising with punk spice, an unobvious choice of accents, straight from the dark mechanized world. The style is mysterious, a little mystical.
Steampunk, known as Victorian Science Fiction, was originally a science fiction trend stylistically dating back to the Victorian era, during the Industrial Revolution. It created a dark industrial vision of the past, inventions that never came to be. In the literature, authors often referred to the following works:
- Jules Verne;
- Herbert George Wells;
- Arthur Conan Doyle.
The trend has settled in other areas of culture - cinema, comics, fashion, computer games. It's a combination of Victorian darkness with industrial elegance, nineteenth-century machinery. Interior architects also take inspiration from this aesthetic.
The interior contains:
- a lot of old wood, full of characteristic discolorations, cracks;
- a large amount of copper;
- steel;
- glass.
Steampunk is a bit industrial, but the urban chic definitely gives way to Victorian, vintage elements.
What to make crafts from in the steampunk style
Many apartment owners have already chosen the extravagant steampunk style to decorate their rooms. Non-standard and new, it is suitable for people who are ready to create and create original objects using scrap materials.
The following materials are suitable:
- old wood that has changed color and has cracks;
- copper, brass, bronze, steel parts - steampunk metal;
- leather and glass;
- obsolete, written-off items and equipment;
- metal and glass pipes, valves;
- old mechanisms, which, after disassembly, are reassembled, creating a new masterpiece;
- Don’t forget about gears and gears – the main components of interior style.
Many crafts, made by craftsmen with inspiration and dedication, are used both for decoration and for use in the home.
Color design
The interiors are romantic, kept in a relatively dark color palette.
Among the characteristic colors, the following can be particularly highlighted:
- a lot of brown;
- the colors of rotten greens;
- walnut shades;
- Red tree;
- shades of rust;
- old gold
Furniture selection
When choosing furniture, the main role is given to wood. The style prefers dark shades, so you can choose exotic breeds:
- teak;
- rosewood;
- merbau.
Leather chairs and sofas are popular - preferably quilted, with comfortable armrests. Furniture in the Chesterfield style looks great!
You can take a chance and introduce typical loft furniture:
- coffee tables on steel wheels;
- cast iron chairs;
- metal cabinets from working workshops;
- reclining chairs, like in old movie theaters.
Selection of materials – opposites attract
An original interior is created by combining durable, delicate materials:
- leather;
- delicate fabrics;
- lace;
- silk.
The next combination is a combination of Victorian patterns (for example, a floral cover of a sofa) and gilding with elements from the lofts - a tangle of pipes, glass, concrete, visible on the wall.
Connecting the past with the future
In addition to classic, elegant furniture, you should choose original models; there is no need to be afraid of experiments. You can safely design a steampunk style with your own hands, using items from your grandmother’s attic:
- the bottom of an old sewing machine turned into a table;
- old floor lamp, updated with paint;
- antique chairs.
A chair made of sheet metal and trimmed with rivets? Great! Steampunk style is a romance of the past with a bold vision of the future. Interiors should look as if they were designed by 19th century visionaries thinking about how the world would change over the centuries.
Features of steampunk style
To decorate a room in this style, it is necessary to use mainly natural materials: wood, metal, glass, stone. When choosing modern materials, it is best to give preference to laminate, linoleum, veneered or acrylic surfaces, which should imitate natural materials.
By adhering to some principles and rules, you can decorate your home in the steampunk style in such a way that it combines not only unusualness and originality, but also convenience and comfort.
- Light. The steampunk style prefers a gloomy atmosphere, so the light here is in most cases soft and diffused, not too bright. It is very important to choose graceful or wall lamps in the Victorian era or classical style that will fit into the interior. The original option would be industrial lamps made of metal, pipes, ordinary incandescent lamps or gas-discharge lamps that blink and make noise. Instead of one bright light source, it is best to use several small ones.
- Ceiling. Steampunk prefers high ceilings with asymmetrical lines, vaults, and arches. Stripes of cold metal combined with screws and rivets will give a feeling of brutality. The fabric goes well with the wood. Modern materials include laminate, acrylic, veneer and other special coatings.
- Walls. In addition to the standard budget option - painting in neutral colors, there are a large number of wall finishing options. The walls can be covered with panels made of natural wood or a good imitation of it, lined with stone or using metal panels. In the steampunk style, time-worn brickwork or fabric cladding is acceptable. Photo wallpapers with interesting designs of drawings, maps, and mechanisms will fit perfectly into the interior.
- Floor. The best option for flooring is natural varnished wood or imitation wood, laminate, parquet. In the kitchen and bathroom you can use decorative tiles that imitate stone.
Fashionable mechanisms
This style rejects intrusive electronics, but loves everything related to mechanics.
Gears
Gears must definitely appear in these provocative interiors - the older the better! It’s worth going to a flea market, looking for gears from antique dealers, in old workshops. You can find a designer who can make decorative gears.
Candlesticks, lamps, stylish decor
Interesting additions - a candlestick, a mirror frame, a lamp. The following items are welcome:
- bolts;
- pistons;
- teeth;
- various machine parts.
Accents with soul
In addition to “mechanized” jewelry, it is worth choosing antique, antique objects with soul:
- paintings, pictures;
- watch;
- globes;
- microscopes;
- telescopes;
- astrolabe;
- old maps;
- old photos;
- leather suitcases;
- chests.
Often it is the additions that create a unique atmosphere. It combines the richness of the Victorian style with elements related to the development of science and technology. You need to take the time to find trinkets from the 19th century (original or stylized).
Stylish wall decorations:
- yellowed black and white photographs;
- old maps;
- herbariums with a frame, sketches of biology lessons.
Unusual additions:
- old watches, their mechanisms;
- barometers;
- telescopes;
- old typewriters.
A steampunk room should look a little like the films about the adventures of Sherlock Holmes! Airships will perfectly decorate the interior:
- layouts;
- plans;
- miniatures.
Steampunk is not only a sophisticated retro aesthetic in modern interiors, but also a meeting of old mechanics with modern technology. Contrary to appearance, this combination works in any interior - in men's and women's bedrooms, so it is enough to distribute the additives correctly.
Steampunk is an excellent offer for lovers of history, romance, and eclecticism.
Steampunk: the choice of a free person
Interior design in the steampunk style combines seemingly incredible things: Victorian style and industrial hardcore, gothic and futuristic images. This conceptual mixture amazes the imagination and brings a special, incomparable atmosphere to the home. Despite this, steampunk remains a very romantic style.
Interior design in steampunk style
This trend inspires not only fans of science fiction literature, but also young, extraordinary individuals with a rich imagination. Steampunk looks as if time stood still during the era of steam engines. This is the choice of those who like to live in a world that is so different from the surrounding reality.
Steampunk furniture
Style identification
Steampunk originated in the 80s of the 20th century against the backdrop of humanity's craze for science fiction. This is perhaps the only direction that did not need advertising on the covers of glossy magazines. Authentic, daring and so romantic steampunk was fueled by stories from books.
Interior design in steampunk style
The concept of the direction is based on the use of steam engines and their parts in the design: gears, pistons, levers. The steampunk style interior looks attractive not only in the photo. In this manner you can decorate almost any room: office, living room, kitchen, bathroom.
Apartment design in steampunk style
In order for a house to match the steampunk style, you must adhere to several rules:
- The obligatory presence in the interior of antique objects and decorative elements in the Victorian style.
- Availability of vintage furniture and natural materials for finishing the room.
- A steampunk interior is not complete without handmade items.
A characteristic feature of the direction was the display of communications and pipelines. You can play around with heating appliances in a very stylish way without hiding them from prying eyes. Batteries decorated with decorative pipes will become an unusual and attractive accent.
Unusual doors in steampunk style
In interior design in the steampunk style you can also find all kinds of aircraft. These include futuristic airships and hot air balloons. It is not necessary to use models of real or fictitious mechanisms. Aircraft can be depicted in paintings and posters, and can also be present in the form of prints on textiles.
Airships in steampunk style interiors
There is a thin but clear line between the industrial, loft and steampunk styles. The directions are quite similar to each other and can be combined with each other. Designers are happy to combine these styles, creating unique and exciting interiors.
Steampunk style in the interior: colors and materials
It is unlikely that you will find synthetics and plastic in a genuine steampunk interior. This direction favors the use of wood, brick and stone, glass and metal. If you are not ready to spend a large amount of money on purchasing natural finishing materials, then pay attention to options that imitate their appearance, color and texture. Use laminate and veneer as an alternative to natural wood, or use acrylic paints to imitate metallic finishes on surfaces.
Steampunk wallpaper
The first thing that catches your eye in steampunk interiors is the abundance of brown in all its forms. In order to recreate an authentic design, it is necessary to resort to imitation of sooty surfaces and smoke. This effect is achieved through the use of appropriate colors: variations of black, gray, brown. Bright colors are also appropriate: emerald, burgundy, wine, rich blue.
Interior design in steampunk style
A steampunk interior is not complete without shades of bronze and brass. They, like brown, prevail over other colors. These are natural shades of pipes, machine parts and metal panels with which walls are finished.
Metal pipes in steampunk items
Red, rusty, black walls
What wallpaper is suitable for steampunk? The best wallpapers have rich embellishments.
You can look for interesting steampunk wallpapers with characteristic decor:
- airships, hot air balloons;
- images of watches, gears, various mechanisms;
- futuristic drawings;
- imitating ancient maps;
- imitating concrete, brick;
- imitation of metal, rust.
The basis of the design is a combination of contrasts in the choice of colors and materials. A characteristic, effective combination is a duet of black with red and metal (steel, copper). It can be achieved by matching black leather sofas or Chesterfield chair with rusty red or copper color on the accessories, wall. In the latter case, you can achieve a distinctive effect by decorating the wall, architectural element - baseboards, fireplace with copper, rust.
There are many original solutions to choose from:
- wallpaper;
- photo wallpaper;
- special decorative paints.
A metallic wall in a dark shade or jewel tone is a popular decor trend that can be achieved using acrylic paints with metallic pigments. Victorian style is great for original wall decoration with a velvet effect. You can choose an industrial style:
- concrete;
- brick;
- rust effect paint.
It is advisable to balance an attractive wall decoration with white and dark colors:
- brown;
- sepia;
- creamy;
- dark blue;
- dark green.
It's worth choosing one strong accent color and filling it with a palette of neutral colors.
Steampunk in the interior and Victorian furniture
The abundance of leather in furniture upholstery will help to play up the aesthetics of the steam era. A leather Chesterfield sofa and a pair of discreet classic armchairs are the perfect company for steampunk.
Good quality leather furniture
Luxurious Chesterfield sofa against the backdrop of an old world map
Old sewing tables with simple Gothic forged elements in the finish can be used instead of a console table in the living room or bedroom. This is also an excellent solution instead of a TV stand, provided that it is hung from the wall.
Idea! A plasma screen or computer monitor can be framed in gold or copper, and a wall heater or climate control panel can be styled to resemble the shiny control unit of an old deep-sea submarine.
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As a coffee or coffee table, you can use a massive retro chest or a suitcase with an abundance of metal locks and rivets. Filmmakers used approximately the same ones during the filming of the series of films about the world of Harry Potter by JK Rowling.
Idea! Several thin curved pipes can serve as an unusual bookshelf. Don't worry if they are old and worn, these are the copies that will look most advantageous as the basis for plump tomes with gilded, worn-out spines.
Black kitchen set with brass trim
Coffee table with a mechanism that plays a decorative role
Original laboratory
Spectacular steampunk loves “laboratory” elements. You can safely invite the following items into the interior:
- characteristic tubular screens;
- steel tables mounted on wheels;
- glazed medical cabinets.
Interesting fact! A popular restaurant decorated in this style used chairs reminiscent of a dentist's patient's chair to add some flair!
The following decorations will help emphasize the laboratory aesthetics:
- glass elements in the form of test tubes;
- flasks;
- droppers;
- jars.
An interesting decoration is black and white engravings of fauna and flora, reminiscent of illustrations from 19th century encyclopedias.
Basic types, principles and characteristics
As an interior style, steampunk embodied all of the above trends. It is often called museum style, since living spaces decorated in this vein resemble the sets of science fiction films and are filled with outlandish objects, as if delivered from some parallel world. Living in such an environment is not easy, so decorating an apartment in the spirit of steampunk is often chosen by creative people who draw inspiration from unusual projects and fantasies - designers, artists, musicians or simply fans of this trend in science fiction.
There are three main subtypes of this interior style:
- retro-futurism (involves mixing antique objects of the Victorian era with various mechanisms consisting of pipes, gears, valves, stylized as lamps, decorative panels, coffee tables);
- urban steampunk (in this direction, industrial motifs prevail over the ancient furnishings, only the background, wall decoration, floors, colors and lighting remain from the Victorian era, the entire steel space is occupied by complex mechanisms or their stylization as household items);
- fantastic steampunk (the most free interpretation, allowing you to fantasize about “what would happen if the world was ruled not by electric, but by steam mechanisms).
Main differences
The principles of creating an apartment interior in the steampunk style are as follows:
- the predominance of natural materials (no plastic, only wood, glass, metal and stone);
- any furniture or interior items are stylized as antique (from sofas and tables to wall decoration and computers with TVs), sheathed in wood, trimmed with copper or painted in the desired shade, or have a completely futuristic look;
- lamps must be designed in Victorian style or made in the form of pipes, gears, lamps stylized as gas lamps, without lampshades or shades;
- in decor, objects, surface finishing, the main symbols of the steam industrial era should be present everywhere (wheels, gears, valves, pipes consisting of many complex bends;
- Genuine or specially aged household items and measuring instruments (globes, compasses, telescopes, steering wheels, world maps, models of sailing ships, gramophones, printing and sewing machines) give the interior a museum-like quality and special chic.
Lighting
This style loves lamps! Ideally, these are steampunk lamps, built from bare, vintage-style designer light bulbs. You can use table lamps decorated with:
- gears;
- screws;
- caterpillars;
- other items from the machine shop.
A great idea is oil lamps, which act as a capricious addition to classic lighting - instead of ordinary candles and recently fashionable lanterns.
Original finishing elements
When arranging your interior, it is important to use every industrial detail you can find. Original technical elements – favorite decoration:
- damp, brick, concrete walls;
- steel beams, columns;
- technical boxes;
- antique stoves;
- pipe fragments;
- cables.
The more colorful accents, the more authentic the design looks.
Punk style elements
There are more "punk" elements than "steam" elements here. Furniture and accessories “with pepper” will allow you to add more punk:
- furniture decorated with stilettos and spikes;
- wall cladding with rivets;
- staircases finished with corrugated metal.
Such elements are closer to the modern trend, which in this interior should naturally intertwine with the elegant, rather dark Victorian design.
A little about the origins of the steampunk style in the interior
American science fiction writer Kevin Wayne Jeter is considered the father of steampunk. It was he who, in the spring of 1987, used the word steampunk (translated from English steam - steam; punk - punk) as a more capacious and somewhat ironic alternative to the existing literary movement of cyberpunk.
The key difference between steampunk and cyberpunk was its emphasis on real-life or at least conditionally acceptable technologies (steam power plants, airships and submarines) and a craving for elements of Victorian fiction. A striking example of this is H. G. Wells’s novel “The Time Machine.”
Therefore, if you read his novels in your youth, adored “Captain Nemo” by Jules Verne, the atmosphere of the worlds of William Gibson and China Miéville, then the daring and bold design steampunk will definitely not leave you indifferent. So where to start?
Wall decor using mechanisms
Giant installation at the entrance to the living room
