The steampunk style in the interior personifies a kind of alternative reality in which steam engines and mechanisms, rather than electronics, received the main development. This retro-futuristic style reflects the characteristics of the Victorian era and fantasizes about the development of steam technology.
Designers and amateurs working on the creation of such interiors try to imagine the thoughts of people of the 19th century, who sincerely believed in the success of the development of complex mechanics, and implement these images in individual rooms and decorative details.
You can get inspiration and ideas for interior design in the steampunk style from books and film adaptations by such writers as H.G. Wells, Jules Verne and Albert Robida.
Proper design of details plays an important role here. A thorough approach to design fully embodies the warmth, originality and desire for the unknown that characterize this style.
Steampunk in the interior: conceptual features
- Stylized household appliances, furnishings and decorative items;
Natural materials in finishing and design. - Original decor. Old maps and globes, typewriters, compasses, grandfather clocks with a pendulum, and other antique paraphernalia.
Designers take ideas for creating creative decor from steampunk and science fiction literature dedicated to time travel and alternative reality. - Presence in decorative design elements of steam mechanisms - these can be real interior details or images on wallpaper, posters and paintings.
- Original lighting fixtures. Modern lamps and chandeliers are not suitable for decorating a steampunk interior; they are replaced with unusual sconces, lamps and floor lamps, which can be styled independently or to order.
Finishes and materials
Wood, metal, glass, stone, ceramic tiles, leather and natural fabrics are the main materials used for finishing and decorating rooms in the steampunk style.
Walls in this style are often covered with wood, plastered, painted, and covered with photo wallpaper in the steampunk style or imitating brickwork. Brick walls You can leave it as is, without finishing.
The ceiling is whitewashed, painted, and covered with wood.
Ceramic tiles are laid on the floor, parquet board, parquet or laminate. 
Style colors
The color palette of the style involves the use of warm and restrained tones - from light cream to red-brown and black. They decorate not only walls or ceilings, but also individual decorative accent details.
Often used metallic colors: copper, silver, brass, bronze and gold. Heavy metallic colors can be diluted with smoky blue, green, blue, indigo and light gray shades. 
Style furniture
Furniture in the Victorian style will organically fit into the steampunk interior: a leather Chesterfield sofa, large comfortable armchairs with copper rivets, a secretary, etc. 
Furniture equipment will be complemented by open metal shelving filled with books, forged chairs, creative coffee table in the spirit of steampunk and other stylized furniture. 
Furniture pieces assembled by yourself, for example, shelves made of iron tubes or an all-metal table, will make the room unique. 
Decor and accessories
To make modern household appliances fit more authentically into such an interior, you can stylize them as antique; alternatively, you can repaint them copper or enclose them in a wooden case.
Stylized household appliances Black and white photographs and paintings in metal frames will be an excellent decoration, original panels from gears, tubes, chains and plates, as well as other futuristic DIY crafts.
Don’t forget about antique world maps, a globe, drawings, as well as a spyglass and compass, which will bring the spirit of travel to your interior. 
Let's look at examples of what other decorative details accompany a steampunk interior.
As a child, did you read the novels of Arthur Conan Doyle and discover the world of Jules Verne? You may like the steampunk style, which is also gaining popularity thanks to the modern, but full of Victorian gadgets, films about the adventures of Sherlock Holmes. Steampunk - relatively new trend, absolutely unique!
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 number of copper;
- steel;
- glass.
Steampunk is a bit industrial, but the urban chic definitely gives way to Victorian, vintage elements.
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
Choosing furniture main role given to wood. The style prefers dark shades, so you can choose exotic breeds:
- 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
Original interior 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, it is worth choosing 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:
- bottom from old sewing machine, turned into a table;
- old floor lamp, updated with paint;
- antique chairs.
Chair made from sheet metal and finished 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.
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 jewelry walls:
- 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 technologies. 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.
Red, rusty, black walls
What wallpaper is suitable for steampunk? Best wallpapers decorated with rich decorations.
You can look for interesting steampunk wallpapers with characteristic decor:
- airships, 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 with copper, rust, architectural element– baseboards, fireplace.
There are many original solutions to choose from:
- wallpaper;
- photo wallpaper;
- special decorative paints.
Wall with a metallic sheen in a dark shade or color precious stones is a popular decor trend that can be achieved by using acrylic paints with metal pigments. Victorian style is great for original decoration walls with 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 is worth choosing one strong accent color and filling it with a palette neutral colors.
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.
Lighting
This style loves lamps! Ideally, these are steampunk lamps, built from “naked” designer light bulbs in vintage style. Can be used desk lamp, decorated:
- gears;
- screws;
- caterpillars;
- other items from the machine shop.
A great idea - oil lamps, acting as a capricious addition to classic lighting- instead of ordinary candles, 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:
- raw, 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 modern trend, which in this interior should naturally intertwine with the elegant, rather dark Victorian design.
Conclusion
The combination of Victorian elegance with industrial austerity, symbols of the industrial revolution, looks intriguing. The stylistic trend called steampunk can be successfully used in interior design. This is an offer for lovers of eclecticism, retro, Sherlock Holmes. Steampunk is truly an amazing style! While not everyone will like this type of aesthetic, everyone should learn about it – even out of curiosity.
Production designer Roger Morgan once said that steampunk is “the dream of the past about the future.”
Doesn't such a dream apply to us - who can imagine what reality will look like in 100 years?
Among the replicated fashionable interior images, you can still find truly original ideas. Steampunk style in the interior is not a very frequent guest in the design of our apartments. Meanwhile, this design is quite capable of giving a completely new, fresh and original perception of the living space. Don't let the unfamiliar name scare you. It is quite possible to design steampunk with your own hands; it belongs to decorative styles, its concept is used both as a base and as an integral part of retro, vintage and some other design images.
Creating a steampunk style: basic rules
Who first came up with the idea, which later took shape in the artistic direction of steampunk, is not known for certain. This happened between 1960 and 1980. Initially, steampunk was an informal hobby of some creative people who were fascinated by the romantic stories of Jules Verne, images of scientific romanticism of the past, stormy industrial development 19th century. Back then, life-changing new products appeared almost monthly, and fundamental scientific discoveries poured in as if from a cornucopia. It was on the basis of the artistic images of that time that the current steampunk style arose. It represents a combination of Victorian style and elements of the scientific and industrial revolution of the past. What are the main features of this style?
Its history goes back no more than half a century, however, it is characterized by an orientation towards historical styles. In particular, it is easy to guess the elements of Victorian, retro, and modern design. This manifests itself in color scheme, selection of materials, decors, furniture design, choice of textiles.
A steampunk room will never look new, just renovated. It will have to give it the patina of time, the reflection of years gone by. This is achieved using matte paints and textures, colors that absorb color and natural finishing materials.
Steampunk cannot happen without elements industrial style 19th century. Antique globes, models of airships, geographic Maps of that time, biplane models, various devices in wooden and copper cases. Some use laboratory equipment with antique fasteners and intricately shaped flasks. Antique models of telephones, typewriters, and telescopes will also help create the image.
Steampunk interiors can be very detailed and have Victorian influences. However, steampunk is more organized; it can be called centered, having a mandatory logical core. You cannot simply saturate a space with antique or pseudo-antique things and consider that the goal has been achieved. Steampunk requires a clear concept that defines the entire image of the room. The central idea of the interior is usually associated with the stages of scientific or geographical discoveries. Circumnavigation of the world, northern expeditions, history of air exploration, technological improvement of everyday life, chemical experiments or the powerful stride of physical geniuses, engineering ideas inspire designers to create original and romantic images.
Steampunk elements can be integrated into a retro or Victorian style, creating fresh accents for modern or even current loft or industrial trends. However, this does not mean that steampunk does not have its own face. It is perfect for decorating offices, living rooms, and is readily used for children's rooms. This style helps to develop and activate Creative skills, while creating a very homely and even cozy atmosphere, filled with beautiful stories and memories of the future.
Interior in steampunk style: colors, materials, furniture
What elements of decoration and furnishings will help create a real steampunk atmosphere? Let's start with the preferred color scheme.
Shades that will make it possible to create the necessary background are in the spectrum of warm natural tones. The predominant colors are brown, beige, and all their variations, from amber to the color of bog oak.
In modern versions of the style, neutral tones are chosen as the background, which have only a hint of color. Milky and bluish shades are especially popular, creating an authentic atmosphere.
You can and should use rich colors from the natural palette. Lingonberry, dark green, sky blue, milky and vanilla will help create the right color mood. Rich shades of brown, terracotta, azure, ultramarine will make the image brighter and deeper. As accents, use the colors of antique bronze and brass, from which the metal parts of ancient mechanisms were made.
Help brighten the interior delicate shades retro. Use cream, mignonette or pale blue to highlight individual objects or areas in the room's decor.
What materials are best for a steampunk interior?
Definitely natural. We remember that the Victorian style became the basis for the formation of steampunk images, and its basis is natural wood, leather, and linen. Metal parts made of brass and bronze.
Therefore, choose natural finishes, preferring wood and leather, porcelain and linen. Metal and glass can and should be in the interior, but they are definitely touched by the stamp of the elapsed time. A slight retro touch is quite appropriate for steampunk, but it should not be excessive and glaring.
Various stone masonry options can be used to decorate the walls. Metal elements will add stylistic authenticity. These can be shelves, lamps, hanging candelabra, forged elements, engraved plates.
Steampunk is often complemented with textured elements. Unpolished wood, wild stone, metal from which scale and rust have not been removed. All this should be just an accent on the main restrained background. An overabundance of such details will turn steampunk into the underground, and that's a completely different story.
Steampunk furniture
It is best to take one made from natural materials. Perfect fit wooden structures, leather or cotton, as well as teak upholstery.
A dark-colored tree looks noble, Lately There is a trend towards using bleached wood furniture in interiors. This gives the interior a cool and spacious feel and also enhances the Scandinavian accent.
Traditional to Victorian style leather furniture will fit perfectly into any steampunk image, giving it solidity. This choice is especially good for decorating an office. Leather sofa dark colors, several models of vintage airplanes, an old geographical map on the wall will immediately create the desired image with just a few strokes.
Choose furniture that is proportional, good quality, good quality. Decorations and decors should not be too abundant. It is better to exclude carvings, curlicues and other romantic elements altogether; they violate the integrity of the image. Much more appropriate metal corners, brass fittings or forged hinges.
Suitable furniture accessories would be a dark wood coffee table, a chest with copper corners, or a set of leather camping boxes with maps printed on them.
Storage places can be closed or combined. Cabinets with glass doors or bookcases are quite appropriate. open shelves. Books for steampunk are a must-have element of presence. They create an atmosphere and give a special flavor to the entire room.
Interior steampunk - photos, images, ideas
There are some of the most recognizable examples of this style that can become Starting point for your own interior fantasies.
One of the most popular, and at the same time, accessible, images of this interior is engineering or machine steampunk. To create it, various elements of mechanisms are actively used.
The easiest way to achieve the desired effect is to use several different sized gears, old watches and dials. In this image, simple, laconic forms of furniture, open storage spaces, table lamps with a metal lampshade, as well as an imitation of a workbench or engineer’s desk look organic.
The effect of aged paint looks good, brickwork or a roughly plastered wall. All this only enhances the impression of the room of a real mechanical genius, who has no time to monitor the situation too closely, because his head is busy inventing a new mechanism!
Among romantics and travelers, the image of a glorious explorer of unknown routes is very popular. Even if there are no blank spots left on the map now, it is all the more pleasant to dream about those times when the curious had real opportunity make a discovery or verify from your own experience the existence of terra incognita.
Ancient geographical maps, which can decorate a wall, be used as photo wallpaper, or be printed on fabric, will help create such an image. This one relies on an oldie but trusty desk from natural wood, behind which a great traveler can write travel notes. On the shelves are various ethnic, geographical and biological curiosities from travel.
A pair of leather suitcases with multi-colored tags and a solid chest with iron corners will organically complement the interior. The furniture may look old, in a retro style. The general background is chosen neutral or, on the contrary, mysterious, deep, dark. In the latter case, African masks and ebony figurines are suitable for decoration.
The next steampunk idea is directly related to scientific thought. A scientist's room, ordered, as befits an analyst's room, or, on the contrary, chaotic, like the lair of a mad genius. This image inspires many fans to create own options steampunk.
The chosen concept must meet all the requirements of comfort, because science requires time and effort. Nice furniture, convenient layout, enough space for relaxation, plenty of storage - this is what it looks like modern room in the style of scientific steampunk.
Trending now bright hues, although just a few years ago this style was unthinkable without wall panels dark wood and leather furniture.
The original image will be ensured by the details. This could be a drawing of a new laboratory, a model of an airplane, a workbench with laboratory glassware On him.
Metal floor lamps in retro style look great in the interior. Light in steampunk rarely has one source. Several lamps of different geometries look authentic; they allow you to create the necessary accents and highlight a room area.
Books greatly decorate the interior, so small library on open shelves - this is what you need to create a successful image.
Unexpected and practical solutions form one of the philosophical foundations of steampunk. Regular blackboard in this office has become an original and convenient element of daily work.
Steampunk style in the interior helps not only to return to romance scientific discoveries, great geographical travels and the rise of engineering, but also helps to logically and intelligently organize living space. There is very little idle or excessive decoration in this style. Most of its elements have a pragmatic purpose, despite their retro image. Such interiors will not leave indifferent people with imagination, a romantic note in their character and simply those who have not yet lost interest in understanding the world around them.
We continue to tell you about such an unusual interior style as steampunk. First part of the article: . In it, we looked at how to create the basis for a style - finishes, colors and lighting. This style is truly revealed by furniture and decorative elements, we will talk about them.
Furniture
The furniture shows a close connection between the Victorian style and steampunk. All chairs, armchairs and sofas will be reminiscent of that era. The most classic would be brown leather upholstered furniture with brass or bronze details.
Another variant upholstered furniture for steampunk reflects its futuristic part. Chair in metal casing will fit perfectly.
The rest of the furniture follows the same principle - wood and antique or brutal metal. Often cabinets are turned into strange steam engines, decorated with valves and gears. And the best place for books is a shelf made of water pipes.
To implement steampunk in the kitchen, cabinets are often made to look like ovens or fireboxes of a steam locomotive. Stylized the best choice for such an interior.
Decor
In steampunk, even the usual equipment, which you cannot do without, will become decor. Computers, televisions and household appliances, stylized as mechanisms, are a feature of this style.
Many people associate steampunk with nuts, gears and other parts. And, indeed, this is one of the most striking symbols of style. In decoration, gears can be used as part of clocks, lamps and other functional items, or simply as an art object.
It would be appropriate to display antique mechanisms, such as barometers, gauges with dials and hands, and typewriters.
Pipes can not only serve as shelves, but can also be used to decorate a room in all sorts of ways. Valves, pistons - right there. The main thing is that everything is made of copper, brass, or metal artificially aged with bitumen varnish or patina.
Steampunk takes us back to an era when traveling long distances was just becoming possible. Therefore, globes and ancient geographical maps would be appropriate in the interior. In many of the images you will see hats of a characteristic style - also a detail of that time.
Models of steam locomotives, airships and submarines are an excellent addition to the decor. Sometimes things go beyond the scale of the model: this is illustrated by the airship apartment in New York.
Since submarines play a big role in steampunk, it is not surprising that octopuses and huge fish often decorate these interiors. Three Rings Design created an original, ironic interpretation of steampunk for their office in San Francisco. A huge sofa in the shape of an octopus and numerous references to this sea monster became the highlight of the decision.
