Published: 06/15/2021 2563 views How to decorate a room in the steampunk style at home or in an apartment? Everything about decoration, furniture, steampunk wallpaper and paintings
Steampunk is steam and punk in one bottle. Anyone who knows English has already translated it, but it’s unlikely that they understood the meaning. How does it fit together? Now we'll tell you. In art in general there is a lot of interesting and bizarre, we will even say that it is symbolic. The style was born from a fantastic literary genre - works about alternative civilizations, in which the main role was given to steam engines and various mechanisms.
How it manifests itself in interior design, what it is based on, what secrets it has, and how to create a steampunk home, read on.
The atmosphere of the steampunk world
Once again about the term, history and main features
With steam, everything is clear, why does the name also include “garbage, waste”? Scientists themselves do not have a clear answer. Some believe that this is an allusion to the lower strata of society, others - the main materials from which steampunk “tools” are made: metal parts, waste machinery. Still others associate the term with a protest against the dominance of urbanization, the technological process and everyday life. In pursuit of imaginary progress, people forget about sincerity, normal human relationships, their individuality and the present.
In the interior, the style reflects the Victorian era, dreams of the grandiose development of steam technology, mechanisms, and not electronics, as is happening now. When decorating premises, designers try to immerse themselves in the life of 19th-century society, to convey their passion for complex mechanics and faith in its success, which will pave the way to an amazing future.
Essentially, this is a fantasy about a parallel world, a reference to all the famous works of Jules Verne, H.G. Wells and other science fiction writers.
The direction was formed by the 80s of the last century and is briefly characterized as “the future from the past.” Among the main varieties are sci-fi, urban and industrial. And each of them is difficult to imagine without a large number of pipes, levers, unusual devices, all kinds of light bulbs and gears. The last element is considered by many to be a symbol of the steampunk style itself.
What is steampunk?
Steampunk style is more often associated with pessimism, cynicism and drama. Elements of utopia can be traced in literature. Animal human instincts are built on greed, anger, greed, lust, envy. However, faith in a bright tomorrow distinguishes the style from cyberpunk and punk.
The main difference in style is in specific mechanical accessories
In clothing, steampunk is manifested through leather elements, stylish goggles, shiny copper and a adherence to Victorian England.
Girls attracted attention with corsets and crinolines with a hood on their heads
Today, steampunk is a modern subculture, widespread in design, graphics, sculpture and computer game development. The main difference in style is in specific mechanical accessories. The design of the premises reveals the presence of levers, gears, and metal elements. The games tell the story of the Victorian era (polished wood, valves, lighting).
In clothing, steampunk is evident through leather elements, stylish goggles, shiny copper and a nod to Victorian England.
Aristocrats at that time wore elaborate top hats, tails and trousers, combined with lace shirts and coats. The girls attracted attention with corsets and crinolines with a hood on their heads. Stockings with garters harmoniously completed the image of the liberated ladies. Workers wore caps, boots and jackets. Among the fashionable accessories, a smoking pipe, a pocket watch on a chain and a cane stood out. Fantastic technologies for that era are reflected in the image of young people of the 21st century.
Stockings with garters harmoniously completed the image of liberated ladies
Among the fashion accessories, a smoking pipe, a pocket watch on a chain and a cane stood out. Fantastic technologies for that era are reflected in the image of young people of the 21st century
Distinctive features in interior design
One of the main places in a steampunk room is occupied by water supply and heating systems. They are not disguised, on the contrary, they are put on public display.
A distinctive feature of the style is pipes on display
The surroundings are complemented by original decorative items: images and models of an airship, airplane, hot air balloon, etc.
The features of this direction include:
- use of exclusively natural materials;
- atypical lighting - lamps that resemble Victorian sconces or gas lamps;
- the presence of retro-styled furniture: covered with wood or coated with copper;
- using gears, printed illustrations with treasure hunt maps, compasses, antique watches and other things as decorative elements;
- the indispensable presence of objects from the past: typewriters, copper dishes, gramophones, telephones.
A classic steampunk room is the perfect atmosphere for a scientist and science fiction lover who lived in the last century. Here the ceiling, floor, walls, furniture sets, and decor will be associated with the Victorian era and fantastic literary works, a past where there was no hint of a computer, or even modern electricity.
Steampunk shoes
The look will be complete if you choose the right shoes, which should be fashionable and exclusive. You can use your regular pair, decorating it with various decorative metal elements. In extreme cases, steampunk boots with high laces or leather shoes with stable heels are suitable. Popular design options:
- Shoes can be styled to resemble the Victorian era. The heel can be small or medium.
- Informal models are suitable, that is, externally heavy ones, for example, high lace-up boots or rough shoes. Girls can choose a pair with a platform, high heels or stilettos. Lacing, buckles and various metal fittings are recommended.
- Steampunk style involves decorating shoes with characteristic elements, for example, gears, bolts, and so on.
Steampunk at home, or Choosing finishing materials
The ceiling should be brutal and asymmetrical, with the obligatory presence of decorative elements. Must-have is a large height, which is sometimes achieved with the help of lighting and light tinting, arched structures, columns, arcs, and upward steps. The optimal color scheme is pastel colors or an image of a starry sky, possible decor is an attached airplane or airship body, metal strips with screws, rivets.
The flooring in rustic steampunk rooms is usually oak. For urban bedrooms and living rooms, suitable parquet or laminate flooring is often chosen, and for bathrooms and kitchens, ceramic tiles imitate discreet, dark stone, marble, rough sea stones, and paving stones.
Parquet, wood trim and metal decor
The walls are also finished with natural materials; bulky options like stone and aged wood are welcome. If the budget is limited or initially modest, you can simply leave the concrete walls or hang wallpaper that matches the stylistic direction.
Steampunk subculture
In design, graphics, games, sculpture and other creative fields, the steampunk style is used, which is based on special mechanical accessories: bolts, gears, levers and other elements. Describing what steampunk means, we note that works about the future and the Victorian era are intertwined here. Now this is a separate subculture that has many fans.
Steampunk clothing
When choosing an image, fans of this subculture in most cases choose for themselves the role of one of the characters of the Victorian era, for example, Frankenstein, Sherlock Holmes, various serial maniacs, travelers, and so on. Steampunk women's clothing does not follow the general rules of stylistics, since it is unique and constantly changes depending on modern trends. The main elements of a wardrobe include the following items: dresses, corsets, skirts, men's trouser suits, coats, and so on.
Outerwear deserves attention, as you cannot do without it during the cold season. The looks can be complemented by aviator jackets, coats and tails, which should be similar in cut to Victorian style models. The Gothic movement has something similar. Finding such things in stores is a difficult task, so you will have to sew things to order or yourself.
Steampunk style includes three varieties:
- Classical. A lightweight option that can be used in everyday life. Steampunk ideas are used from time to time by famous designers. Classic style involves wearing multi-layered skirts, corsets and leather items.
- Fantastic. Clothing in this type of steampunk looks original and looks more like a carnival costume. There are no strict rules and canons in creating an image.
- Technical. The silhouette in this form is more rough, and the clothing contains a large number of decorative elements. It is important to pay attention to accessories. This steampunk style is specific, so not everyone will be able to create a harmonious image.
Steampunk costumes
We should start with the fact that the steampunk style does not have a clear gender boundary, so women can safely choose shirts, trousers and ties in men’s styles. Clothing for girls in the steampunk style follows the models of the Victorian era; for example, blouses should fit tightly to the figure, forming folds at the neck. Things should be made from natural fabrics of a neutral shade. Blouses with lace in pastel colors look good. Steampunk style recommends using a corset that emphasizes a feminine figure. It is worn as underwear and over shirts.
Steampunk dresses
This element of a woman’s wardrobe in the steampunk style has a complex design; for example, the dress necessarily combines a corset and a voluminous skirt, which often has an asymmetrical shape, that is, it is short in the front and reaches the floor in the back. Steampunk dresses have several layers, which are framed by a large number of gathers. There are models in which skirts are replaced with a design that includes torn parts of fabric, decorated with various elements.
Steampunk skirt
Dense fabrics are used to create skirts, and they can have different lengths. The main feature of this part of the wardrobe is the presence of a bustle, a special lining consisting of a large number of gathers. Steampunk items have a lot of frills, most of them with ruffles, so they are voluminous. Skirts can be one color or include several different shades.
Steampunk wallpaper: what to look for in stores?
Pay attention to products with luxurious decor and elements characteristic of the era. You can take collections that directly remind you of the main theme - rolls with painted gears, clocks, and various mechanisms. Those with futuristic images, balloons, and airships are also suitable. Imitation of brick, rust, old maps, concrete, and metal will also look great.
Wallpaper and bedroom decoration in steampunk style
If such solutions are not close to you, take a closer look at special decorative paints, especially the colors of precious stones. Create a velvety effect or simply choose a pretty tone from a dark palette of green, blue, and brown.
Steampunk jewelry is only handmade
The color scheme of the suit is built around dark brown, blue, purple and burgundy tones, diluted with powdered beige shades: in the era of steam engines, city streets were not sparkling clean! However, things don't look dull if you decorate them with sparkling rivets made of copper, brass and stainless steel. Militarized steampunk clothing fits well on a slender figure - leather flight jackets, overcoats and double-breasted trench coats with polished copper buttons.
Steampunk clothing will immediately let you know who is in front of you
The final touch before going out is handmade steampunk jewelry. Unusual brooches, earrings, rings and pendants for girls are assembled on chains or jewelry cables from screws, gears, nuts, bolts, keys and other parts, adding beads, stones, rhinestones, feathers and other decorative elements. Men's steampunk jewelry is also often found: signet rings and leather bracelets with built-in dials of watches and navigation instruments are very popular.
Steampunk makeup for Halloween
All ages love steampunk
More details about flowers and furniture
The most suitable shades for decoration are rotten green, mahogany, old gold, brown, walnut, rust. It is better to choose wooden furniture sets, mainly from such exotic species as rosewood and teak. Armchairs and sofas should be leather and quilted - these are the models that fit perfectly into classic and retro interiors. The presence of comfortable armrests is just a plus!
Chesterfield sofa in a Steampunk interior
Experts allow adding furniture typical of a loft to the interior. For example, cast iron and folding chairs, coffee tables on steel wheels, metal cabinets, which are usually found in workshops. You can safely use various antique items - things that have long been collecting dust in the attics of grandmothers' houses. Let's say an old painted floor lamp, chairs, parts of a gas stove, sewing or typewriter, sheets of metal.
DIY steampunk cylinder
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