Last week we touched a little on Steampunk style; a new twist on traditional Victorian decorating.  I wanted to look a little more in depth at this style and explore some of the elements you would want to incorporate in using it as a design theme.  According to this article, there are three main elemental textures important in Steampunk:  wood, metal, and leather.  Brass is the primary metal used in Steampunk, but iron and copper are also appropriate.  When selecting furniture you should choose pieces that are dark, with heavy, industrial lines.  Add the Victorian touch through the use of fabrics such as damask or lace.

No matter how you choose to express it, Steampunk really boils down to the juxtaposition of ideas and materials in your space.  One example of this would be the straight lines of industrial styled furniture next to the curve of an oval picture frame.  Accessorize your room with unique objects you create yourself or with juxtaposition of traditional Victorian accents set on an industrial styled end table.  While reading up on Steampunk I came across this style test to find out what kind of Steampunk best suits you.  If you have a minute, check it out.  I’m a Gadeteer…which one are you?

Victorian decorating has made a comeback in recent years in a fashion you might not recognize; it’s called Steampunk and it combines the fashion of the Victorian era with the technology of the Industrial Revolution.  Toss in some American western wear, military uniforms, and gears and you can begin to get the idea of what this revamp on Victorian style entails.  The “steam” part of this style’s name comes from the romantic notion of steam powered machines, often creations of fiction by authors such as H.G. Wells and Jules Verne, both popular in the Victorian era.  The juxtaposition of the elegance of the Victorian era against the mechanical elements of gears, springs, and fantastic flying machines creates an aesthetic that is appealing to many.  This underground movement that began in the 1980s is becoming more and more popular today.  If you are considering changing up your current Victorian decor you might want to think about adding a few Steampunk pieces in the mix.

If you want to achieve a Victorian decorating scheme in your home but you don’t have a big budget, this article offers some helpful tips to get you started.  While we don’t recommend purchasing your decor from the dollar store, thrift store can sometimes offer terrific finds for things like vintage linens.  Be sure to thoroughly inspect anything you purchase from a thrift store ahead of time so that you don’t get home and find that your “find” actually has a giant tear in it.  Give your room a rich, expensive feeling by painting the walls in a jewel tone such as ruby or sapphire.  This will create a vivid backdrop for your room.  Finding ornate furniture on a budget can be tricky.  While wicker furniture can work in country Victorian decorating, it’s not recommended for a traditional Victorian look.  Ornate frames featuring pressed flowers, reproduction postcards, or black and white photos are classic touches.  Use Victorian styled picture hangers to add a finishing touch to your grouping.