Close your eyes and imagine for yourself the interior design of the industrial revolution. While your own room may not have high ceilings, wooden shelves, and cases full of old maps and parchments, you can use the worlds of Jules Verne as inspiration to redo your office space.
This post will cover Steampunk office interior design, inspiration for fun art projects that you can do from home, and featured gadgets and workings to change the look of your office space.
Steampunk Desk
So many nefarious plans of world domination! That’s why a good desk is so important. Obviously, a thick slab of dark wood is the first order of business. How about some massive metal girders for the base? Or repurpose other items to serve.
Don’t need much room? What about an old Singer sewing machine stand (without the sewing machine – duh!). Others have used antique pump organs or a roll-top desk. Hey! Why not wrap some copper tubing around it! And as usual, the more gears and clock faces you can shove in, the better.
ANNALISSA DESK
Combining the sturdiness of poplar solids and the refined beauty of acacia veneers, this desk is where Victorian elegance meets industrial innovation. Its scrolling metal trestle base is a nod to industrial era, offering a mixed material charm that complements your steampunk themed office. The desk features two drawers and a cleverly designed fold-out keyboard tray, providing ample space for your day quills and scrolls.
INDUSTRIAL PIPE WALL MOUNTED DESK
On the other hand, if the steampunk office ideas that come to your mind involves the rustic, gritty, and rugged elements of industrial era, look no further. Crafted from natural solid wood, this desk’s surface is treated with an environmentally friendly, non-toxic paint, ensuring a smooth, durable, and easy-to-clean finish. It’s supported by robust iron pipes that evoke the spirit of the steam-powered age, making it a perfect addition to your ensemble of mechanical-inspired furnitures and decor.
Steampunk Desk Chair
Do you want to be comfortable or do you want to look good? OK, then!
A Chesterfield captain’s chair looks the business, with beautiful turned wood and thick tuck-and-roll leather on the seat and chair back.
For the ultimate sitting experience, use an old-fashioned barber or dentist’s chair. What luxury! How impractical!
If you’re actually going to use the chair, perhaps a regular office chair draped in a tiger rug. OK, a faux tiger rug.
PITTSBURGH BRONZE
A testament to the functional elegance of the industrial era, this chair from Pottery Barn is designed to cater to your personal comfort, allowing you to tailor your sitting experience to your own liking. The chair boasts an oil-based rustic metal finish, adding a touch of antiquity to its robust frame. Echoing the inventiveness and mechanical charm of Industrial Revolution, this chair will bring your office a Steampunk workshop ambiance.
DOLONM RUSTIC
Need a more comfortable chair for your dream steampunk office? This vintage wingback chair from Dolonm, upholstered in rustic microfiber fabric of an antique hue, adds a touch of elegance and old-world charm to your living room or bedroom. The arms of the chair provide the perfect support for resting, ideal for immersing in a captivating novel or engaging in delightful conversations.
Look for chairs made from wood, metal, or leather to give you both durability and style. You should be able to find a chair that looks great behind your desk and allows you to feel as though you belong in a steampunk movie.
Many designers need to perfect setting, a good desk lamp, and the perfect art on the walls to stay on trend while they work. One of the most important aspects of the job is to stay comfortable for long hours at a time.
Steampunk Bookshelf
Dark wood and plenty of it, that’s what’s called for. A bookshelf that towers over a room, with acres of the scrolled moulding at the top and half-colonnades on the sides. Perfect! In fact, by adding those elements to a regular bookshelf, you have the perfect place to display books, skulls, a small mirror, and inspired creepy photos.
ANTIQUE CUSTOM LIBRARY
Is building a magnificent library a goal of yours? Well, even if it’s not, I think we can agree that this custom-made library from Etsy looks straight out of a noble’s castle. Made to look antiquated, it’s easy to imagine hundreds of select books finding their place on this grand line of shelves, each beckoning you to go on a grand quest with their fascinating tales of make-believe. Sure enough, something as luxurious as this commands a high price.
INDUSTRIAL LADDER SHELF BOOKCASE
If you adore industrial decor, here’s one you would surely love: a ladder shelf book case with metal pipes. Available in 2 variations with one slightly larger than the other, you can line them up for a serious industrial era library. And, don’t forget to include your mechanical globes and automatons. They would surely liven up the place even more.
Search for old bookshelves or cases at used furniture stores or antique shops. For a budget option, you may also be able to paint a modern-made shelf with an antique look. While a bookcase in itself can give you vibes from the steampunk world, the items on the shelves are just as important. Decorate it with your favorite accessories, a nice globe, and old books.
Whether you get a ladder with wheels that allow you to thoroughly enjoy all the books in your home office or you want to save on space by hanging a shelf on the wall, you need a place where you can show off the detail of your decor to all your friends (both real and imaginary).
Computer
An actual steampunk computer would have been coal-fired and turbine-driven. Assuming that’s impractical, the next best thing is to repurpose an old typewriter keyboard (the older, the better) as the keypad. If that seems overkill, you might clad a regular keyboard in a wood or copper surround, which is also what you might do to the computer itself.
Resist the urge to make a spaghetti amount of cool wires everywhere! No electricity, right? However, it is perfectly fine to add pneumatic tubes, pressure gauges, and clocks (or similar technologies!). As for the mouse, clad it in faux metal with lots of rivets. Or, now hear me out, put the mouse into an actual taxidermy mouse.
RETRO TYPEWRITER KEYBOARD
So, how about a wooden typewriter keyboard that has a hidden advanced machinery inside? Kidding aside, this is probably the next best thing to an actual steampowered contraption that lets you type messages (ahem, threats) to your conspirators. Crafted from aluminum alloy metal with electroplated wood grain, this device has all the makings of a steampunk-like contraption while enjoying compatibility with modern operating systems.
Steampunk Mouse
STEAMPUNK MOUSE
Fortunately, it’s not an actual mouse. Although, if a mouse is to become an automaton, it will certainly look like this. Each of these mice is a unique masterpiece, meticulously fashioned from a standard PC mouse. Adorned with solid brass and copper metalwork like springs and screws, it perfectly fits any steampunk-themed setup.
You can also hire an artist to create a frame for a monitor or a case for your components. Make sure you choose someone who has knowledge about how computers so that they can ensure they won’t overheat. Though these frames and cases aren’t typically mass-produced, you can typically find a designer on Etsy.
When inspiration strikes, you will want to be able to tap-tap-tap your ideas in style!
Steampunk Lamps
Now that you can buy those elongated Edison bulbs, the designs are limitless. Many lamps are built from interlocking copper pipes in interesting shapes. Add pressure gauges, clock faces (of course), and a valve or two. Another way to go is to fit a bulb inside a bell jar that can be accessorized with coils, dials, and maybe even a brain!
WATER PIPE TABLE LIGHT
Lamps with copper pipe stands are amazing, right? But, what about one with an actual clock added to it? This fantastic lamp will certainly light up the ambience of your workspace, no pun intended. Meticulously crafted from high-quality iron, each bend and curve of the metal is a testament to fine workmanship.
ROBOT DESK LAMP
If you prefer to decorate your workspace with automatons and machinery that signal you are quite well-versed in futuristic technology, here’s one decor you shouldn’t go without: a bronze pipe robot desk lamp. Crafted from the sturdy embrace of galvanized iron, and finished with a high-temperature baking paint, this lamp is both durable and aesthetically pleasing. It has adjustable robot-like arms and can accommodating bulbs of various whimsical shapes, although it already includes 2 Edison light bulbs. Talk about bargain.
Lighting is one of the easiest DIY steampunk projects. If you’re up to it, you can often find a class (or even YouTube videos) on how to create unique lamps. You can create your own designs out of pipes, gauges, and more. You can even put a light in an old wheel to give your house a western-steampunk look.
Remember to choose ideas that are reflective of your overall style while incorporating examples of a steampunk office space. The internet is full of ideas and services that can help you create the perfect setting.
Steampunk Rugs
A steampunk office should be dark and woody, with a few green plants to set it off. Any self-respecting world traveler of the steampunk variety would have the floor covered in a lush Arabian or Persian carpet. Not rich? Faux carpets look just as good. A faux tiger skin rug adds the final touch.
DISTRESSED VINTAGE AREA RUG
Steampunk is known for its aesthetics that balances the gritty industrial look and elegant vintage styles. If you want to achieve that classy antique look of an old study for your workspace, this distressed rug is for you. Crafted from resilient polyester with a print pattern weave, this rug weighs is lightweight yet durable. Its skid-resistant TPR backing and size fits snugly under furniture and doors, eliminating any fear of tripping and slipping hazards in your office.
CASHMERE VINTAGE RUG
On the other hand, if you want your surroundings to be a bit more bright and vivid like how vintage decors were back in their day, then here’s the perfect rug for you. With a clever non-slip TPE backing, it anchors itself steadfastly against the slip-and-slide follies of lesser floor coverings. Even in the busiest of workplaces, its low pile ensures no door is obstructed, no colleagues and clients tripped.
Look for colors that match other steampunk accents in the room in order to bring the full look together. Set a coffee table atop the rug with a couple of thick books about your favorite genre. Your home office should feel cozy and the floor should be just as decorated as each wall.
Steampunk Curtains and Blinds
For any kind of workstation, curtains and blinds that allow you to block out light whenever possible is crucial. Afterall, you don’t want prying eyes to know what you’ve been up to. It’s best if the next thing they knew was that you’ve successfully completed that ultra secret research or project that could possibly turn the world on its head. It also works if you want to keep people from knowing what you store within your secret study.
POLYESTER CURTAIN PANELS
While curtains are of paramount importance to keep your workspace private, a simple yet elegant curtain does the job well, as it won’t distract you from doing tasks. These thermal insulated blinds in particular isn’t only classy, but also serve as a bulwark against the elements, be it summer or winter. Furthermore, they muffle the cacophony of the outside world, providing a haven of peace in your personal sanctuary.
BAMBOO BLINDS
For those who are looking for options that lean towards the more industrial side of steampunk aesthetics, this bamboo blinds is perfect for you. Crafted from selected natural bamboo, these blinds deftly block harmful UV rays while bathing your room in a soft, warm glow. Durable and long-lasting, they promise to be a steadfast companion through the changing seasons.
Not only can you use curtains and blinds to accent your room, but you can also look for curtain rods that showcase icons from the steampunk universe.
You can also use special cords to pull it back accessorized with charms such as cogs or pocket watches.
While a simple thing that many people tend to forget, remembering to put up your curtains can add a lot of class to a room.
Steampunk Office Accessories
A hollowed-out (faux!) monkey skull makes a lovely place to hold gold-tipped fountain pens, wooden mechanical pencils, and the like. Small wooden boxes with a dizzying array of locks hold important doodads. A Victorian globe and an ornate mantel clock complete the scene. Even more clocks?! Yes! Clocks everywhere! Mwa-hahahaha!
STEAMPUNK OWL CELLPHONE AND PEN HOLDER
What’s a cellphone, you ask? Well, it’s a device you can use to pester people into buying your machine blueprints even when they’re from afar. But enough of that! This fantastic decor can also hold other communication devices it hold tools like quills, pens, and brushes. Crafted from the finest resin and imbued with the essence of bronze, this statuette is a masterpiece of cold cast bronze technique. Fittingly, this office decor is crafted in the shape of an owl, a traditional symbol of wisdom.
ILLUMINATED GLOBE WOODEN PUZZLE
Globes are a must for any respectable steampunk office, but what if you love puzzles and need a lamp at the same time? Believe it or not, you can find all of that in one place, a.k.a., this illuminated globe wooden puzzle. Once assembled, this globe transforms into a mesmerizing night light, its soft illumination offering comfort and a sense of security in the night. What’s better than that?
Use a steampunk jewelry box to hold your paper-clip pins and other office accessories that you don’t want cluttering your desk. Add an ornate vase for flowers or decorate with houseplants in steampunk-styled pots. There are several ways you can make your office both functional and steampunk beautiful. The Cthulhu is in the details.