Ideas for Decorating a Steampunk Bathroom
How to Create a Neo-Victorian Toilet or En Suite
Nov 2, 2009
Bathrooms are fun places to express a steampunk aesthetic, and the small space lends itself to Victorian crowded home decorating principles. The do-it-yourself and individualistic nature of steampunk means no two steampunk bathrooms will be alike; however, these ideas may provide a jumping-off point.
Choose a Subcategory of Steampunk
Not all steampunk is created equal! Picking a preferred variety of steampunk helps define the focus of a room. If your inspiration for the room was a particular object – say, an ornate mirror or claw-footed bath – try to see which “flavour” of steampunk it lends itself to.
The shape and existing features of the bathroom may also influence your decision – a light, airy bathroom lends itself to an airshp pirate theme, while a dark little bathroom with odd corners may look better as a Victorian mad scientist's lab.
Using Wicker For an Airship Pirate Bathroom
Airship pirate rooms are usually spacious and airy, with pale colours, balsa wood, wicker (cane) and canvas elements. Adding a wicker chair, cane laundry basket and pale billowy hangings will help create this look. Consider hanging a dirigible mobile made from balsa wood, displaying sextants and compasses, or hanging nautical maps on the wall.
Making a Victorian Mad Scientist Bathroom
This look is useful for steampunks with a lot of toiletries! Bath salts, body lotions, mouthwash and makeup can either be displayed or hidden in a mad scientist room. To display them, fill test tubes, beakers and Petri dishes with the varioussubstances and scatter them on a shelf or hold them in retorts. To hide them, use an old-fashioned spice chest or wunderkabinet.
Add to the scientific look with tall laboratory taps and a deep sink. Hang anatomical drawings or scientific formulae on the walls, clutter old medical or scientific paraphernalia on shelves and include a few distressed copies of Frankenstein and Jekyll & Hyde for bathroom reading.
Decorating a Bathroom Victorian Naturalist Style
Consider guests before choosing this style – Victorian naturalist décor tends to involve taxidermy, mounted insects, animal skulls and antlers. If the bathroom is question is to be used by the public, be aware this may distress some squeamish visitors!
A Victorian naturalist bathroom can feature a wunderkabinet – keep a few drawers open to display your collections of birds' eggs and seashells, and store towels and soap in the rest of the cabinet. Decorate the walls with watercolour labelled drawings of plant and animal life for a gentle steampunk look, or three-dimensional frames containing specimens for a more authentic look. Binoculars, tweezers and a sketchbook are appropriate accessories.
Decorating a Lady's Dressing Room Style Bathroom
A more feminine bathroom can utilise all the sumptuous textures Victorian women enjoyed. Carpet the bathroom in deep pile, paper the walls in cream and gold, add a dressing screen and an upholstered wooden chair and strew the room with fans and scent bottles. A delicately painted chamber pot, claw-footed bath and polished gold taps complete the look.If the budget permits accessories such as ornate freestanding towel rack, a vas of pink roses and a ewer and pitcher add further charm to the room. Definitely not a bathroom for young children!
More Ideas for Decorating a Steampunk Bathroom
- Bathrooms are functional in nature, so play up the functionality. Go for exposed brass or copper plumbing, exaggeratedly mechanical taps and a toilet with a chain.
- Remember that steampunk bathrooms are steamy by name and steamy by nature! Install a good fan and dehumidifier, and don't leave gadgets or accessories on display that may become damaged though long-term exposure to damp. One-of-a-kind antique items are better left in a less humid room.
- Don't be afraid of creating a narrative for your room. Steampunks often create elaborate personas to go with their costumes, including back stories and identifying documents. A similar process can help to refine the room's look - so instead of simply "Victorian mad scientist", the room could be "the study of a shy professor trying to create himself a bride" or "the Duchess' hideaway for turning lead into gold".
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