Imagine a world where steam power is the primary form of energy, where Victorian style is still in full bloom, and where technology is king, yet it is not the technology of today, but the technology of today as the Victorians might have imagined it. Add in a hefty dose of gears and mechanical parts, a large helping of fantasy and science fiction and top it all off with alternate history as it “might have been,” and you will have the steampunk world.

Growing in popularity, steampunk is close to mainstream now; with clothing, furniture, decorating items and films all designed to suit the Victorian, yet modern sensibility. Despite its climb to conventional, steampunk still relies on an individual outlook, a taste for modifying and adapting secondhand objects, and a sense of humor and whimsy.

What Is Steampunk? Steampunk started as a subgenre of science fiction and alternate history back in the 1980s and was a fairly underground subculture until recently. Steampunk incorporates technology and designs inspired by 19th-century industrial aesthetics.

A steampunk-themed bedroom—whether it’s the master bedroom, a ​child’s room, or a teen’s hideout—is a great choice for anyone who loves the Victorian style, marches to the beat of their own drummer, or just loves the anachronistic/futuristic/industrial look. So whether you want to go full-steam ahead into this industrially-vibed style, or just add a little touch of steam to your more traditional furnishings, check out the bedrooms featured here for great decorating ideas.