The 15 Best Steampunk & Industrial Inspired Paint Colors (Interiors)

Colors that will bring out the Steampunk in anyone

While Steampunk might not be your jam (or peanut butter), this industrial/gothic/Victorian style of decorating has found its way into many homes and hearts! While I don’t have Steampunk style myself, I’ve FULLY embraced some of its colors in my home.

This is because you don’t need to be Steampunk to appreciate these moody, dark hues. Those who love colors and neutrals with a bit more meat on their bones, including Industrial style, will appreciate the big, bold, badass attitudes of these shades.

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However, I only use photos from my Online Color Consulting clients. This means I don’t always have photos showing the EXACT STYLE I want to show.

But I sure as heck have the colors you’ve been looking for.

WHAT TYPE OF PAINT COLORS ARE STEAMPUNK?

Not all colors were cut out for the Steampunk and Industrial worlds. Some are too colorful, others are too light. When it comes to interior painting, the most commonly found color schemes include…

rangy browns (sepia) and shades of red-orange
dark and moody shades of green with a touch of blue in them – these look especially amazeballs with accents of leather and brass
daringly dark shades of soft black with intriguing undertones
rich blends of violet and red (burgundy)
dark orange and copper tones (rust)
sultry violets – both rich and sexy and muted and toned-down
rustic mustardy yellow tones
dirty shades of gray and greige, particularly in the medium to dark ranges

However, not all of these are as applicable to interior walls as they are to decor, accents, and clothing, so I’ll be refining the list a bit.

Some of the colors below are great options for cabinets, built-ins, or accent walls, but maaaaybe not entire rooms (depending on your tastes). In this case, I’ve included a few ‘slightly’ lighter shades too.

While the styling isn’t Steampunk or Industrial, the colors sure are!

But here’s the thing about colors that are run by steam power…

With Steampunk color schemes, the LRV range runs from 2 (black) up to about 40 or so. Once you go above 40, you risk losing some of Steampunk aesthetic. While you’ll find some lighter shades in Industrial-style homes, often punctuated by darker accent walls, you want to be careful about the mood you’re setting.

If you want to learn more about LRV – read this

So, I’ve narrowed it down to the top contenders. And rather than hearing myself talk ENDLESSLY (or type, would be more the point), let’s get this color party started…

THE TOP 15 STEAMPUNK/INDUSTRIAL-INSPIRED WALL PAINT COLORS

The colors listed below give you a great place to start. I’ve also included links to other blog posts, containing similar versions of these colors to sample and compare!

1. SHERWIN WILLIAMS IRON ORE SW7069

Iron Ore is a wickedly dark shade of soft black. Without the crisp clean look of a traditional black paint color, Iron Ore has a moodier, almost heavier look with a subtle green undertone.

This next kitchen is clearly NOT…Steampunk, but it’s a great look at Iron Ore in a reasonably well-lit space. Oooo, but if those cabinets were painted a more true shade of black and the lighting, hardware, and faucets were swapped for brass and copper – then we’d be talkin’…

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Iron Ore

Get your Peel & Stick Sample of Iron Ore

WANT A SOFT BLACK WITH A TOUCH OF BLUE OR NO UNDERTONE AT ALL?

SHERWIN WILLIAMS TRICORN BLACK is a legit, stunningly sharp shade of black.
BENJAMIN MOORE WROUGHT IRON (which is also coming up shortly) is a dark blue-gray-black blend.

2. SHERWIN WILLIAMS BOHEMIAN BLACK SW 6988

If a subtle hint of purple is more your style, Bohemian Black approaches darkness with a sexy, sultry backdrop of violet.

With an LRV of 4, there’s no messing around with this Bohemian beauty. This magical little number tells you how light or dark a color is on a scale of 0-100 (however, the darkest black the residential paint color world can get has an LRV of 2). So, with a low LRV of 4, you know Bohemian Black is going to add a dramatic vibe to your space.

Get your Peel & Stick Sample of Bohemian Black

The 8 Best Shades of Black

For a similar look, also check out Sherwin Williams Black Swan…

3. SHERWIN WILLIAMS DORIAN GRAY SW 7017

Dorian Gray is an awesome color, especially if you don’t want too much depth, but still want a good moody vibe. Dorian Gray has an LRV of 39, which is a bit of a tipping point. However, not every person/home can handle the darker end of things. It’s also a FABULOUS color if you want a dark moody accent wall and need something a bit safer on your surrounding walls.

Can you IMAGINE this next room color-drenched in all Dorian Gray? COME TO MOMMA!

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray

If you like Dorian Gray, but think you can handle a bit more depth, I highly recommend…

SHERWIN WILLIAMS DOVETAIL is a solid tone darker than Dorian Gray.
SHERWIN WILLIAMS GAUNTLET GRAY is the medium-dark version of the above two shades. It’s awesome on accent walls, doors, cabinets, and entire rooms.

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Dovetail

And while the artwork in this next bathroom might not be (ahem) very Steampunkish, the color sure as heck is…

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Gauntlet Gray

4. BENJAMIN MOORE DARK PEWTER 2122-10

Dark Pewter is a gorgeous nod towards teal (blue-green) with a ton of depth and gray to calm it down. It doesn’t matter how dark your room is, you’ll see the ‘color’ of this gorgeous shade, more so than with some of the darker, black-inspired colors. However, it’s by no means punchy or overwhelming.

Get your Peel & Stick Sample of Dark Pewter

5. BENJAMIN MOORE LEAD GRAY 2131-30

If you like a bit more blue in your blue-green blend, Lead Gray is a stunner. Compare it directly to Dark Pewter and you’ll see how Lead Gray picks up more blue along the way, but has a similar approach to color and depth.

Get your Peel & Stick Sample of Lead Gray

6. BENJAMIN MOORE AMHERST GRAY HC-167

Amherst Gray is one of my favorite, moderately dark gray paint colors. With an LRV of 18.8, it has depth and character, without being as harsh as its darker cousin, Kendall Charcoal.

Amherst Gray is especially striking on accent walls, cabinetry, and built-ins, but you could also smother an entire room in this gorgeous shade of gray…

FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Amherst Gray

The 10 Best DARK CHARCOAL GRAY Paint Colors

DO YOU WANT A GRAY WITH A BIT MORE WARMTH OR A STRONGER GREEN UNDERTONE?

SHERWIN WILLIAMS GRIZZLE GRAY is more green, less gray, but an equally wicked blend (here’s its REVIEW).
BENJAMIN MOORE METROPOLIS is a warmer, slightly more taupe approach to dark gray (here’s its REVIEW).

7. SHERWIN WILLIAMS TURKISH COFFEE 6076

With a subtle hint of red-violet mixed in, Turkish Coffee is the richest, most luxurious cuppa joe you EVA had. Turkish Coffee has an LRV of 5, so while it’s dark, its saturation won’t have it looking black. Even in a dark room, it will still hold onto it’s rich warmth.

Get your Peel & Stick Sample of Turkish Coffee

8. BENJAMIN MOORE WILLOW CC-542

If you want a more grounded, organic approach to dark brown, Willow should hit the spot. This dark shade of brown isn’t rich and fudgy like many others. Instead, it has a bit of gray to calm it down.

While the main walls are white in this next hallway, the Willow accent wall at the end and stained dark wood doors and door trims look pretty striking…

Get your Peel & Stick Sample of Willow

If you want a good comparison to Willow, I highly recommend Sherwin Williams Black Fox which has a very similar approach but can pick up a bit of a green undertone.

9. SHERWIN WILLIAMS MEGA GREIGE

If you love warm colors but want to avoid the ‘b’ word (beige, that is), Mega Greige is a great happy medium.

With an LRV of 37, Mega Greige has a moderate approach to depth, making it a great option for the main walls in your home (assuming you don’t want lighter shades – if you do, I’ve got them!). It’s also a great bridge between greige and taupe as it doesn’t cater much to green or violet undertones.

Sorry, about the blurriness of this next photo (I appreciate my clients who send any photos in!)…

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Mega Greige

This is a good shot of Mega Greige with a gorgeous rusty red powder room. Can you IMAGINE if that pedestal sink were black, rather than white???

WANT A COLOR THAT’S A BIT LIGHTER WITH A SIMILAR VIBE?

Check out Sherwin Williams Anew Gray and Agreeable Gray

10. SHERWIN WILLIAMS CARNELIAN SW 7580

Carnelian is a more Steampunk approach to burgundy compared to more traditional shades that can cater to more violet or red. In particular, Carnelian is striking as a ‘whole room’ application (color-drenching). With a den or library in mind, I can easily see Carnelian on walls, trims, and built-in cabinets…

Get your Peel & Stick sample of Carnelian

11. BENJAMIN MOORE KNOXVILLE GRAY HC-160

Knoxville Gray could be a great happy medium between the more timid end of things and colors that pack a whollup. While it has some good meat on its bones with its LRV of almost 16, it offers a more moderate approach to drama.

At this depth, for the particular look you’re going for, Knoxville Gray isn’t dark or dramatic enough to be an accent wall. Being more of a ‘color’ than a neutral, Knoxville Gray is best as a ‘whole room’ color.

Get your Peel & Stick sample of Knoxville Gray

12. BENJAMIN MOORE GETTYSBURG GRAY HC-107

Gettysburg Gray is a gorgeous, moderate approach to moodiness (it’s like me, mid-cycle). With a greige base (between gray and beige), it has a slightly noticeable, but not overwhelming green undertone.

Get your Peel & Stick sample of Gettysburg Gray

Just remember, comparison is KEY to finding the perfect color for you and your home. Check out these bad boys too…

BENJAMIN MOORE JOCKEY HOLLOW GRAY, which is like a lighter, but still grounded take on Gettysburg Gray.
SHERWIN WILLIAMS INTELLECTUAL GRAY, which is definitely one of my fave shades of greige with a bit more body.

13. SHERWIN WILLIAMS URBANE BRONZE 7048 & PORPOISE 7047

Oooooo, these are two moody Judys! And if your name is Judy, no harm intended, I’m sure you’re lovely.

Urbane Bronze and Porpoise are darker shades of greige. This means that they’re warmer than gray, but not nearly in the brown-beige world. And being greiges, they have a glorious green undercurrent. Porpoise is the lighter of the two.

Urbane Bronze is painted on the island in this next (not Steampunk) kitchen, as well as the stair railings. Again, I don’t ‘borrow’ from other bloggers (so don’t always have the exact example I need) – I only use my own photos!

Full Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Urbane Bronze

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Porpoise

Get your Peel & Stick sample of Urbane Bronze

Get your Peel & Stick sample of Porpoise

WANT A SLIGHTLY LIGHTER LOOK OR ONE WITH A BIT MORE GREEN?

SHERWIN WILLIAMS ANONYMOUS is like Porpoise, but a bit lighter.
SHERWIN WILLIAMS THUNDER GRAY is amazeballs as it’s like Urbane Bronze with a bit more green – she’s a stunner.

14. BENJAMIN MOORE RACCOON FUR 2126-20

If you can’t decide between blue and violet, Raccoon Fur could be the blend you’ve been looking for. With a base of gray to calm it down, this blue-purple blend has ALL the drama.

Get your Peel & Stick sample of Raccoon Fur

But it doesn’t stop there, as there are a few other similar shades worth sampling and comparing, including…

BENJAMIN MOORE WROUGHT IRON 2124-10, which is similar to Raccoon Fur, but a bit more gray-black.
BENJAMIN MOORE CHEATING HEART 1617 is one of my FAVORITE, most badass dark charcoal gray-navy blue blends.

While the decor in this next small powder room isn’t Steampunk or Industrial, the COLOR sure is (Cheating Heart)…

15. SHERWIN WILLIAMS ROCK BOTTOM 7062

Rock Bottom is a super dark shade of green. While it has a slight wink of blue mixed in, you’d hardly know it. Rock Bottom is grounded, gorgeous, and great for a moody, Industrial or Steampunk space.