Greetings, Vault Dweller! Are you interested in refurbishing or renovating your vault? Finding the right decor can be challenging, but I’m here to assist. Who says geek-inspired decor can’t also be chic?
Most vault decor in the Fallout universe is inspired by midcentury modern (MCM) interior design. This atomic age style, characteristic of American homes from the 1940s to the 1960s, has influenced past and present trends. The recent television adaptation has expanded the universe, attracting gamers and non-gamers alike.
If you desire a geek-chic, Fallout-inspired space, look no further. Whether you’re interested in vintage, antique, or modern adaptations, here’s a guide to designers and essential details perfect for a post-apocalyptic vault vibe.
Atomic Era Colors and Shapes
This decor style is characterized by bright blue, yellow, red, orange, green, and pink hues, often contrasted with white accents. Furniture and appliances came in various colors, creating vibrant and colorful homes. While solid colors were popular, specific shapes also emerged, influenced by a social fascination with the atom.
The basic shape of the atom took over light fixtures, wall clocks, and more. The accompanying Franciscan starburst emerged in 1954, and geometric patterns and contrasting colors make a statement in various home decor items such as flatware, wall art, fabric, and wallpaper. Additionally, boomerang shapes were popular in decor, echoing furniture and appliances’ curved lines and edges. These elements create a sense of visual asymmetry that adds interest to the overall design.
Vintage MCM Designers to Look For
Finding quality midcentury modern pieces often requires searching for vintage or antique items, as modern reproductions lack the same quality and value. It’s essential to identify good MCM items, including furniture, kitchenware, art, and light fixtures.
During the atomic era, several designers created iconic pieces later popularized by various manufacturers. Notable interior designers to explore include George Nelson, Greta Grossman, Isamu Noguchi, Florence Knoll, Verner Panton, Arne Vodder, Finn Juhl, and Arne Jacobsen, known for his famous Egg chair. For a more comprehensive list, check out this comprehensive list of designers trending in the atomic and space ages.
Where to Find Atomic Age Furniture and Decor for the Vault Life
MCM designer finds are ideal, but many vault dwellers might be on tighter budgets. Last year, Apartment Therapy surveyed designers, revealing 26% of folks were interested in decor from the 1940s to the 1960s. That means an abundance of online retailers and curators carrying designer vintage finds. Its popularity also means modern makers offer one-of-a-kind custom pieces, too.
Brands like Atomic Ranch publish lists of MCM vintage shops, making it easier to source retro pieces. Companies like Modern Hill, Modern Redux, and Midcentury Mobler simplify sifting through eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and other secondhand furniture sites.
Vault-Tec might be the number one post-apocalyptic proprietor, but isn’t the only source of Atomic Age decor. Look at Inkabilly Emporium and Etsy custom sellers. These guarantees provide decor unique to you and your vault. Custom signs replicate in-game logos and decor that the Bethesda gear shop may not carry. Focus on trending themes such as atomic, space age, and Googie decor.
Making the Perfect Blast Door
To create the ultimate gamer den to impress your fellow vault dwellers, start with a great door. A secure vault is defined by a sturdy blast door that protects against radiation and keeps unwanted visitors out. Consider installing a solid track for a rollaway vault door if your vault is in a basement. Consider a DIY vault door using styrofoam, PVC, rub-and-buff, and some elbow grease for gamers with fewer caps to spend or less specialized crafting skills.
If your vault is in a basement, consider building a solid track for a rollaway vault door. For gamers with fewer caps to spend or less specialized crafting skills, consider a DIY vault door using styrofoam, PVC, rub-and-buff, and some elbow grease.
Steel and Concrete Industrial Chic
Standard vault decor can feel dull and uninspired. Basic wall decor often fails to conceal the stark look of bolted steel and concrete walls and floors. If your vault isn’t located in a basement but you still want to maintain the industrial aesthetic of a traditional vault, consider using peel-and-stick wallpaper that mimics steel bolts. For a more versatile solution that can enhance ceilings, walls, or floors, you might want to explore microcement.
If your home already boasts vault-worthy walls and floors, focus on atomic-age designs from Spoonflower. These provide accurate backdrops for other decor. Covering the floor with a patterned rug adds color and dimension to a basement or all-gray room.
Light Fixtures With a Bit of ‘Bang’
Atomic Age, Fallout-inspired decor isn’t complete without the shape of an atom. Some of the most iconic pieces feature the molecular structure with its nucleus and various protons and electrons.
Based on the Russian satellite and the atom, the Sputnik orbital chandelier remains iconic. An upscale gamers’ den might house retro geek chic lighting like this. For more on-the-nose decor, consider a mushroom cloud resin lamp for a warm, ominous glow.
The Raddest Wall Decor
Don’t worry; this wall decor isn’t radioactive but radiates a vault dweller. Obvious designs include Vault-Tec-approved warning signs and posters. A radioactive hazard sign adds a bleak ode to a fallout shelter. Consider flags from your favored factions, like the Brotherhood of Steel, NCR, or the Raiders.
Breaking up all the concrete and bolted steel, consider George Nelson’s Ball Wall Clock, which is perfect for tracking every second in the vault. For fun, funky, and functional wall decor, consider the Eames Hang-It-All—ideal for hanging your standard-issue jumpsuit.
Statement Furniture Ahead of the Curve
Rounded edges and abstract shapes reminiscent of nuclear technology and space-age design make some furniture iconic. Irving Harper’s marshmallow sofa offers a great place to chill while wandering the waste. Don’t forget a coffee table, perfect for storing spoils of war like a T-64 helmet. If your gaming vault has a bar, try some stools made with Nuka Cola bottlecap seats. Or, to flaunt your wasteland wealth, make a bottlecap bartop with resin and bottlecaps.
Storage Options for All Your Gear
Storage options for trinkets and gaming essentials, such as controllers and headsets, can be functional and stylish. Old ammo boxes contribute to an industrial aesthetic, while metal racks enhance the utilitarian vibe, giving even the coziest space a more apocalyptic look.
Open storage is perfect for displaying collectible items like Pip-Boy bobbleheads and Nuka Cola bottles. It also provides an excellent space for adding a radio or ambient features like lamps.
Other Ways to Spend Your Hard-Earned Caps
What vault isn’t complete without a good radio? Without one, you might miss out on some of the best tunes from the post-apocalyptic world. If you’re looking for the real deal, consider Bakelite models from the Atomic Age. You could also purchase a… Bluetooth speaker and radio record player for a modern take on vintage.
If you score a retro TV, there are many ways to upcycle it. Consider era-appropriate vault decor and add glow-in-the-dark details for a nuclear glow during late-night gaming sessions. A good bust to show off your shooting skills is also a great ego boost for tough missions.
Filtering Out Any Radioactive Energy
For those looking to create a vault that balances a concrete box with a livable space, consider adding houseplants. While your Vault-Tec-issued jumpsuit protects you from radiation, these plants offer additional benefits. A touch of greenery not tainted by nuclear waste can help improve your mood and purify the air. We can’t guarantee that these plants will eliminate any ghoulish after-effects, but they will definitely help extend your half-life!
The Perfect Vault for Any Fallout Freak
Ideally, we could use a real fallout shelter. However, for fans of the Fallout series, there’s a more personal way to create a shelter experience. Gear up, vault dweller! Don’t forget to pack your standard Vault-Tec jumpsuit and some snacks for an unforgettable journey through the wasteland. Let’s hope you find that water chip before the rest of the vault runs out of supplies!
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