Vaporwave Room Ideas

An unprecedented theme with a curious origin – that’s vaporwave for you. These days, this term may be better known for the lo-fi tracks that evoke the digital revolution of the 80s and 90s. Yet as an aesthetic, vaporwave has enough merit of its own, standing out for its unarguable uniqueness and recognizable visuals.

→ Shop for Vaporwave room decor

The vaporwave aesthetic marries the very best of videogame and arcade visuals with the grit and social disenchantment that’s most commonly associated with the Grunge aesthetic. Sure enough, both overlap in favored time periods. But there are plenty of notable differences that warrant a dedicated vaporwave room ideas post. Let’s get to it!

The Vaporwave Aesthetic

Originally, the term vaporwave was coined as a sub-genre of electronic chillwave music without much consideration for a visual counterpart. However, as the popularity of aesthetics rose, it became a symbol for the era of the digital revolution in the 80s and going into the 2000s.

The movement that accompanies the music genre and aesthetic is grounded in disenchantment with society, much like the original Grunge counterpart, but much more condemning of modern consumerism and capitalism. But the irony isn’t lost on us that the most commonly associated images with the vaporwave aesthetic are precisely videogame consoles, anime-inspired memorabilia, and nightlife-reminiscent neon lights.

Once we dive into the specifics of the aesthetic and go over our detailed vaporwave room ideas, you will gain a better understanding of how these themes translate into interior decor. From the best decor cues to the color palette, lighting, and common motifs. Keep paying attention as you’re well on your way to becoming a vaporwave design expert.

What is vaporwave room decor?

The factor that makes vaporwave so appealing and beloved is precisely nostalgia. As its visuals are super reminiscent of the 80s, 90s, and 2000s, there is a sentimentality that comes with paying homage to these simpler times. And naturally, video games and computers were novelties of that time, items that everyone craved for themselves.

In this sense, the nods to older technology are very prevalent within vaporwave. Holographic textures, silver accents, and bright pink, purple, and blue neon lights are some of the most popular visuals. Old gaming consoles, particularly the classic Nintendos, are incredibly on-trend for the aesthetic, along with the many games popularized by this brand.

A less blatant tribute to these is found in the grid, line, and geometrical shape patterns, which borrow equally from the videogame craze and the design fads of the time. These patterns can feature in both posters and textiles. Also, 90s animes are very much glorified, with Sailor Moon, Pokemon, and Dragonball being some of the standouts in terms of decor items. And of course, no vaporwave room is complete without the infamous lava lamp.

On a more modern note, and perhaps something that plays into the current appreciation of particularly Korean and Japanese culture, their alphabet characters are common features in visual pieces.

As we move on to our vaporwave room ideas section, it’s important to note that no two vaporwave-inspired spaces are the same. Enthusiasts tend to play around with the aesthetic’s essential elements but in a way that’s personalized to their taste. And that’s something you might want to keep in mind for yourself, too.

Vaporwave Room Ideas

Now that we’ve covered all of the essentials, it’s time to get to the meat of the matter. We’ve put together our finest tips to ensure you really understood the aesthetic. Here are some of our vaporwave room ideas:

Color Palette

The thing with colors in the vaporwave aesthetic is that it’s all depending on the lighting. Play it safe by keeping your walls and textiles in neutral colors, so that there’s always a surface for light to reflect off of. You can decorate with holographic and silver accents as well. But eventually, the colors that will shine will be pink, blue, purple, or even green, depending on what lights you choose to set up.

Lighting

Needless to say that lights are the most important part of a vaporwave room. You can rely heavily on neon and LEDs, adjusting the color to bright hues depending on what you like best. A classic lava lamp also blends exceptionally well with this type of visual so consider purchasing it if you don’t yet own one.

Furniture

Vaporwave can be very minimalist when it comes to furniture and clutter. Choose only essential bedroom pieces, either in black or white, although the latter works best with the characteristic lighting. You could also include some simple metallic pieces, like a clothing rack for example.

Bedding

For bedding, you can never go wrong with either basic one-color sets or the infamous grid pattern. Play around with holographic textures, even silk, and satin textiles can add some extra oomph without being too overwhelming.

Other Decor

It may seem tricky to decorate within an aesthetic that doesn’t glorify clutter nearly as much as others. But that leaves less margin for error, so make sure to include as many of the things worth including.

For some reason, small marble statues are a big favorite for decorating surfaces. Black metal grid boards are also great for hanging pictures and postcards above your desk or bed. And while on the topic of wall decor, one fun thing you could do is create a gallery wall with neon signs, anime posters, and maybe even some of your favorite records.

If you have a nice collection of Nintendo or Gameboy consoles, games, and memorabilia, make sure to give them the display they deserve. And lastly, but perhaps more importantly, make sure that your desk setup is streaming-worthy.

Vaporwave Aesthetic F.A.Q

What is the meaning of the vaporwave aesthetic?

The vaporwave aesthetic is characterized by a predilection for 80s and 90s nostalgic items. Especially those surrounding video games, classic animes, and pop culture-inspired art. It is not a big departure from the music style of the same name. This one is also intimately intertwined with the aesthetic’s visuals and art.

Where does the vaporwave aesthetic come from?

The vaporwave aesthetic is inspired by the music genre of the same name as well as online forums that glorify glitch art, 80s and 90s subculture, and cynical perception of modern society, pop culture, and materialism.

***

We sincerely hope you now have a better understanding of the vaporwave aesthetic and its incredible visuals which you can now incorporate into your bedroom. Make sure to visit our vaporwave shop to find some of the decor must-haves for the aesthetic look. And check out our Art Hoe and Grunge room ideas posts, if you liked this one.

Happy shopping!