Base decoration in Subnautica 2 goes far beyond placing a few lights on the wall. The game features dozens of furniture pieces, lighting options, wall decorations, plants, and interactive objects that let you customize every room of your base. Whether you want a functional industrial look or a cozy underwater home, the decoration system has you covered.
Decor items are split into several categories: functional furniture (desks, chairs, beds), lighting (wall lights, ceiling lights, lamps), wall decorations (posters, plaques, windows), storage/display (display cases, shelving), and plants (indoor grow beds, potted plants). Some decorations are purely cosmetic, while others serve practical purposes like storage or comfort.
Decoration Categories and Counts
| Category | Approx. Number of Items | Unlock Method |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Furniture | 8-10 | Default + early wrecks |
| Lighting | 6-8 | Default + data boxes |
| Posters | 15+ | Scattered in wrecks and bases |
| Display Cases | 3-4 | Abandoned bases |
| Advanced Furniture | 8-10 | Deep wrecks, research facilities |
| Precursor Decor | 5-6 | Precursor bases (late game) |
Most decorations are unlocked by finding data boxes or scanning furniture pieces in abandoned bases and wrecks. Some rare decorative items are only found in specific locations -- the Precursor wall art, for example, can only be scanned inside Alien Bases. Collecting every decoration piece is a completionist goal that can take 30+ hours of exploration.
The good news is that most basic decoration blueprints are available relatively early. By the time you have explored 3-4 wrecks and built your first real base, you should have access to chairs, tables, wall lights, planters, and a few poster designs. The rarer pieces are something to work toward as you progress deeper.
Decoration System Overview
Base decoration in Subnautica 2 goes far beyond placing a few lights on the wall. The game features dozens of furniture pieces, lighting options, wall decorations, plants, and interactive objects that let you customize every room of your base. Whether you want a functional industrial look or a cozy underwater home, the decoration system has you covered.
Decor items are split into several categories: functional furniture (desks, chairs, beds), lighting (wall lights, ceiling lights, lamps), wall decorations (posters, plaques, windows), storage/display (display cases, shelving), and plants (indoor grow beds, potted plants). Some decorations are purely cosmetic, while others serve practical purposes like storage or comfort.
Decoration Categories and Counts
| Category | Approx. Number of Items | Unlock Method |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Furniture | 8-10 | Default + early wrecks |
| Lighting | 6-8 | Default + data boxes |
| Posters | 15+ | Scattered in wrecks and bases |
| Display Cases | 3-4 | Abandoned bases |
| Advanced Furniture | 8-10 | Deep wrecks, research facilities |
| Precursor Decor | 5-6 | Precursor bases (late game) |
Most decorations are unlocked by finding data boxes or scanning furniture pieces in abandoned bases and wrecks. Some rare decorative items are only found in specific locations -- the Precursor wall art, for example, can only be scanned inside Alien Bases. Collecting every decoration piece is a completionist goal that can take 30+ hours of exploration.
The good news is that most basic decoration blueprints are available relatively early. By the time you have explored 3-4 wrecks and built your first real base, you should have access to chairs, tables, wall lights, planters, and a few poster designs. The rarer pieces are something to work toward as you progress deeper.
Furniture Blueprint Locations
Furniture forms the backbone of base decoration. Chairs, desks, beds, counters, shelves -- these pieces turn empty rooms into functional living spaces. Each furniture blueprint is found in a specific location, and some are easier to find than others.
The basic furniture set -- Chair, Desk, Single Bed, Counter, and Shelf -- is usually found in the first few wrecks you explore. These are common blueprints and you will likely unlock them all without trying. The Chair and Desk are often in the same wreck, usually in crew quarters or office areas.
Furniture Blueprint Locations
| Item | Location | Depth | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chair | Grassy Plateaus Wreck (crew quarters) | 120m | Easy |
| Desk | Grassy Plateaus Wreck (office area) | 150m | Easy |
| Single Bed | Kelp Forest Wreck (living quarters) | 80m | Very Easy |
| Bunk Bed | Mushroom Forest Wreck | 200m | Medium |
| Counter | Safe Shallows Wreck (galley/kitchen) | 50m | Very Easy |
| Shelf Unit | Redrock Zone Outpost | 180m | Easy |
| Lounge Sofa | Deep Lilypads Resort Wreck | 300m | Medium |
| Coffee Machine | Research Lab (Deep Grand Reef) | 500m | Hard |
| Jukebox | Lost River Degasi Base | 600m | Hard |
| Arcade Machine | Lava Zone Precursor Base (hidden room) | 1100m | Very Hard |
The rarest and most sought-after furniture pieces are the interactive ones. The Coffee Machine actually produces coffee (a stimulant that reduces oxygen consumption for a short time). The Jukebox plays music tracks that you find on data discs scattered around the world. The Arcade Machine has a playable mini-game. These are end-game collectibles that reward thorough exploration.
To collect furniture efficiently, always check every room in every wreck you find. Scan everything -- even mundane objects like chairs and desks might unlock new blueprints. Use your scanner room to locate wrecks, then explore them systematically. Crew quarters, offices, and recreation areas are the most likely places to find furniture blueprints.
Lighting Options and Mood Design
Lighting is one of the most impactful ways to change the feel of your base. The right lighting can make a base feel warm and cozy, cold and industrial, or mysterious and alien. Subnautica 2 offers multiple lighting options, each with different characteristics and moods.
The default Interior Wall Light is functional but plain. It provides good, even illumination with a cool white tone. For a more interesting look, consider mixing different light types. Ceiling Lights cast light downward and work well in hallways. Floor Lamps create warm pools of light and are perfect for living areas. Strip Lights can be run along walls or ceilings for accent lighting.
Lighting Type Comparison
| Light Type | Brightness | Color Temperature | Power Draw | Best Used In |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wall Light | Medium | Cool white | 0.5 p/min | General lighting |
| Ceiling Light | High | Neutral white | 0.8 p/min | Workshops, labs |
| Floor Lamp | Low-Medium | Warm yellow | 0.3 p/min | Bedrooms, lounges |
| Strip Light | Low | Customizable | 0.2 p/min | Accent lighting, corridors |
| Desk Lamp | Low | Warm white | 0.2 p/min | Desks, work areas |
| Glow Panel | Medium | Various colors | 0.4 p/min | Feature walls, decor |
Glow Panels are one of the most versatile decorative lights. They come in several colors (blue, green, red, purple, orange) and can be placed on walls, floors, or ceilings. Use them to color-code different sections of your base -- blue for research, green for agriculture, red for engineering. They are also great for creating mood lighting in entertainment areas.
One advanced lighting technique is to use natural light strategically. Glass tunnels and observatories let in ambient light from the ocean outside. During the day, this provides free, beautiful illumination. At night, bioluminescent creatures outside create a magical glow. Pair glass sections with warm interior lights for contrast, and you have a base that looks different at every time of day.
Posters and Wall Decorations
Posters and wall decorations are the details that make a base feel personal. Subnautica 2 has over a dozen different poster designs, plus plaques, signs, and decorative panels. Each poster has a unique design and is found in a specific location around the planet.
Posters are typically found on walls in wrecks and abandoned bases. To unlock a poster, you need to scan it with your handheld scanner. Once scanned, you can craft and place the poster in your own base. Most posters cost only 1 titanium to make, making them one of the cheapest decoration options.
Poster Collection Guide
| Poster | Location Found | Theme | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alterra Welcome | Safe Shallows wreck | Corporate branding | Common |
| Safety First | Grassy Plateaus wreck | Workplace safety | Common |
| Deep Dive | Redrock outpost | Diving motivational | Uncommon |
| Leviathan Warning | Bone Fields base | Wildlife hazard | Uncommon |
| Degasi Crew | Degasi Floating Island base | Crew photo | Rare |
| Planet Survey | Deep Grand Reef lab | Scientific map | Rare |
| Precursor Glyphs | Alien Bases | Alien writing | Very Rare |
| Vintage Travel | Lost River hideout | Retro tourism ad | Rare |
| Captain's Portrait | Aurora wreck (Captain's Quarters) | Historical | Very Rare |
| Sea Dragon Study | Lava Castle research wing | Xenobiology art | Legendary |
Some of the rarest posters have interesting lore implications. The Degasi Crew poster shows the three members of the Degasi expedition before they crashed on 4546B. The Precursor Glyphs poster displays the alien writing system used by the Architects. The Sea Dragon Study is a scientific illustration done by researchers who observed -- and were presumably eaten by -- Sea Dragon Leviathans.
Posters are not just decorative -- they also contribute to your base's "comfort" rating if you have a bed and other furniture. A well-decorated room with posters and plants provides a morale boost that improves your recovery rate when you sleep or rest. It is a small mechanical benefit, but it adds up over long play sessions.
Display Cases and Trophy Collections
Display cases let you show off your most prized possessions. Rare artifacts, unusual minerals, creature eggs, trophies from defeated leviathans -- if you can pick it up, you can probably put it in a display case. Building a trophy room is a great way to showcase your achievements and track your progress through the game.
There are several types of display cases. The Wall Display Case is mounted on a wall and holds 1-2 items. The Floor Display Pedestal holds one large item and makes it the centerpiece of a room. The Glass Display Cabinet holds up to 6 small items and works well for collections of rocks, seeds, or small artifacts.
Display Case Types and Uses
| Display Type | Capacity | Placement | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wall Display Case | 2 items | Wall-mounted | Eggs, small artifacts, tools |
| Display Pedestal | 1 item | Floor | Trophy skulls, rare minerals, alien artifacts |
| Glass Cabinet | 6 items | Floor | Mineral collections, seed collection |
| Weapon Rack | 3 tools | Wall-mounted | Tools, weapons, scanner |
| Aquarium Display | 1 fish/plant | Wall or desk | Rare fish specimens |
Popular display collections include: the full set of 10+ different eggs, a mineral collection showing every ore type in the game, a complete set of Precursor artifacts, and trophy skulls from every predator species. Some players also display their first-built tool or other sentimental items.
The Weapon Rack is particularly useful. It lets you store tools on the wall instead of in lockers, making them easily accessible while also looking good. Place a weapon rack near your base entrance with your go-to tools (stasis rifle, knife, flashlight) and you will never fumble through your inventory looking for equipment again.
Indoor Gardening and Plant Decor
Plants bring life to any base. Indoor grow beds, potted plants, and hanging planters add color, oxygen, and a natural feel to otherwise sterile metal corridors. Beyond aesthetics, some indoor plants also produce food or useful materials, making them both decorative and functional.
The Indoor Grow Bed is the foundation of indoor gardening. It fits on the floor of any room and can hold up to 4 small plants or 2 large plants. You can grow almost any plant species indoors, from decorative flowers to food crops to useful material plants. Some plants like the Chinese Potato are grown specifically for food, while others like the Membrain Tree are grown for their unique appearance and atmosphere.
Decorative and Useful Indoor Plants
| Plant | Growth Time | Decor Value | Practical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese Potato | 8 min | Low | Staple food crop |
| Marble Melon | 10 min | Medium | Food + water from fruit |
| Lantern Tree | 15 min | High (glows) | Food, natural light source |
| Membrain Tree | 25 min | Very High | Benzene production, atmosphere |
| Table Coral | 12 min | Medium | Computer chip material |
| Gel Sack | 10 min | Medium | Aerogel material |
| Fern Palm | 10 min | High | Pure decoration (very pretty) |
| Glow Fern | 8 min | Very High (glows) | Natural light, ambiance |
For maximum decorative impact, combine multiple plant types in a single room. A "garden room" with several grow beds, a few potted plants, and a water feature creates a peaceful, natural space that feels like an underwater oasis. The Glow Fern and Lantern Tree are especially popular because they produce their own light, creating a magical glow in dark rooms.
One advanced technique is "vertical gardening." Since you can place grow beds on multiple floors, you can create a multi-story atrium filled with plants. Put a glass ceiling on top to let in natural light, and you have a stunning centerpiece for your base. This works best in a central room with lots of vertical space.
Interior Design Themes and Room Ideas
With so many decoration options available, it can be overwhelming to decide how to arrange everything. Having a theme for each room makes decorating easier and creates a more cohesive look. Here are some popular interior design themes for Subnautica 2 bases, plus ideas for themed rooms.
The "Industrial Functional" theme is popular with players who prioritize utility over aesthetics. Exposed pipes, metal walkways, utilitarian lighting, and equipment on display. This look is easy to achieve -- just build what you need and arrange it neatly. Add a few warning signs and equipment labels for extra industrial flair.
Design Themes and Recommended Decor
| Theme | Lighting | Furniture | Accents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Industrial | Cool white ceiling lights | Metal desks, shelves | Warning signs, tool racks |
| Cozy Cottage | Warm floor lamps | Wood-style furniture, sofa | Plants, rugs, framed art |
| Scientific Lab | Bright overhead lights | Lab counters, equipment | Display cases, charts, samples |
| Alien / Precursor | Glow panels (blue/green) | Alien furniture | Precursor artifacts, glyph posters |
| Underwater Garden | Natural + glow plants | Planters, benches | Fish tanks, vines, water features |
| Luxury Resort | Warm accent lighting | Sofas, beds, bar | Art, rugs, high-end fixtures |
The "Precursor Alien" theme is a late-game favorite. Once you have access to Precursor furniture and artifacts, you can build rooms that look like they belong in an alien base. Blue and green glow panels, alien display pedestals, and a collection of Precursor technology create a mysterious, futuristic atmosphere. This theme works especially well for deep-sea bases where natural light is limited.
Do not be afraid to mix themes across different rooms. Your industrial power plant wing can look completely different from your cozy bedroom, which can look completely different from your scientific research lab. The best bases have a variety of spaces for different purposes, each with its own look and feel. Experiment, have fun, and remember: you can always deconstruct and redecorate if you do not like how something looks.