A Guide to Industrial Home Design
Raw meets refined. Welcome to a new kind of design. Modern and vintage at the same time, industrial style decor has captivated the imagination of a generation. As chic as it is durable, it’s no coincidence that all of the hippest spots in town have embraced industrial decor.
Salvaged and recycled materials speak to our love of eco-friendly elements that have a story to tell. Meanwhile, perfectly aged wood, elegant stonework, and urban chic metal pieces create an effortlessly cool feeling. A trend that bucks trends, this no-nonsense decor style is built to last.
Inspired by Manhattan lofts, industrial style is just as at home in Brisbane as it is in Barcelona. It’s a highly adaptable style that is easy to customise and keeps looking modern for decades. Best of all, it is easy to embrace in any room, at any budget.
What Is Industrial Style Decor?
Even if you aren’t quite sure how to define industrial style decor, you have definitely seen it. From the hip speciality coffeehouse with its exposed brick walls to the shelves made of thick pipes and vintage wood in your salon, elements of industrial style have been popping up everywhere for years.
The much-loved industrial style decor is defined by its stripped-back style. It is a style that shows its age like fine leather or vintage wine. Elements of brick, wooden beams, and metalwork are laid bare and complemented with an eclectic range of salvaged and recycled material.
Where Does Industrial Style Come From?
While you will find industrial style everywhere from Sydney to Berlin, it is a style that has its roots in New York City. During the 1970s, young artistic would-be homeowners took over the abandoned warehouse buildings of Manhattan. They embraced the vast spaces with their rustic yet urban appeal.
Designers across New York City instantly fell in love with these warehouse spaces. They were blank canvases that were unlike any architectural trends of the past. The expansive warehouses offered wide-open spaces that tended to be flooded with natural light from their equally oversized windows.
As much as the style was fresh and different from what anyone had grown up with, it was deeply practical at the same time. Life in the heart of NYC was becoming entirely unaffordable. Anyone not prepared to move out to the suburbs had to be ready for serious compromises. For many, moving into an abandoned factory made a lot more sense than you might think. The lofts weren’t purchased by massive investment firms who would think nothing of ripping it all out and starting over. Those old factories were purchased by young artists, musicians, and designers who were strapped for cash and ready to do something a bit different.
Emerging artists like Andy Warhol lived in these abandoned factories and inspired stars like David Bowie, Madonna, William Burroughs, and Mick Jagger. Truly, anyone who was anyone in the 70s was hanging out in one of these warehouses.
Whether you were rich and famous or just making do, warehouse residents were embracing the bones of their spaces and making them dynamic with even older pieces of furniture to complement the atmosphere.
What Defines Industrial Style?
It is easy to feel the sense of atmosphere when you walk into an industrial-style space, but what actually creates the feeling? Let’s dive into those distinctive materials, colours, silhouettes, and accents that build the foundation.
When it comes to sourcing materials, of course, finding those aged elements is key. Consider the real bones of authentic factory spaces. Its core is iron, steel, copper, and wood. Few things are polished or hidden away. You can see the heart of it all.
Those elements are what creates the colour palette and silhouettes of the space. The lines of the space are rigid and structured in many spaces. While other elements are added in, it is crucial to allow the structure of the space to dominate.
To let the architectural elements speak, it’s key to take a minimalistic approach to decor. Clean and streamlined style is central to the clutter-free look that keeps the space feeling modern.
Creating an Industrial Vibe with Colour
From fashion runways to home decor, the world has been embracing neutrals. The style of the decade is perfectly at home in industrial lofts. Those multi-dimensional tones of beige, tan, and chocolate instantly transform stark industrial spaces into warm homes.
When you are creating an industrial colour palette, it’s essential to be aware of the cold nature of the space. The more industrial the bones of the space are, the more important it is to create warmth with decor. Steer aware with stark black and white colours and create depth with earth tones. Alongside the natural elements of stone, metal, and wood, rich brown colour palettes create an inviting space.
How Do You Soften an Industrial Look?
The biggest open secret of design is layering texture. Understanding how to play with different elements is the most fundamental skill in creating a next-level style. This is doubly true when you are trying to create a warm and comfortable home space.
It’s easy to throw together a couple of elements that match but your space will lack interest. Finding a way to combine jute with leather or cotton with lace changes everything. By adding a tactile interest, you are creating visual interest. When it comes to designing an irresistible space, it’s all about finding those elements that you just want to reach out and touch. Whether it’s an oversized knit throw or furry blanket over a structured sofa or a mesmerizingly glossy vase on a vintage wooden dresser, add interest with texture rather than colour.
Types of Industrial Style Design
How do you create top-notch home decor without having your space looking like a replica of what you saw in a design magazine? Start by getting to know what you love. Rather than just copying what you’ve seen, learn more about it. Get to know the different types of each style. Understand the full range of options then pick and choose the elements that you absolutely adore.
To create an industrial design, get to know the different types of industrial styles so that you can mix and match to create a style that is distinctly you.
Modern Industrial Design
The term “modern” can mean different things in the world of design. In a basic sense, the style is based around the concept of form following function. Materials like concrete, steel, and glass are key in modern architecture. Minimalism is central and fussy ornamental decor is most definitely out. Industrial design, by its nature, is one of those quintessential modern styles.
While all industrial style is modern, there are variations within that category. One option is embracing a mid-century modern style within an industrial decor. That mid-twentieth-century style is full of natural wood and organic elements. Mid-century modern style is all about bright colours and smooth lines as well, so bringing in these elements is a smart solution to soften an industrial space.
Vintage Industrial Decor
Want less Andy Warhol in New York City and more chic early twentieth-century Parisian loft? Look to an art deco style of warehouse space. Pulling in nature-inspired Art Nouveau touches will create a whimsical style. The softer metal elements of Art Nouveau along with the classic stained glass pieces will give a pop of colour and a softer touch without clashing.
Rustic Industrial Style
Blending cool urban elements with charming provincial touches is a smart way to make an industrial space feel like a home. Pair utilitarian metal stools with a substantial wooden table. Set a worn milk jug full of wildflowers on top of a pipe shelving.
This concept of rustic meets industrial style is so on trend these days that you will often see the styles blended into one piece. From IKEA to Living Edge, you will see stark metal elements combined with rich wooden pieces in everything from shelving to tables to bed frames.
Refined Industrial Decor
Industrial style can certainly veer into a harsh terrain. If you like the general aesthetic but crave something a bit more refined and smooth, opt to just incorporate industrial effects. Rather than soften an industrial space, add some interest to traditional modern decor.
Instead of uprooting your entire style, go small scale. Keep the soft furnishing and rich tones but add in a concrete vase. Opt for dark metal accents. Look to salvaged wood pieces. Decor shouldn’t be all or nothing and refined industrial decor acknowledges this.
Industrial Chic Design
Think modern farmhouse style with an edge. Bring in strong metal elements, reclaimed woods, and glass. Imagine priceless (read: estate sale finds) chandeliers lighting up exposed brick walls. Get the rough urban edge of a concrete floor but buffer it to a sparkling finish. Utilise floor to ceiling bookshelves for classic novels and keep a vintage library-style ladder in the corner.
Why Is Industrial Decor Still in Style?
There’s one question that designers get asked time and time again: Is industrial decor still in style? People are so used to constantly evolving styles that it’s hard to imagine trends lasting long enough to even get the remodelling done.
One of the greatest aspects of industrial decor is its timelessness. Elements like exposed brick walls or wooden ceiling beams don’t reveal their age. From a nineteenth-century Italian villa to a 50s era Manhattan loft, you will see these same architectural elements everywhere. The bones of the style are rooted in timeless construction techniques. These elements of stone, metal, and wood have been in homes around the world for countless generations.
Focusing on these bare finishes and materials create an almost blank canvas where your style can evolve over time. You can make it more on-trend, of course, but for anything hyper-fashionable, it’s best to go small scale with off-the-moment accessories.
How to Create Industrial Style
Want to start from scratch with a style that will grow with you year after year? Start simple. Embrace a neutral colour palette with wild abandon. Whichever neutrals speak to you, go for it. Don’t worry about using too much of the same colour. Likewise, don’t obsess over clashing if you want to use more than one shade.
If you want to go all grey or all beige, play with texture. If you want to combine cool neutrals like grey with warm neutrals like beige, be strategic. Find a statement piece, whether it is a piece of art, a blanket, or a brick wall that has both shades in it. Having a statement piece that calls attention to the combination of cool and warm shades makes the blend look intentional. Once you have that, opt to use accent colours that are either cool and warm but not both.
With the colour scheme in place, focus your attention on creating a clean and open space. For a major overhaul, think about creating an open floor plan by knocking down a few walls. For a weekend project, look to declutter.
However big or small scale your plans are, always stay focused on keeping this neutral colour scheme and adding those elements of steel, wood, and bricks. Whether you are ripping out the ceiling to expose the ducts and pipes or simply adding in concrete accent pieces, focus on the construction elements.
Industrial Decor on a Budget
Industrial decor is actually a very inexpensive decor option. You can source second-hand materials and pieces from any time period. From estate sales to online finds, it’s easy to find bits and pieces everywhere.
Another budget-friendly aspect of the decor is that you don’t need everything to be in perfect condition. Aged wood and leather elements are even better than mint condition new pieces. On top of that, utilising concrete, steel, and copper means that there is little to no wear and tear on pieces.
As you start on your search to find the perfect additions to your home, work on clearing out the area. Move out any clutter and try to identify any places where you can streamline. Remember, this is a minimalistic trend so avoid those fussy details.
Designer Secret: Less really is more. While you might think it would be great to just start from scratch and create an editorial-style layout where everything is perfectly on-trend, it’s actually better to mix and match a bit. Again, it’s all about avoiding that copy-and-paste style. The goal is to get inspiration from different trends and make them your own. Avoid having every single piece in your space represent the style you’re going for. Of course, you want pieces that work well together but you not to the point where it is heavy-handed
How to Style an Industrial Bedroom
I especially love this style in a bedroom because industrial style creates such an open and airy atmosphere. Simplifying and modernising your bedroom is the perfect opportunity to create a relaxing oasis.
Most of us are guilty of having cluttered bedrooms. If that sounds like yours, start pulling out everything. Clear off every surface so that you can create clean lines and open spaces in as many places as possible. To create space to keep your things, add industrial storage solutions. Look to wooden boxes, glass jars, metal tins and any other pieces that are created with these natural elements.
For even more space, add shelving. Consider thick pieces of lumber supported by piping or bricks. To store blankets or other space pieces, a ladder is a real statement piece that is surprisingly effective at creating storage space.
Expert Tip: If you embrace the industrial style whole-heartedly and create a space full of metal elements, wood, and brick, take stock after everything is in place. If you have a concrete floor, leather sofa, and brick walls, your space will be full of hard surface. Add balance with a few places and a cosy throw. Of course, you will want to keep that striking industrial style but just soften the edges enough to make it feel like home.
Creating an Industrial Kitchen at Any Budget
Want a kitchen that feels clean and modern while embracing and easy mix-and-match style? Look at an industrial kitchen.
Quick Kitchen Upgrades
This is another room in the house where simple rustic storage solutions can be an incredibly easy fix. Collect together your cutlery or cooking utensils and stick them in a glass jar. Upgrade to some smart tin storage boxes to keep your coffee, tea, sugar, and other daily essentials on your countertop. Bring in metal hangers for your cups or knives.
If you have wall space, add rustic wooden shelving. If you want an even quicker fix, look for a vintage style metal cart for a bar on wheels or just some extra space for storage.
Full Kitchen Makeover
For a more complete kitchen makeover look to places where you can add those key industrial elements. Concrete style countertops look ultra-modern yet maintain a timeless appeal. If you prefer a more rustic feel, go for wooden countertops or cupboards then incorporate metal stools to add an edge.
If your space has any hidden gems like wood floor, brick walls, or attractive wood ceiling beams, let them take centre stage. If your place is more modern, look to simple fixes like a metal tile as a backdrop.
When you are ready for new flooring, go for a durable and timeless style. From stone floor to concrete to wooden, anything can work well here. As long as it’s a natural finish and feels a bit raw, it will add character.
Essentials in an Industrial Living Room
Living rooms can be a bit trickier so start out strategically. Too often, people feel like an ultra-modern (and often uncomfortable) sofa is key to industrial design. Truth be told, however, you can incorporate any kind of sofa as long as you stick with a neutral colour palette. Of course, leather is a clear winner but if you want to go for a softer textile, look to natural tones like slate, brick, or charcoal.
Similarly, go neutral on the walls as well. While dramatic shades can add some spice, they aren’t practical in most spaces. Since your goal is to make the space seem as open as possible, light colours are the best pick.
When it comes to flooring, opt for wood or concrete. While industrial style is generally quite flexible, carpet is hard to pull off. Again, like the sofa, however, if you go for a natural shade, you can have it blend to the background.
Designer Trick: Don’t be shy to stack carpets! If you have wall-to-wall carpet, you can still utilise area rugs to divide spaces and add interest. This is especially true if you have very neutral carpeting that blends into the background. Putting down accent rugs will modernise wall-to-wall carpeting while adding even more comfort.
For the finishing touches, look to salvaged or vintage pieces. If you’re feeling adventurous, industrial style DIY decor is approachable even for novices. You can create frames out of metal and pieces of art out of metal or wood.
Industrial Style Bathroom Remodel
Bathrooms are the perfect place to get experimental. It’s a smaller space so complete overhauls are more approachable. If you want to embrace a fully industrial style bathroom, put in a concrete countertop and strip back the space to explode piping.
Swap out the fixture and look to brass hardware and exposed wooden ceiling beams. Get rid of the shower curtain and install a glass door. Get a trough style sink. Go for a raw, unfinished feeling.
If you want to just incorporate a few elements, get a new mirror with a metal frame and play around with different hardware options on your sink and vanity.
Ready to start DIYing? Share this post with a stylish friend and start brainstorming the perfect plan for your place.