When it comes to choosing your design style for your home, the industrial style is one that might tick all of your boxes. Gaining popularity through its unique blend of ruggedness and urban charm, industrial spaces are heavily influenced by the raw elements of factories and warehouses. If you're looking for an edgy yet contemporary space, this style is for you.
In this post, we'll cover the essential elements of the industrial design style, and run through how you can bring the ever-growing style into your home.
Note: The images showcased in this post were created by Midjourney AI for the purpose of providing inspiration. Their main goal is to showcase various colour schemes that can help you make informed decisions about designing your space.
Exposed Brick and Concrete Walls
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One of the defining elements of the industrial style is the presence of exposed brick and/or concrete walls. These features create an unbeatable sense of authenticity and ruggedness in your space. The raw and unique textures can easily set the tone for your space, being the ideal base for the rest of your design.
If you don't have the option to include actual brick or concrete, you can recreate the look through faux brick panels or textured wallpapers. The rest of the materials will become much more uniform by having these elements as a background.
Open Floor Plans
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Industrial-designed spaces often favour open floor plans, creating a seamless flow between different areas of the home. This layout allows for a spacious and unrestricted feel, reminiscent of the old factories and warehouses the style is based around. Using minimal yet functional furniture is key when creating an open planned area.
If you have unnecessary walls in your house/apartment, consider knocking them down to create as much connection throughout your home, helping out massively with the open floor plan. Being able to seamlessly move through your home is a focal point of the industrial aesthetic.
Metal Accents and Features
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Incorporating metal accents and features throughout your space is another key element in achieving the industrial aesthetic. In a home, the best way to add metal finishes such as stainless steel, iron and aluminium is through light fixtures, furniture legs, shelving units and other decorative pieces. The kitchen is the perfect space to emphasise this.
The sleek, minimalist appearance is one of the best ways to enhance the industrial vibe of your space, blending in perfectly whilst maintaining its own character. Metal elements also save a lot of space through their thinner nature, but are just as functional as any other style.
Reclaimed Wood Furniture
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Using reclaimed furniture is a super common element in industrial design. Looking for pieces made from salvaged materials, showcasing their imperfections and weathered textures can add so much visual interest into a space whilst heightening the industrial aesthetic.
Invest in a reclaimed wood dining table, coffee table and/or shelving units to infuse your space with warmth and character. The juxtaposition of the wood against the other industrial elements like brick, concrete and metal crests a visually captivating contrast.
Warehouse-Style Lighting
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Industrial lighting is often inspired by the fixtures used in warehouses. Opting for pendant lights, minimal solid chandeliers or wall sconces with exposed bulbs or metal cages will be the best way to encapsulate the raw feel to match the space's style.
Not only do these styles of lighting provide ample illumination for each section of your space, they also become their own statement piece, being a reminder of where this interior design style came from. They'll add an extra authentic industrial touch to your home.
Minimalist Colour Palette
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When it comes to the colour palette, industrial spaces typically favour a minimalist scheme. Sticking to neutral tones such as shades of grey, beige, white and black can create a backdrop that allows the industrial elements you choose for your space to shine brighter. Painting your larger areas such as your spare walls in a lighter tone will help the space feel more open and easy-moving.
For your accents/decor, you can either keep on trend with the neutral colour palette but contrast the most common colours in your space, or add pops of colour through cushions, rugs and artwork to add visual interest. This will also prevent the space from feeling too monotonous.
Ductwork and Exposed Pipework
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One of the bold and more unconventional elements of the industrial design style is displaying your home's ductwork and/or pipework if you have the ability to do so. More common in apartments, these elements become an essential part of the design's aesthetic.
The two best options for the look of these elements are either black or shiny silver. Painting them black will lead to them blending into your space more, whilst having them silver will create a more warehouse-feeling home.
Utilitarian Furniture and Storage
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Choosing furniture and storage solutions that have a utilitarian look and feel to them is another super effective way to create an industrial-inspired space. Opting for pieces with clean lines, simple forms and functionality at their core will add so much to your space in the most understated way.
The industrial design style celebrates practicality and efficiency, so look for pieces that serve a purpose while adding to the overall aesthetic. For example, consider designs using metal for things like shelving units, lockers, or wire baskets for storage.
Concrete or Industrial Style Flooring
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Another way to fully embrace the industrial aesthetic is through the use of concrete or industrial-style flooring. Polished concrete floors or even concrete-looking tiles provide a sleek, contemporary backdrop for your industrial-style space, highlighting other areas that you want to be the focal points.
If concrete flooring isn't for you, considering industrial-style flooring like hardwood floors can add some extra warmth and texture, maintaining the warehouse feel. To take it one step further, look into hardwood flooring with a weathered or wire-brushed finish for a more rough and rugged look.
Vintage and Distressed Accents
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Incorporating vintage and distressed accents throughout your space can lead to a massive increase in the industrial atmosphere of your home. Looking out for things utilising aged leather, antique signs or vintage posters that invoke a sense of history and nostalgia whilst seamlessly blending in with the tones of your space.
These curated accents add character and an extra touch of authenticity to your industrial-themed home. Be sure to not overfill your space with accents, you want to keep things open and minimal.
Oversized Clocks and Mirrors
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Oversized clocks and mirrors are a great way to make an impact in an industrial-designed space. Both clocks and mirrors are functional in every style, making them ideal to use in an industrial home. Placing them on a large wall with nothing else around them is a great way to emphasise the items, easily becoming focal points.
Mirrors with metal frames or industrial-style accents can also be used to create the illusion of larger spaces while adding a touch of industrial elegance. Whether you want a large, free-standing rectangle mirror or an irregular-shaped one, you have quite a few different options.
Incorporating Greenery
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Contrasting the industrial elements with some natural greenery can bring a sense of balance and freshness to your space. Introducing potted plants, succulents and/or hanging gardens can add a touch of soft vibrancy to what would be a solid, rough space.
To carry the industrial aesthetic throughout all elements of your space, use planters made of metal, concrete or reclaimed metals. Any of these materials will assist in blending the greenery with the rest of your space's colours.
With its raw appeal and urban charm, the industrial interior design style continues to grow in popularity amongst people seeking a unique, edgy aesthetic. By incorporating key elements such as exposed brick walls, metal accents and reclaimed wood, you can transform your space into a nostalgia-filled nod to old factories and warehouses.
Embrace a neutral colour palette, warehouse-style lighting and utilitarian furniture to further enhance the ambience of your space. The design style is perfect for those looking to get creative as you create a space full of personality and style.