What is Industrial Interior Design

Juxtaposition has always been something that was appreciated by fashion and interior designers alike. Combining things that look like they won’t go together but somehow work well is how interior design styles such as boho and industrial came to be. Industrial interiors are usually associated with high ceilings, unpainted walls, exposed pipes and a combination of metal and wood. The best way to explain industrial interior design is a ‘warehouse or old factory’ look.

Industrial design stems from the old factories that were established in the 1700s during the Industrial revolution. Over the years, many factories were established but with the advancement of technology bigger and better spaces were built for factories. Hence, these old factory houses were left bare and eventually, some turned out to be used as residences. The look and feel of these old factories remained but now they became a background for home furniture and decor. Combining modern-style furniture with the old and worn-out look of the entire space is what makes this style so alluring.

Key Features of Industrial Interiors

There are a few things you need to keep in mind when styling your house in industrial design. While exposed pipes and ducts, brick walls and high ceilings are structural requirements of industrial designs, you need to get the decoration and furniture right.

Colours

Since the industrial style is associated with metal and wood, it is better to stick to neutral or earth tones. White walls with black or silver metal pipes and furniture in different shades of brown are a great idea. You can always pair brick walls and metal pipes with light-coloured furniture (white, beige and ivory). Furthermore, when we say stick to neutral tones, that doesn’t mean your house is completely devoid of colour. You can add a pop of colour here and there through decorative items or small accessories.

Furniture Material

Industrial interiors are all about that rough look, which is why we suggest avoiding soft and plush materials. Opt for something practical and materials that have been refurbished. Furniture made from metals such as iron, aluminium, brass and copper is a great option. Additionally, stone and wood furniture is also a staple for this design. We would recommend adorning the house with signature furniture pieces made from reclaimed wood. The colours and rough style of reclaimed wood go perfectly with the industrial style.

Shapes and Accessories

When it comes to industrial design the shapes you place around the house make all the difference. This style is not about soft interiors, so you need to have furniture with practical designs and boxy or block shapes. You don’t necessarily have to avoid round-edged furniture and abstract shapes, but don’t get too many of those pieces; just one or two accent pieces should be enough.

With accessories as well, you have to maintain a more minimalist style. This interior style is a lot about letting the natural look of the room shine. Keep the colours muted and add a touch of colour with abstract wall art, plants, throws and cushions.

Industrial Furniture Must-haves

Selecting the right furniture for your industrial-style home can be easy if you know what you’re looking for. Practical furniture in neutral colours is the way to go. Metal and wood furniture should be your priority. Natural wood colour, darker browns, black and white are usually the furniture pieces you need to decorate your home with.

Leather Couches

Leather couches are an absolute industrial favourite. The texture and look of leather fit in perfectly with the rough interiors. Brown and black are your standard leather couch colours which will look great. But you can always go for rustor maroon if you like a bit of colour.

Bar Stools from Different Eras

Your living room and kitchen could always use some bar stools and with industrial interiors, bar stools are a must. You can go two ways with this- either choose a contemporary style bar stool or a retro bar stool. Retro furniture is quite popular with this interior style and bar stools are an excellent way to incorporate it. The rules are the same, wood and metal pieces are great; adjustable fabric or leather bar stools are also an excellent choice.

Retro bar stools are usually available in different styles. Brass and copper are quite common metals used for these bar stools. They look distinct and will definitely make the room stand out.

Industrial Shelves

Storage and display areas are an important part of home decoration. Industrial shelves are usually an open-rack made up of wood and metal. Some variations will use pipes as the connector for the wooden planks. These shelves really stand out and are perfect for displaying small items like photo frames, plants, artistic bowls, books and more. Moreover, the pipes really make this a unique item in the house.

Minimalist Bed Frames

You cannot forget about the bedroom when decorating the house. When it comes to industrial interiors, you want a bed frame with a simple design. Go for simple wood and metal frames with an attached headboard. No need for upholstered or rattan bed frames, you need headboards that are simple block designs made from wood and metal.

You can also opt for low-lying or storage bed frames and place them on top of an extra large rug. Add an accent chair, bookshelves and some cool lighting. Natural lighting is an important part of industrial design, so having a big window with stained glass works perfectly. You can get curtains for your windows but if you have the raw look of rough walls and huge grid windows, we would recommend leaving it bare.

Edison Lights and Pendant Lights For The Effect

If you’re wondering what are Edison lights, then let us enlighten you. These are light bulbs that are fashioned after the original light bulbs created by Thomas Edison. Industrial lighting uses Edison lights and pendant lights for a very old-timey effect. You can usually find Edison lights with bird cage-style lamp shades. If that is not your style, you can always opt for glass lamp shades for your Edison or pendant lights.

Wall Art To Add Some Colour

As we have mentioned before, decorating your house in an industrial style means a minimalistic look. However, you can add some accessories and colours here and there. An easy way to do that is by adding wall art. Wall art can be added all over the house in just about every room. So, find some abstract and colourful pieces for your home.

Industrial Interiors

The items mentioned above are just the tip of the iceberg. There is so much more you can do to decorate your home in an industrial style; Geometric rugs, cabinets with metal handles, mirrors with metal frames, nesting coffee tables, benches instead of dining chairs and more. As we have said before, decorating your house in the industrial interior style is not hard, you just need to be aware of what you should and should not do. You can find a lot more ideas about what you need for your home from the industrial interior collection.