Table of Contents
What is Industrial Interior Design?
- Industrial interior design emphasizes open floor plans with high ceilings and abundant natural light, contributing to a spacious and airy atmosphere typical of warehouse-inspired spaces.Â
- The color palette of industrial style predominantly utilizes neutral shades such as blacks, grays, browns, and whites, which foster a sense of simplicity and rawness in the design.Â
- Key elements of industrial style include rough textures like weathered wood, rusted metal, and exposed brick, which create an edgy and unfinished yet cohesive aesthetic.Â
- Furniture in industrial design typically combines metal and wood, featuring utilitarian and sturdy pieces like metal-framed tables and distressed leather sofas that embody the essence of the style.Â
- Concrete flooring is a hallmark of industrial design, offering durability and practicality while enhancing the raw, unfinished look that characterizes this aesthetic.
Read also – 21 Most Popular Types of Interior Design Styles
Origins and History of Industrial Interior Design
- The roots of industrial interior design can be traced back to the mid-20th century when the repurposing of old factories and warehouses into living spaces gained popularity due to rising urbanization and industrial evolution.Â
- Designers began to appreciate the raw, utilitarian beauty of these converted structures, leading to the incorporation of industrial elements as aesthetic components in interior design.Â
- The trend evolved to feature exposed beams, metal surfaces, and untouched brick walls, highlighting both functionality and an inherent aesthetic appeal.Â
- Industrial design celebrates the building’s history through elements like open plans, lofts, and high ceilings, which often showcase raw materials such as visible pipework and concrete floors.Â
- The design philosophy not only emphasizes aesthetic beauty but also promotes sustainable practices by transforming industrial areas into livable spaces, thereby reducing material footprints.
Read also – 15 Ways To Add French Country Interior Design Style To Your Home
Key Features: What Defines Industrial Design
- Industrial interior design features open floor plans with high ceilings, which promote a spacious and airy aesthetic reminiscent of warehouse spaces.Â
- The color palette in industrial design predominantly consists of neutral shades like blacks, grays, browns, and whites, contributing to its minimalist and raw appeal.Â
- Raw textures are a hallmark of industrial design, incorporating materials such as weathered wood, rusted metal, and exposed brick to create a cohesive yet unfinished look.Â
- The use of furniture that blends metal and wood is common in industrial design, enhancing the rustic character of the decor through items like metal shelving and wooden tables.Â
- Concrete flooring serves as a staple in industrial design due to its durability and ability to complement the overall raw aesthetic of the space.
Characteristics of Industrial Interior Design
While an industrial design may look austere and uncomplicated to the eyes, it needs to follow a fixed set of rules to look striking. Let’s look at some textbook features of industrial elements in interior design.
Neutral color palette:
Industrial aesthetics uses a wide array of neutral tones of blacks, grays, whites, and browns. This gives the entire space an earthy and grounded feel.
 Infuse natural light:
Large windows with black panes, huge archways, and massive entry doors are all trademark elements of industrial design. This means that during the day, an interior is done up in this style and rarely needs to make use of external lighting.
 Highlight architectural language:
One of industrial design’s core fundamentals is celebrating the building’s industrial history. Open plans, lofts, and high ceilings are coupled with exposed brick, visible pipework, and concrete floors. Columns and beams are left untreated and allowed to bask in their glory.
 Refurbished materials:
As part of the industrial look, designers often repurpose old furniture by either stripping it down to give a distressed look or using reclaimed wood to build new pieces. Reclaimed wooden furniture showcases the old-world charm like no other. Decking the house with repurposed furniture is not just good sense but also saves big bucks. The juxtaposition of natural elements like wood against raw metal is a jarringly handsome one.
 Edison bulbs:
An industrial era classic – Edison bulbs are a crowd-pleaser! Used as a single piece, under lampshades, or in groups to form a chandelier, these lights are warm and inviting. Large blown-glass spheres, pendant lights, and floor lamps are common industrial design choices.
 Bold Lines:
Industrial spaces are all about that bold and confident vibe. Black metal is used widely to accentuate this design style‘s straight lines and rigid forms. Unlike art deco, the bold shapes and lines are not glitzy or colorful. This muted and subtle feature, in fact, becomes a solid design statement.
Read also – 20 Top Interior Color Schemes for Your House Design
14 Best Industrial Interior Design Ideas
We have enlisted the help of the following few tips and pointers for you to get this edgy, fun style correct on your first try! These are the 14 of the best modern, industrial interior design ideas.
1. Go Neutral
Industrial design famously mixes a soft color palette of neutral shades and tints. Blacks, grays, and browns make up the entire foundation of industrial design. To render a space with a soothing touch, earthly options like brown and tan are used. Similarly, for a more suave look, black is used. It’s largely uncommon to witness white elements in an industrial scene.
Read also – Top 20 Neutral Paint Colors
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2. Mix Modern & Rustic
The best part about designing industrial-themed spaces is that you have complete creative freedom to pick between modern and rustic or blend them together. There is no pressure to balance the scales. Contemporary elements offset the rustic settings and vice versa to achieve favorable results.
Read also – 11 Modern Rustic Interior Design Ideas For Your Home
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3. Open Layouts: The Importance of Space
- Open layouts in industrial interior design facilitate a sense of airiness and freedom, allowing for seamless flow between connected spaces without obstructions.Â
- This design approach encourages connectivity and interaction within the space, making it ideal for social gatherings and collaborative work environments.Â
- Maintaining exposed structural elements, such as beams and ducts, within an open layout showcases the architectural character and enhances the industrial aesthetic.Â
- To avoid the risk of an open layout feeling empty or stark, incorporating distinct elements like painted ducts, unusual decor, or natural materials can add visual interest.
- Emphasizing a minimalist approach in the open layout helps to create a welcoming environment, making it crucial to avoid clutter and strategically utilize light colors and mirrors.
Image Credit: wsj.com
4. Unique Lighting Fixtures: Adding Character to Your Space
- Pendant lights with exposed bulbs and metal cage designs can enhance an industrial aesthetic while providing functional illumination.Â
- Using reclaimed lighting elements like old factory lamps or pulley systems contributes authenticity to industrial interiors.Â
- Incorporating dimmable bulbs with industrial lighting fixtures helps balance ruggedness with a warm, cozy ambiance in the space.Â
- Vintage enamel and glass drop ceiling pendant lights serve as striking design elements in kitchen and dining areas, especially when paired with black metal accents that enhance the industrial vibe.
- Industrial decor can creatively utilize vintage items, such as protective light cases and metal baskets, to craft unique pendant fixtures.
Read also – 15 Tips To Incorporate Hygge Interior Design Into Your Home
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5. Loft Windows: Maximizing Natural Light
- Loft windows significantly enhance the feeling of space in modern industrial home designs by allowing an abundance of natural light to enter the area.Â
- Their sleek design adds an urban chic vibe to interiors, creating a contemporary aesthetic that complements various decor styles.Â
- Black-framed loft windows are recommended to accentuate the industrial vibe, emphasizing the character of the architectural elements.Â
- Leaving loft windows bare or using sheer curtains helps in maximizing natural light while maintaining privacy within the space.Â
- The integration of loft windows aligns with the principles of open layout found in industrial design, promoting connectivity and a sense of airiness.
Read also – 8 Best Window Treatment Ideas
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6. Go Green: Bringing Life to Industrial Design
- Incorporating greenery in an industrial design can enhance the aesthetic by introducing a natural element that contrasts with hard surfaces like concrete and metal.Â
- Utilizing plants alongside reclaimed wood and vintage textiles can create a warm and inviting atmosphere within an industrial space.Â
- The use of large windows allows natural light to enrich both the greenery and the industrial elements, making the space feel more open.Â
- Positioning plants strategically can soften the austere look of industrial interiors while maintaining the overall utilitarian feel.Â
- Adding light fixtures that use LED technology can complement the modern industrial aesthetic while also supporting the growth of indoor plants.
Read also – Japanese Interior Design Ideas
Image Credit: pinterest.com
7. Get Addicted to Metal
Industrial design is incomplete without metal. Even amongst metal, black is a must-have. But the choice doesn’t end there. From brass and copper to chrome and iron, the list is endless. From gleaming gold to rusty wrought iron, textures are a significant factor in this style.
Polished metal will help your design look sleek and modern, while brushed, matte, or beaten metal adds a vintage charm to the space. Including metals that patina over time is also an excellent strategy.
Read also – 18 Ways To Integrate Japandi Interior Design Style Into Your Home
Image Credit: thedesignsheppard.com
8. Expose the Skeleton
Exposed concrete and brick are the backbones of industrial-inspired interior design. Combining rugged, stripped finishes with the sleek is what this trend is all about. Concrete, in recent times, has come a long way. Gone days when it was considered bulky and ugly. From polished concrete walls to poured concrete floors, the word is urbane! Poured concrete kitchen countertops are the new chic.
Similarly, exposed brick bears witness to the walls’ history and adventures. They bring with them big-character energy into the room. Cracks, stains, and weathering only add to their appeal.
Image Credit: man-man.nl
9. Add Faux Elements
It’s not always that a historical monument or building comes to be remodeled. But recreating such a structure means mirroring the architectural elements and features too. The easiest approach is to create faux details that equal the real deal. Faux beams and columns, mock lofts, and fabricated imperfections are a few ways to inject industrial magnetism into the interiors.
Read also – 9 Ways To Incorporate Modern Interior Design Style In Your Home
Image Credit: curatedinterior.com
10. Vents & Ducts
It may sometimes become difficult to fill up or decorate when blessed with an open layout. You can risk the room looking empty and stark. Ductworks that are generally considered ugly get a new life in this interior design style.
They make the ceiling more interesting and can also play a role in your color scheme when painted. It goes without saying that matte black or steel vents have always been a favorite. But some designers prefer to highlight the contrast and paint them in stunning shades of bright red, green, or yellow.
Read also – 16 Ways To Add Shabby Chic Interior Design Style To Your Home
Image Credit: pinterest.com
11. Add Finishing Touches: Art and Decor
- Incorporating vintage couches, colorful rugs, and minimalistic hanging lamps can create visual balance and soften the dramatic industrial features of a space.Â
- Elements like artworks, lamps, decorative pieces, and cushions are instrumental in accentuating the industrial look while adding a personal touch to the overall décor.Â
- Utilizing distressed leather, natural linen, burlap, or hemp in décor items can introduce rustic visual drama that complements industrial aesthetics.Â
- Real-world applications for personalizing industrial spaces include using vintage signage, metal wall art, or repurposed industrial tools as statement pieces.Â
- Incorporating plants in metal pots or wooden crates can introduce a touch of greenery, enhancing both warmth and personality in an industrial-style environment, especially when paired with concrete walls that add a raw, urban feel to the space.
Read also – 15 Ways To Add Coastal Interior Design Style To Your Home
Image Credit: apartmenttherapy.com
12. Focus on the Floors
The floor is an architectural element that gets significantly insufficient attention. As we mentioned before, poured concrete on the bottom is a traditional industrial design setting. A very pocket-friendly and practical design choice that automatically grabs eyeballs.
All the flaws of concrete-like its coarseness, patches, and dents, further spur the industrial design sensibility. If you have deep pockets and wish to splurge, you can look into using raw-looking stone or wooden flooring systems. Remember that whatever material you pick has to be naturally robust and resilient. At the very least, it must be a good copy of its natural counterpart.
Read also – A Guide To Art Deco Interior Design Style for Your Home
Image Credit: pinterest.com
13. Repurposed Wood
Reclaimed wood is the cheat code when it comes to mimicking industrial design. The raw texture, distinct knots, and rings of repurposed wood are not just industrial-chic but also an ecological stroke of genius!
A slight variation in the color of such wood is natural and encouraged. But if you are not a fan of this quirk, you can easily use wood stains to make them uniform. Ensure that any old wood you bring home is treated and rid of any termites or infestation.
Because the industrial-style interior is popular, a ton of furniture is available for purchase. However, these can easily blow a hole in your pocket! Instead, try modifying a rustic piece of furniture like a coffee table with a distressed effect. There are numerous DIY videos and blogs with instructions. You can also experiment further and cover a wall with distressed wood in a shiplap style to further the industrial aesthetic.
Read also – 12 Ways To Incorporate Wabi-Sabi Interior Design in Your Home
Image Credit: curatedinterior.com
14. Storage Solutions
Nothing takes away from this minimal and clean style like clutter. The formerly loved imperfection in textures and finishes will look unkempt and rotting when the space becomes chaotic and messy. Hence, as a designer, you must make provisions for sufficient and efficient storage. Storage can again have unique solutions that club reused materials and good lighting.
Read also – 18 Ways To Incorporate Biophilic Interior Design into Your Home
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Conclusion
When undertaking a complex and intricate interior design trend like the industrial style, ensure your arsenal is full of ideas and the tools to implement them. Clients are often put off by an industrial home‘s lack of obvious opulence.
However, as a designer, you can convince them to take a leap of faith if you are armed with good concepts and a realistic image of how their home will look on completion. But more often than not, hiring a visualization expert or learning 3D modeling and rendering can be an exhaustive and expensive task.
 This is where Foyr Neo‘s powerful rendering software steps in! This software can easily help you visualize the industrial design style and all its glory in fine detail. You can add the appropriate home decor and realistic finishes like exposed brick and concrete from the extensive library at your disposal at Foyr Neo. By signing up for a 14-day free trial, you can get an exact bearing of how powerful and effective this tool can be to an interior designer.
