Keep things simple with the clean lines, hardy materials and open layout of industrial chic! Check out how you can bring home this popular decor style.

Many decor styles we use today have beautiful stories behind them. Some of struggle, some of discovery, and always of the human spirit and how it finds a way out of every problem. If you like spaces that speak such stories, you’ll enjoy learning about the industrial decor style!

Decor Styles 101: Industrial

It might sound strange, the term ‘industrial’ for a home decor style. But as mentioned, there’s a story behind it. After the industrial revolution, there were many warehouses and factories, many of which ended up empty after they closed. At the same time, people were looking for residential places they could make their home and they found these large buildings with high ceilings lying vacant. So, a demand was met and the industrial style was born!

This style originated in the 1960s in Manhattan and has become quite popular today. Industrial style homes have large open spaces like warehouses, and also feature many things you’d associate with manufacturing or factories. It was expensive covering up these industrial details, so people just went with it and they’ve now turned into a style statement.

Today, industrial style isn’t just popular in homes; it’s also found in restaurants and office areas. If you’re not familiar with the industrial style, incorporating it into your home can be tricky, so here’s a quick guide on the features that define this very unique kind of home decor style.

Characteristics of Industrial Style

• Large spaces with open layouts are a feature of the industrial style
• The style features a lot of wood, metal and leather finishes
• Patterns are minimal and colors are kept neutral
• This is a bare bones style, where structural elements like brick, piping and concrete are visible
• Industrial style features vintage elements in terms of furniture and decorative accents
• The style is fuss-free and almost minimalist in its simplicity

7 Ways to get the Industrial Style in your Space

1. Open up your Space

Since this style originated from warehouses and factories, a large, open space is an important feature. So make sure you remove anything unnecessary in your home that may be blocking a free flow of movement. Get rid of partitions and doors where you can. Use smart ways of demarcating spaces like storage cabinets or rugs. Also ensure enough negative space so there is a clean, open look.

2. Go with Neutrals

You don’t generally see bright colors or pastels in factories, and you won’t find then in an industrial home as well! The color palette is limited to neutrals like black, white, brown, grey and beige. These will include the colors of the various textures and materials you will include. If you want a pop of bright color, limit it to just one or two pieces in the entire room.

3. Stick to Clean Lines

Industrial style furniture is all about practicality and as a result, the design features mostly straight lines and plain curves. This is certainly not the place for ornate, carved or engraved furniture. The furniture will be durable and well built, made out of hardy materials.

4. Use Hardy Materials

The most common materials found in the industrial style are wood and metal. Other common materials are leather and concrete. Furniture, lighting, kitchenware and decorative accessories are all made of these materials. Metals can be steel, iron, copper or brass, but try to go for the unpolished kind.

5. Get the Right Lighting

The right kind of lighting is important to make your style more defined. The industrial style is characterized by very plain lighting fixtures, like naked Edison bulbs or cage pendants lights. You can also go for table lamps or floor lamps with metal domes.

6. Make a Statement

With hardy materials, neutral colors and little to no patterns, it may seem like the industrial style is too dull. However, you can spice it up with a statement piece or two – all in line with the theme. Vintage posters, antique globes, metal table accents, steel candle sticks are all great ideas.

7. Repurpose and Recycle

The industrial style offers a lot of opportunity to DIY and bring out all your creativity. Use old machine parts or metallic bits to create one of a kind art pieces or sculptures. Scourge flea markets for unique pieces like a vintage gramophone or typewriter. Pipes can be joined to form all kinds of useful and decorative structures.

The industrial style is bare bones not only in terms of exposed structural elements; it is also quite minimalist. So avoid cluttering up surfaces with too many things and keep everything neat. If the look is too cold and harsh, soften it up with a faux fur throw or a rug.

That’s the great thing about industrial decor – it’s so versatile and you can easily bring in elements of it into your space. It works well with the farmhouse and eclectic style, but not with more sophisticated styles like art deco or glam. It is also budget friendly as it makes use of whatever is available, and who doesn’t love that in a decor style!

This post is a part of the Blogchatter A2Z Blogging Challenge 2021.