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Industrial decorating ideas


15 Industrial Home Decor Elements

If you want to learn more about industrial decor, then we’re going to give you a quick overview of this popular decorating style reminiscent of a factory or workshop. Industrial interior design is often associated with lofts, apartments and city dwellings. However, you can take elements of this interior style and make it work in just about any type of home.

I have seen farmhouse homes with industrial design elements and I’ve also seen Scandinavian homes with industrial style touches. It’s possible to mix industrial style with many different decorative tastes. You don’t have to go full-on industrial to get elements of this style in your home.

Industrial Decor Elements

Here are the major elements of industrial decor that you will most often encounter. You can get the industrial furniture and decor featured in this post from retailers like Restoration Hardware, Wayfair and especially AllModern.

Exposed Brick Walls

Many industrial lofts have exposed brick walls to give them a rustic and factory feel. While most modern homes have drywall plastered over the original brick, exposed brick walls have come back in style in many homes beyond industrial ones!

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Metal & Wood

Rustic wood and exposed metal are a key combination of industrial furniture design. You can find just about any style of furniture with these pieces mixed together to create a gorgeous industrial design.

 

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Exposed Metal Beams, Pipes and Ducts

Leaving the raw elements of an industrial space is key. To get that factory vibe, it’s important to show the raw bones of the space you’re working with! Showing steel beams, pipes and ducts will give the area an “unfinished” look which is exactly the industrial vibe you want.

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A Touch of Vintage & Antique Pieces

Industrial furniture often takes inspiration from antique or vintage design. If you can get your hands on antique pieces directly, then even better!

VTWonen

Silver Metallic Color Palette

You will rarely find bold and bright colors in an industrial space. You may find some browns and dark navy blues, but otherwise stick to a metallic color palette like silver, gray and gold.

@amberinteriors

Distressed Leather

Distressed leather is key to add some warmth to an otherwise cold metal industrial space. I often see lots of distressed brown leather sofas in industrial living rooms.

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Bare Edison Bulbs

When it comes to industrial lighting, the edison light bulb is king! Companies like Schoolhouse Electric have been very popular with creating beautiful lighting fixtures using bare bulbs in their industrial designs.

Cage Lighting

Cage lighting is another popular industrial lighting trend. This type of lighting wraps metal bars around the lightbulb to form a “cage” around it.

 

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Large Metal Dome Lamps and Pendant Lights

I’ve also seen many large metal dome pendants and table lamps to help illuminate industrial spaces.

Westwing

Open Layout

Since industrial interior design is inspired by large warehouses and factories, it makes sense that these homes would have an open layout to allow free movement. Large spaces with expansive floors work best for creating an open layout in your home.

everythingelze

Copper Cookware

Copper pots and pans will help you create that warm industrial nature in your kitchen. Copper cookware and kitchenware also gives a charming vintage vibe to your industrial kitchen.

 

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Concrete

Lastly, I have started to notice concrete countertops, concrete floors, and other design elements in industrial homes. Concrete is typically dark gray and works nicely with different metals and woods.

I always think of Joanna Gaines and the way she loves the concrete countertops in her kitchen, but concrete was a material used in homes long before her time! After all, how many warehouses and storage spaces have concrete floors and walls? It’s a truly industrial style material that won’t be going away anytime soon!

@cavainterieur

Draftsman Task Chairs

If there’s one type of industrial chair you need in your home, it’s the industrial draftsman task chair! These metal chairs are very typical of industrial furniture. They are typically used by craftsmen and artisans when they work on an artistic or engineering project. Today, architects and artists are happy to work from these chairs.

RH

Coffee Table on Castors

A rolling factory table can be used in your living room as a coffee table. These coffee tables on castors are commonly found in industrial style living spaces.

Renee Arns

Black Grid Frame Windows

If you can, try to get large black frames for your windows which form a grid. These are reminiscent of factory spaces and warehouse windows. They also let in a ton of light!

Paulina Arcklin

I hope this post helped you learn more about industrial interior design and how to get that factory chic industrial look in your home! There is so much more to industrial decor and we can’t wait to share with you our top recommendations for industrial furniture and industrial decorations on Curated Interior.

You can read more about how to design different rooms in the industrial style on these room design guides:

Industrial Home Decor Ideas

You can read more about specific industrial furniture, decor, and design ideas on our site here:

Follow along to see all our newest articles on this beautiful decorating style. You can also stay up to date by following our Industrial Interiors Pinterest board!

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Happy curating!

10 Best Tips for Mastering Your Rustic

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Industrial interior design is with no doubt one of the most requested styles these days. In particular, rustic industrial decor is gaining a lot of popularity. What makes this style so special is its seemingly unfinished character paired with more polished elements – creating gorgeous mix! When it’s time to put it in practice, it can be tricky to recreate this mix of high and low in a way that feels harmonious…but we’re here to help! Read on for expert designer tips and tricks for pulling off a seamless rustic industrial interior design style.

What is Industrial Interior Design? Modern industrial interior design by Decorilla designer, Shasta P.

Originally industrial interior design belongs to old warehouses being converted into urban lofts. These transformation left the architectural elements of the buildings exposed. Think iron or wooden beams, brick walls, cement floors, ductwork, and expansive windows. All of these formed the foundation for a raw, yet beautiful style.

And of course these unrefined features play into rustic decor style perfectly, leading to a favorite industrial decor style mix –  rustic industrial interior design. From the typically neutral color palette to its preference for distressed materials, a rustic industrial style looks relaxed and welcoming. And since imperfections are a sought after quality, it is also a style that can be easily recreated – no warehouse loft required.

Not sure if industrial interior design is right for you? Take our Free Interior Design Style Quiz to discover your unique decorating style today! 

10 Tips to Recreate Rustic Industrial Decor Style Rustic industrial decor in a home office by Decorilla designer, Wanda P.

Give some of our leading designer’s following tips a try to easily add this style to your home!

1. Industrial Interior Design Essentials: Natural Palette & Textures Rustic industrial style living room by Decorilla designer, Kristina B.

One of the essentials of industrial style interior design is certainly a rich color palette that mixes neutral browns, white and black. So let’s see how to recreate it. To start with, pair different shades of brown and tan to make the space feel relaxed. Then, add white elements to give the room a clean look. And last but not least, finish with black accents to create contrast and add character.

Besides colors, textures also play a very important role in the high-low mix that is typical of industrial interiors. To give you an example, a distressed leather chair would be great to add texture and several brown shades. A plain white wall would be the perfect backdrop for it. And it would create that mix of high and low that makes rustic industrial decor so special. Finally, black metal accents here and there would add character to the space. Plus, they could be used to accentuate certain features in your home. To summarize, the perfect palette for a rustic industrial interior is a mix of many natural colors, that will create a unique relaxed vibe in the space. Also, with so many different colors, it’s a pretty easy palette to achieve and maintain!

2. Mix Modern & Rustic for Flawless Rustic Industrial Interior Design Modern industrial interior design by Decorilla designer, Rajna S.

As we’ve already mentioned, the one typical element of any industrial style interior design is the mix of modern and rustic elements. It’s also important to mention that there is no absolute rule on the proportion of high and low elements that should go into a space. So you’re fully free to create a style that leans more towards the modern or the rustic side.

For example, you could create an equally stunning industrial interior design living room either with a sleek black leather sofa or with a distressed leather one. Also, you could choose to leave the walls rough or paint them in plain white…. You get the point: a mix of modern and rustic is essential for any industrial interior, but how much of each to include depends on your own taste!

3. Open Up the Space industrial style interior design with an open floorplan by Decorilla designer, Kate S.

When thinking industrial style one immediately thinks about urban lofts. One of the main features of urban lofts is their open floor plan, a thing that you should try and recreate as much as you can. In fact, an industrial rustic living room is not complete without a kitchen island that connects it with the cooking space. Additionally, a dining table will fit perfectly in this industrial layout, creating the perfect open plan in the day area.

If you want to go the extra mile, you can keep the night area also open. Placing the bed on a raised floor is the classic way of making the bedroom part of the open plan in a modern industrial living room. But if you can’t build a mezzanine, you can still use features other than a wall to “close” up the sleeping area. For example, a curtain, a bookshelf that is open on both sides or a sliding barn door are perfect rustic industrial ideas that will add privacy to the bedroom while blending with your new industrial interior design.

As a side note, open floor plans are also a great strategy to make a space feel bigger than it actually is. So, if you live in a small condo, taking all internal walls down will really help you make the most of your square footage. Plus, it will make your home much brighter as natural light can travel throughout!

Another important factor in any home is functionality. And even in an open plan concept, it’s still important to create separation between different functional areas. How you ask? Big area rugs, room dividers, movable partitions and carefully placed bookshelves are just some of the strategies to create a visual separation without using any wall!

4. Choose Industrial-Style Lighting Modern industrial style decor and lighting by Decorilla designer, Rajna S.

Every interior style has its own preferred lighting choices. And if you look for industrial style lighting you’ll find plenty of options too. But there’s one thing that makes industrial interior design special: its ability to turn the simplest light bulbs into statement lighting!

Since this style has become so popular, you can now find a lot of different and beautiful light bulbs on the market. The shape of the bulb itself is the first choice to be made: thin, large, small or big, there’s something for every taste! The filament inside has also become a decorative element and you can find plenty of options for that too. Last but not least is the cable, that can be hung straight down from the ceiling or used to draw more intricate shapes, creating a real statement chandelier with a very little budget!

Other features that are perfect for industrial style lighting are wood or black metal details and unconventional objects (like pipes and chains) repurposed as parts of a lamp. So if you want to make your own DIY industrial lamp, all you’ll need are a few bulbs, a cable and some unconventional objects to repurpose!

5. Switch to Loft-Type Windows Industrial interior design inspiration by Decorilla designer, Corine M.

If you search for industrial living room decor ideas, you will find a lot of different interiors with one thing in common: big loft-type windows. And indeed, those windows are a typical sign of rustic industrial decor! Big loft-type windows let plenty of natural light in and their metal structure makes them a decorative feature in the space. So if your renovation includes some work on the windows, this is definitely the look to go for! Even if you can’t make them bigger, changing the structure to loft-type (even better if the frame is black) will already make your space look way more industrial!

But don’t worry if you’re renting or you can’t make any change to your windows! If you follow our other tips for choosing the right furniture, finishes and decor, you will still achieve a beautiful rustic industrial style in your home!

6. Use Distressed Wood in Your Rustic Industrial Interior Design Rustic industrial interior design attic by Decorilla designer, Rajna S.

When selecting wood for industrial interior design, texture is key. The best choice you can make is distressed wood with visible knots and a slightly rough touch. Also, the color of your wooden pieces doesn’t have to match perfectly. Actually, it’s even better if it doesn’t match! Indeed, non-matching pieces will bring in a variety of colors and add to the relaxed feel of the space. Plus of course, making it easier for you to handle!

Given the popularity of this style, you’ll find a lot of furniture on sale that already comes with a distressed finish. But you can also make your own! With relatively basic DIY-ing skills you can turn a simple piece of reclaimed wood into a side table, or make shelves out of it. And – if you have access to more material – you might even decide to go for an entire shiplap wall!

Thrift stores and garage sales are also great occasions to find distressed wood furniture. The best advice we can give you here is to leave your mind open when shopping. Maybe an item looks too distressed or old when you first look at it, but when paired with more modern items and looked into the context of the finished interior it might be just the right choice! To help you decide, try taking a picture of that object and put it close to the other inspiration images you’ve collected. Seeing everything together will surely help you choose! Finally, don’t forget that furniture can be altered! A coat of paint and new drawer pulls can make a huge difference and let you save some money!

7. Add Metal Accents Industrial style decor in a loft kitchen by Decorilla designer, Kristina B.

In an industrial interior design, metal pieces are often used to introduce a black accent. So black is certainly the best color to choose for your metals. You might now think you’ve got no choice, but you still have plenty of room to play with the finish! In particular, polished metal will look sleek and modern, whereas brushed and rusted metal will add to the rustic side of your interior.

We’ve already said that a rustic industrial decor is meant to feel relaxed and inviting. So yes, you’re definitely welcome to mix more than one finish! The only important thing is making sure that the final result still looks cohesive. A pro designer tip to achieve that is choosing 2 or 3 different finishes and repeating them throughout all rooms. This careful repetition will show that the design was planned and is not just something that happened by chance!

When thinking about metal accents remember that, in a rustic industrial interior, metals are not just faucets and cabinet pulls. Actually, everything is an occasion to add a touch of metal! For example, look for shelving units with a metal structure, tables and chairs with metal legs and even metal accessories!

8. Leave Structural Elements Exposed for True Industrial Interior Design Industrial interior design by Decorilla designer, Tijana Z.

One of the best ways to add character to a rustic industrial interior is leaving finishes and structural elements exposed. Brick walls and concrete floorings are an absolute staple in this style! Consider that they’re both rustic elements so, according to how modern or rustic you want your space to be, you can leave them entirely exposed or keep only a portion to create a focal point. Another obvious advantage of not having to cover all surfaces with a new finish, is that you can save some money in your renovation…and who doesn’t like that?

Wall and floor finishes are just one part of the story though. All sorts of structural elements also look great when left exposed in a rustic industrial style! Wooden beams, pillars and columns, ductwork and pipes…if you have any of these features in your space, don’t cover them! On the contrary, try painting them in a contrasting color and let them shine! Besides being typical features of an industrial style, these elements are unique to your space and will give your home a special character!

9. Consider Faux Features Rustic industrial design style by Decorilla designer, Wanda P.

Not all interiors are equal. And if you’re trying to achieve a rustic industrial decor in a space that has totally different bones, chances are that you’ll have no finish or structural element to leave exposed. Should you then quit the idea of a rustic industrial style? Not at all! All of these features can be faked! For brick walls there exist wallpapers that recreate the pattern to an incredible level of detail. Alternatively, you can go for 3D sticky tiles that will look real also at the touch! For concrete floors, you can install floor tiles or vinyl floorings that recall the look of concrete.

Even pipes, ducts and beams can be added as a decorative feature. Strictly speaking, they will no longer be structural elements, but they will still add that industrial vibe to your space! And that’s what we want!

All these “fake” options are also perfect if you’re renting and you can’t make permanent changes to the structure of your home. In particular, wallpaper and vinyl flooring are the simplest to remove when you move out. And features like decorative pipes, ducts and beams can all be installed with systems that are as easy to remove as nails in the wall!

10. Finish It All Up With Industrial Style Decor Rustic industrial bedroom by Decorilla designer, Kate S.

Accessories are always a must to add personality to an interior, and rustic industrial style is no different. Pillows, artworks, table lamps and other decorative pieces can be your friends for a number of reasons. They can help complete your color palette and add a personal touch. Or even adjust the overall vibe by bringing in more of a rustic touch or taming it with more of a modern vibe. Once again, you’ll find plenty of industrial-themed accessories in home decor shops. But for this style in particular, you can often make your own at a fraction of the price! Try repurposing pieces of wood, metal pipes and chains, car plates, pulleys and whatever other objects that match the vibe of an industrial interior design…you’ll be surprised by what you can come up with!

For example, some industrial lounge room ideas would be a gallery wall of mismatched car plates. Or, why not, a pendant lamp fixed to the ceiling with a vintage pulley. In fact, repurposing objects that come from a factory environment is one of the things that gives the most character to rustic industrial interiors. To start with, this creates an occasion to let your creativity run wild. And when the making is over, you’ll have plenty of unique pieces that will make your home personal. Without even mentioning that each and every one of those will be a great conversation starter when you have guests over!

Want to add rustic industrial decor style to your home?

Our top industrial interior designers can help bring your vision to reality. Schedule a Free Interior Design Consultation to get started today!

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Industrial decor: ideas and design - Articles - Atmosphere of style

Industrial does not mean heavy and ugly

More and more people in the world are enthusiastically rebuilding, remodeling and renovating their apartments to the now trendy industrial design. This fascination with exposed brick walls in the living room, magically alluring metal in the bedroom and hallway, and raw concrete finishes in the bathroom is no longer considered unusual. With this new love for problematic finishes and rough surfaces, decor has taken a new leap, combining modern ergonomics with a trendy industrial aesthetic.

If you're a fan of bare brickwork, rebar, wires and other industrial frills, this is the place for you. Or rather, this article. After all, it is here that you will find stunning industrial finds that will inspire you and give your home a whole new look.

We introduce industry into the entrance hall


The first thing that catches your eye upon entering is the door. You have not yet entered to the end, but you already know what you need to get in the mood. A bright red door greets you at the entrance and leads to a spiral staircase with metal mesh. This is your first step in a style that is still new to you.

Doesn't this decor look amazing on an old chest of drawers in the hallway? No matter what you say, but an interesting design can be obtained with the help of industrial decor.

Starting small


A great way to start incorporating industrial style into your living space is to start small. Coffee table or coffee table - you decide. Your choice depends on what is closer to you - a black metal round coffee table ...


Or a solid wood slab that became a coffee table. Leather sofas are perfect for an industrial style.

Geo style black coffee table with industrial finish feels a little more modern, while leather sofas and wood and metal open shelves complete this blend of modern and industrial style.

A leather armchair next to a wooden industrial chest of drawers is an incredibly elegant and stylish combination.

Mixing styles


If you don't want to break your usual minimalist or classic style by redoing everything and everything, then it doesn't matter. Industrial decor fits into any interior style. Don't believe? Then take a look at this classic living room.

Or this minimalist dining room with a gorgeous industrial light fixture.

There are many ideas for introducing industrial decor. The style your home is made in doesn't always matter. Elegant decor can combine chic modern and industrial…

Or the same loft…

Color and style

We continue to mix styles. The main thing in this matter is not to strain. After all, industrial decor works wonders: a black iron counter, again in a classic kitchen, looks just as great as it does in a bedroom. The color is at a minimum, the background is neutral - the theme of graceful elegance prevails.

Natural stone cube as a table. An excellent solution for open light terraces and light furniture.

Home and industrial

It's about the office. It perfectly combines both meanings. For anyone who works from home, their workspace has long ceased to be just an "extra room". Adding industrial touches to your home office is a lot easier than you might think, and the perfect starting point is a classy wood desk with a metal base.

If you don't want to change your desk, a large mail sorter is a handy alternative...

or metal chest of drawers.

The kitchen is just as good!


Industrial style bar stools will brighten up any modern kitchen, bring an unusual charm to it and add a desire to have dinner or breakfast in their company.

Sideboards with textured wood finishes and other cool décor options for those who want to try out industrial overtones before embracing the style on a larger scale.

Keeping the rest of the kitchen and dining area as neutral as possible also helps to highlight these great pieces of industrial décor.

Space racks…

Wooden and metal racks can be easily made by yourself. These are DIY projects that don't require much skill and won't take long. But even if you don't want to create your own industrial style shelves right away, just bring one into the house and it will give you time to think about adding more shelving in the future.

And relaxing bedrooms

Shelving is the perfect way to spread industrial décor throughout your home. The kitchen or the bedroom will be the next stage - it doesn't matter.

Whether you choose light fixtures or a simple coat rack, adding industrial charm to a modern bedroom is easy.

Industrial lamps

There is nothing more interesting than an industrial pendant lamp, right? It would seem that everything is simple. Edison light bulb and a little imagination. And what is the result! This lamp, complete with die-cast aluminum fittings, is simply gorgeous in its simplicity.

A unique and ingeniously designed industrial table lamp with plain jar glass and brushed aluminum base perfect for nightstands, side tables and bookshelves!

Well, have you chosen something to start a new, "industrial" life?

Industrial Decor Ideas • Decor & Decoration Ideas

Create unique decor by displaying salvaged industrial sites in an interesting way.

Generate interest

Choose works that rise to the status of works of art and display them with the same distinctive objects. A beautiful find, the painted cart-turning table brings in vibrant color, a vibrant silhouette, and showcases a rusty metal spring that takes on the role of a sculpture. The ship's lantern, dimmed from time, adds another touch to this mix.

Artful exhibit

If you just want a touch of the industry, show one or two parts of the machine. Rusty gears, cutting wheels, and cogwheels (like the huge cog on display on the mantelpiece) create vibrant silhouettes, interesting patinas, and charming colors that warm up monochrome interiors. Look for mechanical parts in architecture stores, junkyards and flea markets.

Revive and repurpose

Choose workday furniture that offers vintage shapes that still function today. Once used to store workers' lunches, rescue suits or teenage sportswear, steel cabinets bring industrial chic to hallways, offices and bedrooms. The horizontal configuration of the lockers inside the iron cart offers storage space at the bottom and display space at the top.

Add to cart

Goods that needed to be moved from one area to another were often transported on wooden, steel and wire carts. Today, innovative artisans have turned these vehicles into cool coffee tables and other furniture. Type a vintage industrial cart into your search engine and all sorts of recyclables (in case you want to build your own table) and furniture manufacturer websites will pop up.

Expand your horizons

Industrial style is not only based on things found in factories. Agricultural equipment, shipyard building materials, laboratory equipment, school building fixtures and commercial restaurant supplies lend an industrious character to every room in the house. In this living room, an updated railroad cart with original iron wheels that now work like legs takes center stage as a coffee table.

Engineer something new

Be an innovator! Use lighting kits (or call an electrician) to transform vintage fan shrouds, security light shrouds, metal baskets and wire crates into pendant lights that captivate the eye and capture the spirit of the industrial age. Give your home a vintage look by fitting your fixtures with antique-style tubular bulbs, available from home centers and specialist lighting companies.

Lift the Seat

Compact wood and steel stools with attractive shapes (like those used by assembly line workers, draftsmen, switchboard operators and researchers in labs) create nostalgic bar seating. Vintage versions can be found on sites like eBay, and new-made stools, some made from recycled wood, can be purchased from artisans and retailers that specialize in furniture reproductions.

Creative lighting

Industrial objects look great in eclectic rooms where every detail should stand out. Look for reproductions or vintage table lamps that can be used to light up a dressing table or placed in the bedroom as reading lights. In this bathroom, adjustable scissor sconces add delightfully unexpected profiles and patina.

Set the scene

Even the humblest of attributes make a difference in how modern comfy spaces look and work. In this vintage-inspired bathroom, a battered factory stool provides storage space; work light with bright yellow spots on the background of modern white subway tiles.

Start cooking

Create a streamlined test kitchen or the perfect laboratory at home. Hang shiny stainless steel shelves (available from restaurant retailers) on white tiled subway walls; bring work stools with chrome frame that can be adjusted to different heights.

Arrange a greeting

When buying workbenches or factory tables, pay attention to their width and depth before carrying them home. This shallow, weathered workbench works great as a hallway console. The bench carries a cheerful message of industrial-style lettering and is a rustic counterpoint to contemporary artwork.

Rethink its purpose

Made from wood, galvanized steel or both, vintage factory tables are easily converted into workspaces as computer desks, kitchen islands, potty benches and workspaces. In this lair, shop-style fixtures, reclaimed wood bookcases, and an old swivel chair complete the industrial look.

Restore

Catalog important documents, craft supplies or DVDs in industrial filing cabinets or filing cabinets. These two large storage units could once have organized machine parts, printer units, apothecary supplies, or even time sheets and personal records.

Just a hint

Whatever your style, adding just one or two industrial items will create a powerful visual impact. Industrial lights with chrome shades (like these pendant lights, modeled after vintage warehouse lights) work well in kitchens with stainless steel appliances and chrome hardware.

Mark the time

Manufactured, ship and school clocks with oversized numerals and characteristic cases create timeless displays, especially when paired with period-appropriate companions. In this bedroom, clocks set to different international time zones make the most of the sloping walls.

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