The trend of renovating and repurposing old warehouses, barns and industrial halls has given birth to the popularity of industrial design.
In a sort of backward evolution, the rugged aesthetics of industrial facilities and workshops has inspired some of today’s most eclectic home interior designs.
Ranging from rustic exposed finishes and bare structural elements to early electricity lighting themes, industrial design has something for everyone, and definitely stands as a trend that is going to see many reiterations.
1. Seek Inspiration from Historic Buildings
Industrial design is sort of an umbrella term for many different approaches. If you aren’t sure what type of industrial features you want, take a look at buildings with a historical significance and try to grasp creative ideas that were used in their furnishings.
Exposed brick walls, bare steel columns, and timber roof trusses have been predominant in waterfront warehouses and manufacturing districts.
If needed, travel to the nearest town with a rich history and see if any revitalization of older buildings has taken place.
In many areas around the world, downtown warehouses and industrial facilities are being transformed into galleries, upscale condos, and even innovative office buildings.
2. Mix Modern and Industrial
The art of adding industrial elements to your home also includes the finesse of mixing and matching some contemporary styles with the industrial backdrop. After all, no one wants to live in a home that looks like a movie set.
The easiest space to achieve this is the kitchen. Today’s appliances come in modern sleek stainless steel hardware, and it’s relatively easy to match cabinetry with the appliance front panels for a nod to industrial machining elements.
Exposed pendant lighting such as oversized Edison-style filament bulbs can instantaneously cast a new light on old rustic metallic fixtures and a heavy hardwood workbench-style countertop.
3. Choose Your Favorite Metal
The Industrial Revolution fueled iron and steel production in the US and Europe, giving way to a widespread application of metal elements in both structural solutions and furnishings.
Industrially manufactured metals were at once prominent in plumbing and lighting fixtures, and cabinet and door hardware. Wrought iron can be used as a wonderful ornamental element in an industrially inspired interior; however, the list doesn’t end there. You should also consider non-ferrous, or colored metals such as brushed nickel, copper, brass, and bronze for a more organic industrial appeal.
4. Add an Industrial-Inspired Focal Point
If you’re about to renovate your home, a failsafe way to make a backdrop for industrial details is to give the place an architectural focal point from the very start.
For example, a fireplace can be refaced with exposed materials which create an industrial-inspired look that leaves the rest of the room modern and clean.
Thanks to its functional structure and diversity of finishes, concrete is a resourceful material to work with.
The latest developments of exposed aggregates allow you to order decorative concrete solutions with a polished stone look you can trace to the naturally occurring rock of your region.
Apart from floors, concrete can be used for countertops, sinks and bathtubs.
