Industrial Interior Design: 7 Characteristics of Industrial Style

Inspired by repurposed factories from the Industrial Revolution, the industrial home design style embraces exposed architectural elements like pipes, brick, and concrete, and minimalist design philosophy. The interior design style also includes Edison light bulbs, open floor plans, and a cool, neutral color palette

While the design is based on minimalist, open spaces, the blend of various rustic materials in furniture and lighting accents provides homeowners the opportunity to bring industrial interior design into any living space. Contemporary homes, in particular, use a combination of industrial, mid-century modern and farmhouse style to create a cozy blend in living rooms, dining rooms, or throughout the home.

While viewed as a modern style, industrial style interiors have their roots in the Industrial Revolution. The development of giant factories that could hold large machines and many workers is the foundation of industrial design.

• First Industrial Revolution: In the 1760s, the Industrial Revolution marked the beginning of mass production in urban Europe and the United States. Factories were the beginning of industrial architecture, with large, grid-paned windows to let in the fresh air and lots of natural light, lofted floors, open plans, and exposed brick walls. Many of these elements were for safety. For example, the plaster traditionally covering brick walls was a fire hazard, leading to the exposed brick style.
• Second Industrial Revolution: In the 1870s, a second Industrial Revolution led to larger factories as businesses consolidated operations under one roof. These structures required stronger building materials, such as concrete and steel, which were still left exposed. The first Edison light bulbs, a primary characteristic of industrial lighting, were invented in 1879. This time period also inspired the steampunk genre and style.
• Housing shortages of the 2000s: While old factories had existed for almost 250 years, the industrial style came of age in the 2000s when New York and other urban areas were facing housing shortages. Factories were converted into industrial loft apartments with open floor plans. The factories’ basic structural elements of exposed materials and large windows became selling points.
• Rise of minimalism and hygge: Recently, the rise of minimalism has led to an embrace of industrial interior design, as the rustic and repurposed elements fit the clean, straight lines that populate modern and minimalist design. It’s even moved out of urban styles and into large, suburban homes that feature open plans, large windows, and neutral palettes. The style is also popular in Scandinavian design, where the neutral palette, distressed leather, and use of reclaimed wood and other raw materials mix well with hygge, the cozier, minimalist style.

Though the industrial look embraces streamlined design and fewer accessories, here are seven characteristics that define the style and could inspire decor ideas:

• Neutral color palette: Industrial spaces don’t simply use shades of white like other minimalist designs. It utilizes the spectrum of whites, greys, blacks, as well as neutral tones of brown.
• Embrace natural light: Industrial decor typically features large natural windows with black panes, sometimes in a grid pattern.
• Highlight architectural materials: The industrial style typically has open floor plans and high ceilings. Instead of using drywall or wallpaper, buildings feature exposed brick, concrete floors, industrial pipes, and visible ductwork.
• Repurposed materials: A wooden coffee table with castor wheels, bookshelf made of reclaimed materials, and repurposed dining tables are a staple of industrial style and a great way to bring natural elements into the metal-heavy materials.
• Bare light bulbs: Edison bulbs hanging solo or in a decorative group as a chandelier are common elements of industrial home decor. If you prefer something less bare, large metal domes, a pendant light, or floor lamps that leave the bulb visible are also popular industrial design ideas.
• Graphic lines: Whether it’s a windowpane or an iron wheel on bar stools, this style loves clean, graphic lines, particularly created with black metals, rather than sinuous lines and patterns. This is not to be confused with the graphic and highly stylized look of art deco, which highlights bold colors and metallics.
• Create coziness with natural textiles: Fabrics like weathered leather or linen work well in these environments for both furniture and accents, creating a lived-in and cozy feel.

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