10 ways to create the industrial look in your living room
It helps, but you don’t have to live in a New York loft to channel the industrial look in your living room. Whether yours is a terraced townhouse, 2-bed apartment, or rural retreat, we’re sharing our top 10 ways to create the industrial look in your living room, whatever the aesthetic of your house.
Industrial living room idea: opt for a neutral colour palette
A much more straightforward option to achieve the industrial decor look is with neutral paints. The key to an industrial style neutral palette is to think about recreating the colours of materials like stone, wood, and concrete. It’s greiges, beiges, charcoal greys, and even whites.
Industrial living room idea: opt for a wooden or concrete floor
Industrial decor is about creating a functional space without it feeling too utilitarian. Not only are concrete and wooden floors low maintenance but they look great too. Create texture and a homely feel with large, natural rugs in key areas. Think jute, sheepskin or sisal, or go for a bit more colour with a Persian rug.
Industrial living room idea: exposed brick walls
Exposed brick walls are, if you will, the building blocks of industrial decor. If you’re lucky enough to have exposed brick walls in your living room, make a feature of them. Those terracotta tones are instantly warming, whilst their rough appearance creates a gorgeous textured backdrop. If the previous owner has painted over them, it’s not game over just yet. Through sand-blasting or a brick cleaning acid (if it sounds caustic, that’s because it is) you can actually remove old paint from your walls.
Another option is to expose the brick yourself. If you live in an old house and suspect you’ve got good quality masonry behind your plasterwork, you can remove it. But we’d recommend hiring a professional to carry out either of these options.
Industrial living room idea: keep your layout open-plan
Because of the industrial decor style’s origins—as a factory or commercial building—multiple homes and apartments were carved out of a single cavernous space. It’s one of the industrial decor trend’s most recognisable features. Their vaulted ceilings and lofty windows lend themselves to open-plan living and thus, the trend stuck.
More recently, in our multi-hyphenate, multi-functional homes, decorators are turning to broken plan living. Carving out further spaces using strategically placed sofas, dining tables, or even functional shelving help create little nooks and corners in which to find some privacy or quiet.
If you’re wondering how to get this look in your living room, take a read of our guide on how to design an open plan living space or how to decorate an open plan kitchen and living room for some inspiration.
Industrial living room idea: keep ornamentation to a minimum
Industrial decor isn’t about lots of ornaments and trinkets, it’s about picking choice pieces that make an impact. It’s important to think about form and function. Oversized trunks in place of a coffee table, statement lighting, large indoor plants or reclaimed metal shelving—and don’t forget about key pieces of artwork.
Industrial living room idea: mix old and new together
A good example of this industrial style you’ll see from glossy magazines to a certain private member’s club is statement modern art displayed against an exposed brick wall backdrop. It’s a perfect symphony of style and so popular because—what’s not to love?
That said, there are lots of other more attainable ways of championing that eclectic mix of old and new. Whether it’s distressed leather sofas paired with sleek armchairs or a contemporary finish glass coffee table in front of reclaimed wooden shelving, industrial decor is a marriage of old and new. Upcycling furniture is a fun, creative, and cost-effective way to incorporate reclaimed pieces into your industrial decor style living room.
Industrial living room idea: incorporate furniture that is made of wood, metal and stone
As with the neutral colour schemes, you want to include furniture made in the materials that would have been used in those original factory settings, like wood, metal, or stone. Metal bistro chairs are a popular option, as is reclaimed scaffolding open-shelving, whilst a large marble coffee table would be a serious design statement in an industrial style living room. You could even use some original factory items. Vintage metal filing cabinets make for great storage, whilst printer’s trays are a novel way to display smaller items. Not to mention, repurposed Singer sewing machines make a great desk or coffee table.
Industrial living room idea: keep your windows bare
Especially if you’re blessed with enormous crittal windows. Under no circumstances cover those up. Ever. Sash windows look gorgeous bare too. If yours are more modern, you could opt for a pair of roller or Venetian blinds in a neutral colour or a paint colour matching your woodwork. Industrial decor is restrained, so unfortunately billowing curtains are out.
Industrial living room idea: open-shelving
From metal bookshelves to reclaimed scaffolding with metal brackets, open shelving is a key component of the industrial decor look. Whether it’s a home bar or home office, style your open shelving with your favourite books and plants, though remember if you’re going for an industrial look, less is more. If you’ve got an open-plan kitchen living room, take a look at our guide on how to style open shelving in your kitchen for some ideas.
Industrial living room idea: hang industrial pendant lighting
Lighting is crucial to creating an industrial look. You don’t want it to be too bright. Think low filament pendant lights above your coffee or dining table, or in a hallway. Take a look at these 5 pendant lighting styles that will enhance your decor for some more inspiration.
If this sounds like your style, take a look at our deep dive into what is the industrial decor style? To find out more about the origins and characteristics behind this ever-popular Industrial decor trend.