Decor 10
With distinguishable features such as exposed brick, distressed finishes and polished concrete, the industrial design trend looks set to remain as popular as ever this year.
A focal feature at Maison et Object, Industrial Chic is a quirky style that blends a mixture of vintage, rustic, and industrial elements embracing wide open, modern loft-like spaces with rough textures. Think large expansive windows with panes of glass separated by dark weathered steel, exposed rough wooden beams, reclaimed wood walls, lots of brick and in some cases exposed concrete.
Over the years this style has been called many names but the look has remained true to its origins a fusion of modern and aged materials, with minimal and clean, or shall we say raw industrial materials with the latest trend focusing on using reclaimed materials that are eco-friendly and green.
Refresh Your Interiors Using Industrial Chic
Industrial interiors first came to be used as a design style during the early 70s when old factories, warehouses and mills were closed down and turned into living spaces, to save on redevelopment and interior costs the old industrial mechanisms and exposed brickwork were incorporated into these new homes and thus the industrial interior trend was born.
To incorporate industrial chic into your interiors the must have feature is an accent wall, usually, in the form of exposed brick or concrete. This accent wall will set the tone for the rest of the scheme and will help to dictate the colour scheme throughout.
For example:
An exposed red brick wall adds an element of nature to your interiors so works perfectly with greens and browns. Think bringing the outside in.
At the other end of the spectrum concrete walls add a linear, clean crisp look so work well with a muted palate of black, white and softer shades of grey. A good neutral colour palette is essential parts of this look so steer clear of bright, bold colours instead use a rustic colour scheme featuring a lot of brown and beiges and neutral tones of grey.
Keep in mind that your sofa, chairs, and tables will most likely be constructed of leather and raw wood, so you will naturally have plenty of shades of brown to work. So take this into consideration when painting your walls and choosing flooring solutions
Wood and Metal Interplay
Furnishings for Industrial Chic interiors should be minimal and no-nonsense, with strong, clean lines and without a hint of excess. During the industrial revolution, steel and iron manufacturing was at its peak which meant that nearly all furniture was made using this heavy industrial material, paired with wood it made for a durable, reliable piece of furniture.
So whether it’s the coffee table, dining table, or end table, at least one wooden item is a must-have to achieve genuine industrial decor.
To incorporate this into your design mix new pieces with reclaimed ones. Upcycling is central to this style: wooden crates turned into tables, old trucks used as storage solutions with workman’s ladders turned into shelving. Sofa seating solutions should most definitely have a leather finish a pre-requisite of industrial seating is of course steel stools (think bar stools) and metal chairs.
Keep the Flooring Basic
The rise of industrial interiors may be the single biggest reason why concrete floors entered the mainstream. A practical and economical option, its coarseness, imperfections and patches fit perfectly within the industrial theme.
Those who wish to bring some added contrast and warmth into an industrial interior design should look to use wood preferably showing its age, epoxy or stone floors.
Personalize
Accessories, accessorize, accessorize! Quirky pieces are what bind the industrial look together, large over-sized clocks, free standing floor lamps even motorcycles are a wonderful accent. Pieces that expose mechanisms such as cogs, engines and struts are a pivotal part of the industrial appeal
When it comes to picking your soft furnishings such as pillows, throws and poufs, pick something that features leather or woven texture in warm muted shades.