Being an area of your home that you use nearly daily, the design of your living room is crucial in ensuring your living room is a place you can fully relax in. Often where you entertain guests, spend time with family and friends, and unwind after a long day, it should be a space that represents your personal style and makes you feel comfortable almost instantly. When the design is cohesive and well thought out, it can create a welcoming and inviting atmosphere for you and your guests. The industrial style is a popular aesthetic that combines elements of vintage and modern design. It can be a great option for those who appreciate the charm of vintage and raw materials, appreciate the minimalism and modern aesthetic, and enjoy experimenting with a variety of textures and contrasts.
What is modern industrial style?
Modern industrial style combines the bare, unfinished look of industrial spaces with the clean lines and minimalist aesthetic of modern design. This often includes large, open spaces and high ceilings, with an emphasis on natural light and minimal decor. This design style usually contrasts with the more ornate aesthetic of traditional industrial interiors. It emphasizes a stripped-down, raw look, often incorporating concrete, exposed brick, steel, and wood into the design. The use of reclaimed and recycled materials is typical of this style.
What makes a room industrial?
A room with industrial decor exudes a sense of raw and rugged elegance. The key elements of an industrial room include exposed brick, metallic industrial lighting fixtures, and industrial-style furniture such as metal and wood pieces. The colour palette is typically neutral with shades of black, grey, and white. Floors such as reclaimed hardwood or concrete add to this look. The room also has a mix of vintage and modern pieces, creating a unique and eclectic vibe. Industrial decor is perfect for those who value simplicity, functionality, and a touch of edginess in their living space.
Open Layout
An open layout is a popular design choice for industrial living rooms because it allows for the use of raw materials and exposed features to be highlighted. An open layout is characterized by a lack of walls or partitions that separate different areas of the room. This can help create a sense of spaciousness and flow in the living room, allowing the raw materials to take centre stage. One of the benefits of having an open layout in an industrial living room is that it allows for the integration of different functional areas within the space. For example, an open living room can easily incorporate a dining area, a seating area, and a workspace, all while maintaining a cohesive aesthetic. This can help maximize the functionality of the space and make it more versatile. An open layout also allows for natural light to flow throughout the space, which can create a bright and airy atmosphere. Large windows and skylights can be used to bring in natural light, highlighting the raw materials and exposed features in the space. This can help to create a sense of connection to the outdoors and can also help to reduce the need for artificial lighting during the day. Another benefit of an open layout for industrial living room is that it can be more visually dynamic than a traditional closed layout. With an open layout, you can use different levels and platforms to create visual interest and define different functional areas. This can be achieved by using different flooring materials, such as concrete, wood or carpet, as well as architectural elements such as exposed brick walls, metal railings, or open shelving.
Get Creative and Resourceful
Upcycling is an important aspect of industrial living room design, adding comfort and personality to your space whilst enhancing the rustic aesthetic. This style encourages you to make the most out of out-of-use items, revitalising them and finding it a new function within your living room. It might require you to delve into your garage or shed and find something that you can make into either a functional or decorative item that could end up saving you a lot of money. In addition to this, it is an incredibly rewarding activity that might take some time, but it’ll look great and you’ll likely get the creative bug and want to try it with something else. Some fun example of this include using a bike wheel as a clock, glass bottles into pendant light shades, tin cans as cutlery holders, and even old ladders as shelving. Don’t stress about making it look perfect and professional as that isn’t what the styles about. Instead, you can save money, forgotten about items, and your living room from looking dull with this extremely fun and innovative idea.
Must-have Materials
The materials used in industrial living rooms are functional as well as pleasing on the eye. One of the key aspects of using materials in industrial living rooms is that they can be used to create a sense of contrast and texture. For example, using a smooth concrete floor in combination with a rough brick wall can create an interesting visual contrast that adds depth and interest to your room. These materials can include brick, leather, wood, and metal. This not only creates a sense of history and character in the space, but also a natural aesthetic that can make the room look more organic and warm.
Wonderful Wood
Wood is a versatile and natural material that can be used to add warmth and character to living rooms. In industrial design, wood is often used in a raw and natural state, such as reclaimed wood or raw wooden beams. The use of reclaimed wood can also have an eco-friendly aspect, as it is made from materials that have been salvaged and repurposed. When combined with the right materials, wood can create a sense of balance, making the space more inviting and comfortable.
Mighty Metals
Metal is a popular material in industrial living room design because it can add a sense of edgy charm to the space. It is often used to accent the raw materials in the room such as brick or concrete walls, or wood flooring, creating a unique visual contrast that adds depth and interest to the space. One of the most popular uses of metal in industrial living rooms is in lighting fixtures, such as pendant lamps, chandeliers, or wall sconces. Metal lighting fixtures can add a sleek and modern touch to the space and can also be used to highlight other elements in the room such as exposed brick or concrete walls. Metal can also be used in furniture, such as metal-framed coffee tables, bookcases or shelves, as well as a more subtle way such as metal-capped legs on sofas or using metal-framed windows to enhance the industrial aesthetic. When it comes to the finish of the metal, it's best to stick with neutral colours such as black, silver, or bronze. These colours complement the industrial look and can easily be integrated into any colour scheme.
Beguiling Brick
Brick is often used in a raw and natural state, such as exposed brick walls or floors that can create a sense of history and character in the space. You can paint brick to create a different look and feel, depending on the desired aesthetic. A red brick wall, for example, can create a rustic feel and a white washed brick can give a more modern feel. Brick can be used as an accent wall, a feature wall or even as an entire wall or flooring, the possibilities are endless. The use of brick can also help to create a sense of contrast and texture, when combined with other materials such as concrete, wood or metal.
Perfectly Imperfect
Incorporating imperfections into an industrial style living room can add personality and can be seen mainly through materials, artwork, and furnishings. Pieces with visible wear and tear, such as a vintage leather armchair or a reclaimed wood coffee table, can add a sense of history and character to the room. The aim is to champion what you have and find beauty in things that don’t have a perfectly decorated appearance. This might sound a bit unnatural, but show off and adapt your blemished and unrefined elements instead of hiding them. However, this doesn’t mean that you should leave your living room a mess or a safety hazard. Instead focus on function, embrace the flaws, and make it yours.
Conclusion
Choosing the industrial style for your living room can be a great way to add a unique and edgy aesthetic to your home. By highlighting raw materials, such as brick or concrete walls, wooden beams and industrial light fixtures, and incorporating vintage or reclaimed furniture and decor, you can create a space that is both functional and visually interesting. Additionally, embracing imperfections and incorporating unique pieces of art can add character and warmth to the room. Overall, the industrial style is a great choice for those looking to create a unique and visually striking living space.