Industrial

Modernize your home with industrial decor

When it comes to home decor, certain periods of history provide inspiration. Enter the industrial revolution, when many rural societies transformed into busy, modernized cities. Imagine structures like warehouses, factories, and airplane hangars, and you'll get a feel for industrial decor. This clean and open design style features elements like reclaimed wood, exposed brick, and metal pipes, with touches of leather tossed in to soften things up. If this look speaks to you, here's what to look for when shopping for industrial-style products.

Living room

"Form meets function" is the motto for industrial spaces, and it starts in the living room. For a hip, industrial living room, mix pieces that are sturdy and practical with others that are comfortable and inviting. Picture a comfy club chair covered in soft, distressed leather and a bookcase fashioned from reclaimed wood and metal pipes.

If you're looking for earth-friendly furniture products, pick a pipe-and-wood bookcase made with recyclable metals, sustainable wood, and a protective finish. When shopping for leather furniture, look for pieces made with full-grain leather for the highest quality. This type of leather is moisture resistant and durable, and it acquires a beautiful patina over time.

For more furniture that fits right in to an industrial living space, think casters. These utilitarian metal wheels not only offer a cool, vintage look, but they also give coffee tables, side tables, and bar carts mobility. For extra storage in your living room, make sure these items feature shelves or cabinets.

Kitchen and dining room

There's no better place to highlight industrial design than in the kitchen or dining room. Elements like polished concrete, brick, and sturdy, bolted-together furniture offer simple, urban style.

If you need storage for wine glasses, cookbooks, linens, or other kitchen essentials, consider buying floating shelves. With the right arrangement, this open shelving can turn things you use every day into works of art. For even more storage, look for stainless steel wire shelving. Fill it with pantry items and/or seldom-used appliances like slow cookers and bread makers. When purchasing wire shelving, make sure to measure your space, and think about whether you need casters or shelf liners to get the perfect product.

When shopping for dining tables, pick sturdy tables with straight lines, and soften the look with rounded chairs. For instance, try pairing a rectangular wood table with metal basket-style dining chairs featuring leather cushions. For years of use, look for wooden tables made from a hardwood like walnut, oak, teak, mahogany, or maple. To protect wooden tables, keep plenty of place mats and coasters handy.

Bedroom

Few things promote good sleep like a clutter-free bedroom. With clean, streamlined furnishings, industrial design fills the bill. When shopping for a bed, pick a simple platform style with minimal ornamentation. Or, look for a classic metal bed frame painted in brown, black, or gray. When shopping for painted metal beds, look for products that are powder-coated for resistance to chips and scratches.

If you're on the hunt for a nightstand, purchase one crafted from wood and metal, and look for a product with shelves or cabinets for extra storage. To add visual interest in an industrial bedroom, bring in a nightstand fashioned from a wooden tree stump. When shopping for these products, be aware that they can be quite heavy. You may need some help moving them.

Lighting

When creating industrial-style spaces, remember that lighting can add softer energy to an otherwise masculine-feeling room. Try hanging pretty copper pendant lights above a dining room table, and warm up a bedroom with Edison bulb string lights. If you're going for an ultra-masculine look, park a tripod-style floor lamp next to an office drafting table or mount cage-style wall sconces in a bedroom or hallway.

Home decor

While most decorators recommend a no-frills approach when designing industrial homes and apartments, a few accent items can fit right in. Turn an old map or blueprint into wall art with a nice frame, or look for black and white photos featuring vintage trains or old buildings. Contain clutter with chic wire baskets and use old wooden fruit crates as shelving. For more industrial-inspired decor, consider buying riveted mirrors, vintage airplane propellers, old leather suitcases, and antique metal dress forms. Soften industrial spaces with supple leather throw pillows and faux animal hide rugs.