According to Vy Truong and Han Dang, interior designers and cofounders of Very Handsome Studio, industrial interior design could be understood as “the grunge baby between modern and farmhouse aesthetics.” Often inspired by factories and manufacturing, the style has grown in popularity in residential and commercial projects in recent years. This is due in part for its emphasis on natural materials and raw detailing, as well as its a laid-back personality. However, for those less familiar with the look, it can be misunderstood as cold, hard, or unwelcoming, making it all the more important to grasp the entire design ethos of the aesthetic. Below, AD talks with Truong and Dang, as well as Michael Del Piero, an interior designer and founder of Michael Del Piero Good Design, all about the rustic and modern look.
What is industrial interior design?
As the name implies, “industrial interior design is inspired by industrial buildings and elements such as exposed pipes, metal, concrete, and brick,” explains Del Piero. “Industrial spaces typically include open spaces with a wealth of windows and natural light.” Because of these elements, the design style typically includes a darker—though neutral—color palette such as white, black, and gray. “Using materials in its rawest and roughest forms, elevated by black and sleek detailing, you can curate an industrial style environment as we know it today,” add Truong and Dang. “It often embodies minimalism, playing on the movement of natural and raw materials to set the tone, and uses dark metals to tie the look together.”
In addition to architectural elements like concrete floors, brick walls, exposed ducts, or steel or wood beams, industrial-style interiors are also achieved through industrial decor. “Because industrial interior design tends to stick to a more minimal aesthetic, lighting with oversized shades or thin-body construction made from dark metal materials really helps tie together an industrial space,” Truong and Dang explains. “Accent chairs made from leather or neutral-toned fabrics, matched with thin-profile metal tables, can fill an industrial warehouse without taking away from the industrial look.”
When brainstorming decor ideas, Del Piero suggested looking for reimagined factory items such as factory or steel lighting, art fabricated from found metal, and materials. “We used to see gears of all sizes and shapes fabricated into mirrors, Holophane lighting, and steel tables and cabinets; this seems a bit more dated version of the look,” she adds. “A fresher take on industrial design might be a blackened metal table paired with wooden chairs by Gueillerme et Chambron, for example.”
History of industrial interior design
The origins of industrial interior design start with the aesthetic’s namesake: the industrial revolution. “With a rising boom of close-knit warehouses, the demand and efficiency of architecture in the 1700s unintentionally birthed a popular design movement that has stuck with us all till this day,” explain Truong and Dang. “The introduction of steel and concrete construction really helped catapult the footprint of industrial-style designs and architecture as a whole.” As Del Piero explains, the look brought forth during this time of mass manufacturing and machine production came to prominence in the residential world around the ’60s and ’70s. “Industrial interior design became popular alongside loft-style living in large cities in the 1960s and 70s,” she says. “Old warehouses and factories were reimagined as living spaces because ‘traditional’ spaces became more difficult to find.”
Now, the continued rise of adaptive reuse projects has solidified industrial design in our interiors vernacular as more than just a trend, but a continually evolving style. “[Giving] these preexisting industrial buildings a second chance at functionality invites a unique allure to these tight, cold atmospheres, redefining our emotion towards how we should occupy them,” says Truong and Dang.
“Modern industrial design is relatively consistent with past versions in that it still incorporates the use of metal, beams, reclaimed wood and other more streamlined materials,” Del Piero says. However, as she noted before, there are still versions that can feel outdated and stale. Older versions of the look included more literal decor objects such as gears or uncovered light bulbs, which are used more sparingly in modern industrial design. “The look of kitchens and baths in these spaces seems to have changed the most dramatically, with a more modern, minimal style being mixed with the heavy industrial vibe,” she adds.
Vuong and Trang see modern industrial design as an evolution of the grittier look through the amalgamation of various design styles. “Previous versions of industrial spaces definitely emphasized the rawness of its skin and built upon that environment to make the best use of the existing space,” the designers explain. “However, there is an amalgamation of style crossovers happening today that redefines how we think a certain design style should ultimately look.” The pair are finding the introduction of modern elements and farmhouse-style materials (a style that also emphasizes a rustic, natural palette) as a more contemporary take on the look. “Industrial interior design of today has redefined the limited approach of how a space can feel ‘industrial.’”
Defining elements and characteristics of industrial interior design
To better understand industrial interior design, consider the following list of design elements often found in industrial-style homes.
- Visible structural elements such as exposed brick walls, exposed beams, or open ductwork
- Rough wood or concrete floors
- Neutral color palette with an emphasis on darker tones such as blacks, grays, and whites
- Repeated use of raw materials, usually leather and wood in chairs, tables, sofas, and other home decor items
- Emphasis on steel and dark metal, both structurally in beams and columns and in decoration, furniture, fixtures, and artwork
- High ceilings
- Large windows
- A minimalist spirit—excessive ornamentation and detailing is not often found in industrial spaces
Examples of traditional interior design
If you’re interested in creating an industrial home or space, consider these projects from Del Piero and Truong and Dang.
How to bring industrial interior design into your home
While you don’t have to live in a loft apartment or in an old factory to incorporate an industrial, chic interior design style into your home, there are certain considerations to be mindful of before embarking on a DIY makeover. “Lighting is very important to an industrial style space,” Truong and Dang say. “Due to the roughness of the finishes and rawness of the materials chosen, lighting becomes the key factor to breathe life and warmth into the space.” Generally, the pair say they don’t recommend the aesthetic in rooms or homes with little to no natural light. “It will create claustrophobia and discomfort,” they say, adding that “industrial style interior design is the most alluring when used in a large, high-ceiling area.”
However, if you’ve determined that your space is a good candidate for the industrial look, Del Piero suggests taking a more modern approach to the style. “Maintain the most timeless design elements of the look, such as large windows, rough textures, and clean lines,” she suggests. Truong and Dang also advise others to consider the color palette and opt for furniture and decor items with dark, neutral tones. “Of course, colors are visible, but they are often seen naturally rather than artificially, like the green in natural plants, the red in the existing bricks, or the browns in the varying leathers and woods throughout the space,” the pair explain.
Notably, it’s important to emphasize the structural industrial elements of a home like the beams, walls, and floors. However, “if the space is quite tight and shallow, opt for one or two grand gestures when implementing raw construction elements,” Truong and Dang say. “And keep decorations to a minimum; one unique lamp, a few books, and a large catchall is plenty to fill the room.”
