Recognizing Beauty in the Raw

Industrial Style Decorating

The bare bones of a space formerly used for industrial purposes seem stark and cold to the untrained eye. With its rough textures, exposed materials, and dark recesses, a factory or warehouse seems an unlikely pallet for housing comfort or facilitating domesticity. It is, for the artist, a treasure cache of endless possibilities.

The pared-down aesthetic transcends its factory origins to become a popular choice for modern homes. The crude spacial skeleton spans the challenge of repurposing and honors the beauty of raw materials. It presents an unusual but unique possibility for a blend of functionality, incorporating history, and tailoring edgy charm.

Check out these eight key features that define this rogueish style.  If your space wasn’t previously an industrial or vintage build, explore how you can incorporate these elements into your own space to achieve this look.

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A Nod to the Industrial Past: Exposing Raw Materials

When entering a converted loft, the first impression is of the exposed brick walls. Their multicolor façade anchors the room for all other elements to follow. The phrase, “If walls could talk.”, is imminently present as the mind’s eye flashes a possible industrial ‘before’ scenario. To lighten the bare brick walls, consider lime-washing, or painting them solid white for a modern, softer look.

Exposed beams can become a focal point or be painted to evoke feelings of strength and structure in the room. It all depends on the theme expressed, but the possibilities are endless and delightful to the imagination. The smooth, round rivets bring texture and pattern to the surface leaving a subliminal feeling of order and discipline in design.

Ceiling to Floor

Once the eye has devoured the walls and ceiling, the inevitable avenue to travel next is to the floor. In almost all circumstances, factory flooring is concrete. Durable, convertible, and easily cleaned, concrete floors are an open canvas ready for endless possibilities.

Listed are a few under-utilized techniques that offer stunning possibilities for a finished landing.

CONCRETE FLOORING

• Mechanical Polishing. Mechanically abraiding concrete is a process that takes abrasives (sander pad) and mechanically places scratches in the concrete, then is buffed and polished.
• Topical Polishing – This is like burnishing. The floor is scuffed and buffed to a matt polish but not sealed.
• Decorative Epoxy Coatings – Epoxies are a two-part polymer compound, mixed with decorative elements such as mica colors, glitters, or other components that will cure and seal well within the epoxy to result in extraordinary patterns and effects.
• Decorative Overlays – An overlay is a surface on top of another surface. In this case, the concrete is painted with a layer of paint specific for concrete, up to 3/4″ depending on the desired effect.
• Dyes and Stains – Colored Pigment is mixed with a solvent that dyes the surface of the concrete and then can be sealed or stenciled and then sealed.
• Engraving – Using custom, air-powered cutting tools, a concrete floor can be carved or engraved into any pattern desired.
• Etching –  Hydro-Etch 1000, a specialized muriatic acid and phosphoric acid blend that has less fumes than regular muriatic acid, is used to etch concrete.
• Binders and Sealers – Strengthen concrete from the inside out, and permeate through the top few layers of structure where most damage occurs.

WOOD FLOORING

Wood flooring is an attractive and popular choice for flooring as it is offered in a variety of styles, materials, colors and patterns. Pricing is also an attractive feature as the range is vast and least expensive doesn’t always mean worst looking or least durable.

This list and the pictures that follow give a glimpse into some of the patterns and construction of common flooring materials.

• Laminate – Plastic Laminate and Engineered Wood Laminate are at the lower end of the price range as it is thinner than hardwood flooring and is usually a veneer over a thin plywood base.
• Composite – Wood Plastic, Stone Plastic, Luxury Vinyl Tile. This composite is a fabricated material that is durable and fashioned to mimic natural elements.
• Hardwood – Oak, Cherry, Maple, Hickory, and Walnut are solid planks, fitting tongue-in-groove for a snug fit and flowing aesthetic. They are more expensive because they are all natural materials.
• Parquet – Classic Solid Timber, or Engineered Veneered Layers. Parquet is a style of flooring using solid slats of wood-like materials.
• Bamboo – Laminated Vertical, Laminated Horizontal, Strand Woven is a very durable and solid material, known for its long-lasting qualities.
• Cork – Tiles, Planks, Floating, and Glue Down can be used as flooring but are not long-term durable. Better used on the underside of another substrate.
• Ceramic – Ceramic, Porcelain (wood grain) tiles are long-lasting and mostly durable. The tiles made to mock wood grain are exceptionally attractive and are a budget-friendly alternative to hardwood.

FABRIC FLOORING

Carpets

Types and styles of rugs and carpets are numerous and plentiful in range and patterns. Carpeting in an industrial decor would soften the angles and blur the edginess of the architecture. It would provide a bit of soundproofing and add warmth to the space both visually and physically. Decisions on the type of carpeting desired can be broken down in simple terms, though choosing carpet is a subject better left to a whole blog of its own.

Carpet Fibers will help narrow down all the options.. There are four choices to know about in this category.

• Acrylic – Synthetic, look like wool, stain resistant, hypoallergenic, low price, wears down quickly
• Nylon – Synthetic, most durable, stain resistant, good price range
• Olefin – Synthetic from melted plastic, resistant to moisture and mold, stain resistant, bleach resistant, inexpensive
• Wool – All natural, high-end, most durable if maintained, naturally coiled, high flame resistance, not stain resistant, high price

Styles and patterns are numerous and tend to vary in name and definition from vendor to vendor. It’s best to narrow your options down by knowing what pile height you want, what pile weight you need, and which fibers you want under your feet, and then choose colors and patterns from there.

Rugs

Rugs can serve as an heirloom investment or be inexpensive enough to change every season. Their construction determines their value, so hand-woven rugs will be the most coveted as no two hand-crafted items are exactly the same.  The most common styles of floor rugs are:

• Traditional – Jacquard Patterns
• Contemporary – Geometrical Patterns
• Oriental – Asian and Far Eastern Region-Inspired Patterns
• Natural – Grasses, Plant-Based Materials
• Animal – Tanned Hides of Large Animals

The materials used for rugs is much as it is for carpeting. The price ranges are most desirable since you can spend little with the option of changing often, or spend a lot with the intent of building a long-lasting look that will age gracefully.

Industrializing Small Spaces

Rennovating an old factory is a dream or whim left mainly to developers and investors who have a large budget to work with. That doesn’t mean the average person can’t enjoy that aesthetic in their own space.

Whether building a new home from the ground up or renting an apartment or house, it’s possible to construct and introduce elements of industry into your decor.

A reimagined airplane propeller sculpture set amongst similar decor of its era evokes a time of innovation and hope. Reclaimed wood, with its weathered patina and imperfections, adds a touch of rustic warmth and nods to a building’s past. This is the essence of the industrial style.

The Color Palette

These colors allow the raw elements to shine while providing a calming backdrop. This leaves lots of room to incorporate pops of accent colors like turquoise and cream, vibrant pinks with green, or burnt orange with gold to inject personality and warmth. Think of using them strategically in accessories, throw pillows, or artwork to avoid overwhelming the space.

A second palette on the extreme opposite end of the spectrum is the use of primary colors.  These colors are mostly associated with a crisp, modern style paired with chrome and tight angles on furniture and accessories. 

The mood of the room is cool, the flow is light, and the attitude is playful.  The art might be eclectic and accessory furnishings along the lines of a well-traveled vacationer. 

Open Floor Plans and Natural Light

Industrial warehouses are nothing but space and walls of windows maximizing abundant natural light.  Typical living spaces don’t often have the luxury of many oversized windows, but this is a key element you can recreate.

• Using thumbtacks, hang curtain/fairy lights on either side of a window at the same height.  In front of those lights at the same height, affix a simple, but ornate curtain rod and hang curtain sheers to create a day glow. Or,
• Place on either side of a window, up-lights to illuminate and glow up a dark wall.  Adding a tree, real or faux adds to the drama, but either way produces the effect of more light for the sad, empty wall. Or,
• Apply LED light strips to the inside of two large decorative window frames (even French doors) and attach them to the wall on either side of a window.  Activated, the glow of the rope lights will create the illusion of sunlight, giving the wall a warm glow, and eliminating the cold harshness of a plain, stark background.

Maximize walls whenever possible, creating a sense of flow and spaciousness. Moving furniture off the wall more to the center of the room, you create a walkway behind the sofa and eliminate the path through the focal point of the room. Don’t be afraid to move the furniture around to create more flow.  Consider removing the coffee table, and replacing it with small accent tables that can be tucked away when not in use.  The larger the table surface, the more prone it is to be a collection area for clutter.

Minimalist and Practical Furnishings

Functionality reigns supreme in industrial design. The whole point of decorating industrial is to capture the flavor of an industrial atmosphere.  If your area was not an industrial or commercial space, let your décor speak to the essence of industry through your décor.

Choose furniture that is both practical and aesthetically pleasing. Think of sleek leather sofas or styles and fabrics that emulate industry.  Metal chairs with clean lines and weathered wood tables.

Shelving made with plumbing pipes works well in smaller spaces for achieving the industrial aesthetic.  Floor lamps, stools, blanket ladders, and bathroom and kitchen fixtures all add to the mechanical feel.

Avoid clutter and unnecessary embellishments but allow the raw materials and the functionality of the pieces to take center stage. Incorporate vintage finds like industrial stools or repurposed factory carts for accent pieces, adding a touch of history and character.

Vintage Industrial Lighting

Lighting plays a crucial role in setting the mood for any decorated space.  It defines the aesthetic. Embrace the industrial heritage by utilizing vintage-inspired fixtures.

Cage-designed lighting featuring exposed Edison bulbs creates a retro industrial feel.  Repurposed factory sconces cast warm pools of light against a brick wall reminiscent of an evening walk.

Don’t hesitate to mix and match different styles, creating a layered and interesting lighting scheme. The key is the exposed bulbs that keep the fixtures utilitarian, adding to the industrial drama.

A Board of Textures

The industrial style celebrates the beauty of raw textures. Rough brick walls, brushed metal surfaces, and reclaimed wood planks are not imperfections, but defining elements featuring their tactile qualities and contrasting textures.

Think of incorporating woven blankets made from raw linen on leather sofas, adding warmth and softness. The use of exposed stitching and unfinished edges in textiles accentuates and further enhances the rough and industrial feel. One can imagine the weary worker sitting at a well-worn machine, sewing with the greatest precision of hands that have matched every line and curve a thousand times before.

Bringing in the Green

Industrial spaces aren’t devoid of life; they simply find beauty in unexpected forms. Plants not only beautify the area, they offer mental relaxation, remove carbon dioxide from the air, and introduce oxygen back into the air. Unusual plants such as Money Plant, Snake Plant, and Peperomia add visual interest and intrigue to the already color scape of eye candy.

Choose resilient plants that thrive in moderate light and low humidity, and let them bring their vibrant energy into your industrial haven.  The snake plant is exceptionally hardy, looks amazing in large pots, and requires only occasional watering.  The Corn Tree is also a great plant that requires little attention but offers a great aesthetic.  The choices are unlimited.

Flexibility in the Industrial Style

Inject Your Personality: Infuse your unique style into the mix. Find a balance between embracing the core industrial elements and showcasing your personal taste.

Mix and Match Materials: Add visual interest by experimenting with other materials like concrete, glass, and even reclaimed wood in different finishes to prevent the space from feeling too uniform.

Layer with Textiles: Industrial spaces can sometimes feel cold and sterile. Layer with cozy textiles like throws, cushions, and rugs, and include materials like leather, wool, and linen, adding warmth and texture.

Display Industrial Art: Artwork plays a crucial role in personalizing your space. Choose pieces that complement the industrial aesthetic, be it vintage photographs of factories, abstract metal sculptures, or even graffiti-inspired paintings. Let the art tell a story and reflect your interests.

Don’t Overdo It: While industrial features are bold, remember that less is often more. Avoid cluttering the space with too many industrial elements or vintage finds. Choose key pieces that make a statement and allow the raw materials to breathe.

Showcase Imperfections: Industrial style celebrates the beauty of the imperfect. Don’t shy away from dents, scratches, and weathered finishes. These imperfections add character and tell a story, making your space truly unique.

Consider Lighting Levels: Industrial lighting tends to be dramatic and focused. However, ensure you have adequate task lighting for specific areas like reading nooks or workspaces. Layering different lighting sources creates a more functional and inviting atmosphere.

Let It Evolve: Industrial style is not static. As your tastes and needs evolve, so can your space. Don’t be afraid to swap out accent pieces, update artwork, or rearrange furniture to keep your industrial haven fresh and inspiring.

By utilizing these tips and unleashing your creativity, you can transform your space into a unique and stylish retreat that celebrates the raw beauty and timeless appeal of industrial design. Your home should be a reflection of you. Have fun and don’t fear the change.