D’Decor Design Panel Decodes 2016’s Latest Industrial Home Decor

Basic with a raw and edgy appeal, industrial home décor style fits right in with the minimal vocabulary that is all the rage these days in the world of interior designing. Doing away with plush furniture, rich furnishings and luxurious accessories, industrial design is all about celebrating form and structure. It is about unapologetically displaying what would normally be hidden and repurposing structural elements to create art and accessories, giving rise to a style of interiors that is at once captivating and fuss-free. If you’re a fan of spaces that juxtapose the old with the new, the vintage with the modern or the quirky with the classy, this style is just for you.

O

Origin 

Unlike most trends in fashion and interior design that are more often based on aesthetics than need, the industrial home décor takes inspiration from a time when the need for more residential spaces led to the conversion of old and abandoned warehouses, farms and factories into homes. The idea was to transform them into residences in a cost-effective manner and by making minimal design changes while working well within the frame of what already existed. Hence, brick walls, metal pipes, beams and concrete floors were left exposed and the leftover scrap material was refurbished into necessary furniture and fixtures.

Features

Exposed surfaces: The most typical feature of the industrial décor involves leaving the structural elements of the space exposed, which translates into brick walls devoid of paint, metal pipes, beams and ducts at the foreground rather than hidden behind walls and bare flooring without glossy tiles. When placed in the context of modern interior designing, the feature is not only less costly but also serves as a way to celebrate the brilliance of the engineering and mechanical ingenuity that has gone into constructing the space.

A mélange of textures: Exposure of basic surfaces leads to an alluring canvas comprising a wide variety of textures, from grainy brick and concrete to earthy and polished wood to smooth and lustrous metal. The scheme of materials used also replicates itself when it comes to industrial-style furniture and accessories, such as metal or wooden chairs, wrought-iron sofas and steel lights and lamps.

Warm colours:

The cool and basic look and feel of exposed walls and metallic surfaces is complemented by the use of warm, neutral colours such as shades of white, brown and grey. Bright colours have little to no place in the industrial décor theme and hence must be largely avoided, barring an accent or two.

Basic and focused lighting: When it comes to industrial interior design, lighting is often used to create focal points in the space. Hence, run-of-the-mill bulbs and tubes are replaced by floor lamps and pendants with chrome or vintage wood finish. Also, while stark white lights can be used to enhance the raw appeal of the exposed surfaces, mellow yellows can be strategically placed to add warmth to the space. If you are a fan of ambient lighting, give track lights a shot.

Best out of waste: Industrial home décor is all about making the most of what is already on hand. It is as much about aesthetics as it is about functionality. So, it is a good idea to see how you can repurpose existing materials into something more exciting. For instance, wooden crates can be used as side tables or stools while tile slabs can be used as table tops. Old wood and metal can be used to create rustic wall art.

Where to use …

Loft apartments are best suited to industrial home décor. However, by picking and choosing your elements carefully, you can use this trend to give practically any room a new look. For instance, leave one brick wall exposed in your living room or study and pepper it with industrial-style furniture and lighting or create an interplay of wood and metal in the kitchen and dining area. While most elements of industrial style are not conducive to the bedroom, which needs to be warm and soft, you can opt for quirky refurbished art pieces and lighting through floor lamps and vintage pendants to channel some of the industrial chic vibe.