Industrial style has been on trend for a while now, and has been made more popular by Joanna Gaines. In fact, this post is inspired by the last episode of Fixer Upper I watched – the home was designed with an industrial style. But I confess that I have always had a thing for industrial style and design.
Basically, “industrial” style or design means mixing woods, which are usually stained, aged, and/or reclaimed, with metals and neutral colors.
Aged wood plank walls and wood bench + metal baskets and pipe hanging rod + neutral basket liners and concrete floor = gorgeous industrial style. Source
Industrial style was born of – you guessed it – industry! It reflects the metals of gears and factories and the wood of old doors and walls.
The patinas in the metals and woods show the wear and make the pieces more beautiful.
Here are five ways to add industrial style to your home:
1. Add wood with some patina on it.
You don’t have to find old or reclaimed wood; you can make it look old with some paint or stain and a sander. But industrial style needs to have some old, aged wood in it.
You can clad a wall in the wood, creating a plank wall or accent wall, or you could just add it as an accent, like as a tabletop.
I made this coffee table from reclaimed wood and an old crate. It’s a very easy project- I just nailed the reclaimed wood boards to the crate and added casters to the base of the crate.
2. Metal is a must.
Industrial style always has some metal in it.
I love how Kelly Elko mixed metal, wood, and fabric here to incorporate industrial style in her dining room. This metal cabinet is modern, but looks vintage.
3. Go industrial with storage.
If you don’t want your whole home decorated using the industrial style, add it in with storage pieces.
Because industrial style has its roots in industry, you can often find storage pieces that once were, or which mimic, storage you might find in a factory or mill.
I have always wanted a factory-cart coffee table like this one, built by Shanty 2 Chic. You can find factory carts sometimes at salvage yards or antique stores, or you can build a coffee table like this yourself (might be an upcoming build project!).
4. Paint the walls a neutral color.
In industrial decor, you want the industrial pieces to take center stage. Thus, the walls in industrial-style rooms are generally a neutral color.
The neutral paint complements the warm woods and cool metals in the room. Plus, the neutrals reflect the simplicity of industrial style.
For my favorite paint tips, please see THIS POST.
5. Where to Find Industrial-Style Pieces
Industrial-style pieces for your home are pretty common now at home decor stores and websites. But, to find true industrial pieces – ones that might have actually been in a factory – head to a salvage yard or flea market.
I found these lights at a local antiques market and wanted to bring them all home! (Sadly, we have no place for them right now.)
I found these gorgeous lights at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. They often have industrial pieces from factories or businesses who want to repurpose items from their buildings.
Do you like industrial style and furnishings? Have you incorporated industrial style in your home?
A "recovering lawyer," I turned in my power suits for power tools and a life of DIY. I believe in merging old and new to make a house a home.
I do watch FIXER UPPER and enjoy it very much! I like the Industrial Design stye, too. Just saw in a magazine, a young mother made her own Industrial style coat rack out of pipe, pipe fittings, wood, and coat hooks. It came out great! I go for touches of it—a wire storage basket, some galvanized metal buckets & letters, lighting. I’m in the process of redecorating the downstairs bath and laundry room into “farmhouse industrial”…. galvanized wall lights, wood packing crates, used for fruit, as a wall shelf and as storage units on existing wooden shelves. As you know, in an “established” home, it’s not always easy or financially feasible to go “whole hog” with a new look! I guess that is designer advice….keep the big things classic and get the look through paint and accessories, in my case, by hitting those thrift stores, yard sales, and ReStores! Not to mention the occasional trip to HOMEGOODS or TJ MAXX for bargains! Enjoyed the pictures of “the look!” I’m getting a kick from the copper comeback! I remember copper molds and embossed copper plates hanging in my childhood kitchen and living room! I think there was a tea kettle on the hearth. I seem to recall my mom going to “copper parties” like Tupperware parties, too! Maybe you could do Friday Five on the copper comeback! My daughter loves it!
Karen, That’s a great idea re copper! I don’t have much of it in my home, but I love the warm color of it. Thank you! And yes, I like what you said about keeping the big things classic and then putting in touches of more eclectic styles. Thank you!