Industrial Chic: Definition, Elements & Tips
Reduce, reuse, recycle – these are the words that often go with a low carbon footprint lifestyle, and also happen to be the whole philosophy behind industrial chic, the interior design style we will be exploring in this article.
What is industrial chic?
As city spaces become more affluent, factories and industrial spaces may be converted into living spaces to make room for the influx of residents, signalling a shift towards a more skill-based economy. As a result, people end up living in these converted spaces alongside old equipment that has been left behind, and often, they are repurposed to fit into one’s urbanising lifestyle – leading to a unique aesthetic that blends the rawness of industry with the comforts of city living.
In this second decade of the 21st century, homeowners are becoming more conscious of the environmental impacts of furniture manufacturing and wastage. With industrial chic’s focus on reducing, reusing, and recycling what’s already available, it presents a highly viable alternative way of living today!
Are you interested to transform your interiors into an industrial-chic showcase? Read on to learn more:
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Industrial Chic Tip #1: Toss the clutter
Interior designer Annie Elliot says that functionality is the core of industrial chic – which means the decadence of a maximalist design style like Avant Basic is right out. The first step towards achieving the industrial chic look is to start decluttering your space and getting that bare-bones spartan lifestyle aesthetic down.
If you think this sounds like a tip for a minimalist interior, you’d be right – in fact, industrial-chic can be considered a minimalism technique! The difference then comes to the details, which brings us to the next tip…
Industrial Chic Tip #2: Think in textured neutral palettes
When you think about industrial spaces, you’d imagine grey shades from concrete and steel and brown / red hues from brick and dirt. These form the colour palette that gives industrial interiors their neutral yet highly distinct look.
This is where the main characters of industrial chic design come in: elements of wood, stone, and metal all sport neutral palettes while showcasing understated textures that add to the sense of modernity and masculinity of these spaces. For an example of a metal-designed tile that you can use for your floor or wall, check out Rust. Alternatively, discover our wood design tiles here:
Industrial Chic Tip #3: Be purposeful in selecting accents
Next, it’s time to make the space your own with your choice of accessories and accents that make your industrial-chic space uniquely yours.
To preserve the industrial look, you’d want to go for no more than a couple of accents, so you will have to be very purposeful about it. The good news, however, is that you don’t have to limit your scope: large abstract wall art or a mid-century décor statement sculpture would fit right into the theme, and may in fact even enhance the look.
Industrial Chic Tip #4: Soften up the look by mixing and matching
Finally, it doesn’t have to be all solid surfaces and hard edges – it is a space meant for living, after all! Once you’ve moved in your furniture and accents, you can start softening up the look with the addition of rugs, throws, and pillows in rich shades and patterns that would complement the surrounding space.
Another way to soften up the often cold and brooding atmosphere of industrial spaces is by including some live plants – including potted greens and floral arrangements – which also provide pops of colour and liveliness. These go especially well with stone surfaces such as Tangle Stone or Bergamo, so be sure to add them to your list!
