Style: Industrial

Whether it’s inner-city living or suburban spaces, the industrial look is undergoing a renaissance with this design trend.

Evolving from its Hipster birthplace, this softer take on a classic urban style melds the structure and functionality of its predecessor with opulence and nature.

Function and structure: Discover the Industrial moodboard

Love the Industrial style? Get inspired with the Lounge Lovers Industrial Pinterest board.

What’s important in the Industrial style

Open plan living and versatility are key to this look. The Industrial aesthetic melds work, health and home together into one space — ensuring that every furnishing offers both form and function. Clean and undeniably stylish, this design trend exudes city style whilst adding a luxurious contemporary twist.

Smooth, organic forms, tactile fabrics and rich colours all add warmth to this evolving trend. Beyond these classic elements, this look is all about bringing an edge to your space — whether by committing fully with concrete walls and a vintage leather sofa, or simply alluding to it with finishes and details.

The Industrial Colour Palette

White, grey, black and tan are all must-haves when it comes to the Industrial colour palette. These hues exude effortless cool — literally — while also creating a sleek, urban touch. When it comes to accessories, autumn shades ranging from mustards and brick reds to deep, rich browns inject a much-needed dash of warmth in any Industrial home.

Key accents and materials

Recycled and upcycled pieces ground this style in time and place, and the combination of rendered concrete, distressed leather and brickwork add a sophisticated urban feel. Timeless timbers also find their home in the Industrial style, where classic quality and craftsmanship are celebrated in a contemporary way.

4 ways to achieve the look in your home

1. Matte matters

The Industrial look is a celebration of unassuming, raw and organic materials that can be found in urban spaces: think metal, brick and concrete facades that exude city living. This aesthetic is never about shine or shimmer — steer clear of trying to achieve ‘perfection’, and instead revel in the natural and the unexpected.

If a concrete floor or exposed brick wall feels too daunting to begin, you can still bring this industrial design trend into your home with smaller pieces, such as the Jaque coffee table with a terrazzo top and black powder-coated base.

2. Contrast hard materials with fabrics

In what is traditionally a masculine style, quilted or tufted pieces bring softness to the Industrial look. A playful sheepskin rug or a throw blanket instantly create a sense of warmth and comfort, while also balancing out the harness of the urban industrial aesthetic.

Fabric sofas also work well to balance out the industrial nature of this decor trend. Work with a light-coloured linen sofa, or add a dramatic mid-century flair with the Draper Sofa in Charme Cigar.

Beyond furniture, soften the space with organic touches and fluid shapes. Look for loose lines in artworks, handmade ceramics, textured rugs, and fluid shapes and sleek silhouettes in your homewares, which work together to create a dynamic space that feels both soft and strong, yet also timeless.

3. Choose a statement piece...

...and just one. Industrial design is perfect for urban living, precisely because of its minimalist style. Invest in a statement piece, such as a buttery-smooth aniline leather sofa in an espresso hue or the Magic Industrial Style Coffee Table, then keep the rest of the room simple and free of clutter.

The same light-handed approach goes for prints and embellishments. Work with contrasting colours and textures to draw the eye in your home, rather than relying on accessories and ornaments.

4. Add a touch of glam

Combined together, concrete, leather and brick can quickly become overwhelming in any space. Contrast the heavy materials of the Industrial look with a touch of glam: bringing in brass accents and hints of gold for the perfect balance of grit and chic.

Ready to bring this look into your home? Shop the Industrial style below.