Urban Industrial decor combines a stripped-down room aesthetic with touches of Mid-Century Modern furnishings and industrial accents. The design concept has its roots in old industrial buildings converted into loft spaces and has been translated to living spaces of all kinds. Designers drew upon the exposed pipes, ducts, and mismatched furnishings found in these buildings prior to their conversion to living space and ran with it.
The design concept is surprisingly versatile when it comes to making it work in a traditional home space. You may not want to expose your ceilings to attain the look of a loft, but there are plenty of other ways to give your home an Urban Industrial chic without the need to make drastic changes.
One of the key visual aspects of Urban Industrial design is its lack of extraneous details and features. Lamps and chandeliers are made from a variety of metal forms that include pipes, elbow bends, cages, glass, distressed woods and finished metals that draw from an industrial and warehouse office aesthetic. Many of these lights are completed with Edison-style light bulbs that have a yellow-orange glow and give the room the feeling of being on a working industrial floor. Burnished metals soften the hard edges of the fixtures while the exposed bulbs, with or without a shade, deliver the feeling of "just enough" that is frequently found in an industrial setting.
Neutral colors and comfort without frills drives the look of Industrial Style furniture while drawing heavily from Mid-Century Modern and Art Deco design concepts. However, Industrial Style departs from Mid-Century Modern through the use of soft fabrics, thick cushions, and inviting layouts. Dark wood accents bring the furniture into the design style without making the piece feel heavy. The judicious placement of a club chair with Art Deco styling next to a sofa that's Mid-Century helps give the room the feeling of Industrial Chic despite the visual difference, and pays homage to the hodgepodge furnishing style found in an industrial setting.
Tables give you a place to put items when they're not in use the same as if it were in an industrial setting. But you have to take into consideration your furniture and lamps before you pick out a table that's right for you and the room. Do you want to give the room the appearance of the industrial managerial office? Or do you want to look more like a factory floor? If the office look is what you're after, a Mid-Century Modern table is perfect. For the factory floor visual, pick a table made with metals and glass for a more unfinished appearance.
There's not a lot of color found in Industrial Style, but there's no rule against using wall art to add a splash of reds, browns, blues, greens, and grays. Look for Abstract designs that invite the eye, but aren't overwhelming for a Mid-Century-meets-Industrial feeling. Non-committal art with pops of color benefits a room that's full of metals and neutrals works well for a room that's designed to look industrial and spare.
