Cozy & clean industrial living room makeover

Many individuals shy away from industrial interior design because they believe it would either make their space feel cold and stiff, or it will be too expensive. However, industrial interior design is more than just steel and concrete, and who says you have to go full industrial?

A few elements of wood, concrete, and steel here and there can help to give your room more character and history. Find out for yourself what happens when you strike the correct balance. The truth is that there are numerous methods to bridge the gap between the cozy warmth of a living room and the crisp, clean aesthetic of industrial design. Prepare to kickstart your industrial design process and transform your standard living room!

What is industrial interior design?

Industrial interior design aims to harken back to a bygone age. The warehouse aesthetic and the industrial style are comparable in that they both have big open areas and cool raw as well as unpainted furnishings. Some of the materials used in industrial living room designs are Edison bulbs, exposed ducting, pipes, raw woods, concrete, metals, leather, and utilitarian items. The design even extends to the architecture — think of huge, open spaces with concrete or brick walls and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Industrial interior design features can be used in a variety of ways in your home. For a unique look, we like to combine this style with other living room ideas — mixing parts from various types can make a living room feel more comfortable than pure concrete. This article demonstrates the versatility of industrial design — read on to get some ideas for your own industrial living room.

Pure industrial

To create an ultra-stylish industrial living area, stick purely to industrial components. Natural materials such as wood, leather, and wicker can provide a neutral backdrop, while a bold leather sofa, wool rug, and red bricks will add some warmth. Add an industrial touch that feels old factory-like with raw metals, a spotlight lamp, or an urban gallery wall. The most important advice for pure industrial design is to stick to a limited color palette.

Modern & industrial

Mixing modern and industrial interior design is a fantastic approach to create a welcoming and warm industrial living room design. To generate a dramatic contrast, use a black and white color scheme against your wall color scheme. The leather sofa and wood furniture can assist to warm it all up. Don’t forget sculptural lighting, concrete or glass coffee tables, leather and metal armchairs, and other industrial elements. To feel more comfortable, balance the angular furniture with soft accents like the round sofa and pillows.

Industrial & transitional

Transitional elements are a wonderful choice for those who are just getting started with industrial living room design since they're so versatile and easy to mix and match!

Typically, industrial living room designs look great with a neutral color palette and black or navy contrast. For a more informal style, mix and match seating, and don't forget to use a variety of patterns to provide depth and visual appeal. Natural light will make your space feel bright and welcoming, while leather, wood, and brass will add extra warmth.

Minimal & industrial

We're big fans of industrial living room design with a minimal edge. To give your living room a dramatic edge, use a neutral color scheme with black and white accents for contrasting pops.

Low-profile furniture and minimum clutter will help to maintain the living area peaceful and calm. To add some comfort and a lounge-like feel, try items like puffy leather sofas — plus, you will have plenty of seats for family and friends!

Use industrial materials like raw wood and metal in your living room for a minimal and industrial design, but opt for streamlined pieces to keep the aesthetic simple.

Industrial & traditional

Incorporate some traditional features into your industrial living room decor for a classic appeal. A leather chesterfield sofa, for example, is both traditional and industrial in appearance. In addition, hang some traditional art that has an urban edge to it. It's a brilliant way to make the most of an open floor plan and a living room/office combination!

The plush leather sofa, rug, and pouf can also add tons of coziness to the look. Visually light furniture pieces, let’s say, a white coffee table can balance out heavy furniture to create a more even flow across the space. Overall, if you like a more traditional style, start with traditional pieces to create the tone for your living room before adding industrial decor.

Industrial & eclectic

Try mixing industrial living room furniture with the eclectic decor if you like warm, earthy living room themes! For a rich effect, choose an earth tone color palette warmed by the deep green walls. The leather and metal/wood chairs could add a cool sculptural element, while the copper lamp fixture will provide a moody, rich texture.

Overall, the industrial and eclectic aesthetic evokes the feeling of a dark and cozy outdoor getaway.

Industrial & vintage

Are you inspired by the magic of mid-century and industrial living room design? Try to warm up a standard black and white living room color palette by the gingham rug pattern, leather sofa, or large black & white art that adds personality to the space. Take into consideration that the variety of patterns always adds tons of visual interest!

Pro tip: The tufted leather sofa is always a safe bet when mixing industrial and mid-century modern style in living room design!

How to easily achieve the industrial look?

If you are ready to go for an industrial style, here are some tried-and-true methods to get you started.

Imitate the appearance of exposed lights

Unfinished ceilings with exposed lighting, wires, and beams can be found in many industrial interiors. Don't worry if your ceiling doesn't look like this — you can achieve the same effect using lighting.

Layer different metals

Metal is a popular material in industrial design, and it's important to notice that your metals don't have to match. Use a shiny silver floor light, a gleaming copper planter, and rusty stainless steel to create a stunning look. Metals in industrial design range from gleaming to matte to rugged, and there's no need to pick just one since they complement each other so well.

Add a touch of coziness

In an industrial design plan, comfort may appear to be out of place. But, in reality, they are not mutually exclusive. If you've got a lot of industrial furniture, a couple of neutral carpets would fit in perfectly. By analogy, you can always soften up a chair with some sleek leather cushions.

Add texture with removable wallpapers

Industrial interiors may be all about smooth materials and clean lines, but that doesn't mean they're devoid of texture.

Recycled metals and porous surfaces, for example, stone or concrete, are important components of the industrial style. Also, it wouldn't be complete without a few wood accents.

If you wish to easily bring those characteristics into your living room, there's a simple solution — removable wallpaper. Here are some of the best industrial-style wallpaper ideas to help you get started!

Whitewashed brick

The use of exposed brick walls is a common feature of industrial design. They're also decoratively versatile enough to function in a range of situations, which is why this pattern's peel-and-stick wallpapers are so popular!

Concrete finish

For minimalist decor, a blank canvas is the beginning point. Start by adding a cool, textural feature, such as concrete-inspired wallpaper, to give the room an instant modern and sophisticated vibe while keeping the tone minimalist.

Wood planks

If you want the look of traditional wood-paneled walls but don't want to spend a lot of money or live in a rental, go for industrial-style wallpaper. It works perfectly as a background in a living room or bedroom.

Overall, our industrial wallpaper collection is a hassle-free way to include textured brick, farmhouse wood planks, and polished marble into your urban industrial design. With these architectural details, you can easily add visual appeal to your home decor!