We are pleased to have another guest post written by Chloe Taylor. Please see her bio at the bottom.
Repurposing old and forsaken factories, warehouses and workshops into studios, shops and cafés instead of tearing them down, gave birth to a whole new interior décor style. Industrial design was something created out of convenience, in order to make the best of large unused spaces, without making too many investments. It didn’t take long for this to become fashionable, making the rawness and simplicity of industrial design something desirable in any modern home. In case you want to bring a dash of it into your own home, here are some ideas on how to do it.
Recycle and Repurpose
Since a lot of this style relies on pieces of scrap salvaged from closed workshops and factories, finding objects like used hardware, various mechanical devices, gears or tiles and giving them a new purpose in your home is a good way to start. For example, take one or several large industrial gears and put some natural wood or some thick glass on top of them to create anything from a side table or a bench, to a simple shelf. Old wheelbarrow can be transformed into a coffee table, while old beer or wine crates can become creative storage solutions for your living room or hallway. Rusty-looking oversized hinges can be turned into a nice seat if you add a round wooden plate on top of them. The more robust something looks, the better it will reflect the design you’re going for. Industrial-era furniture should have as few details as possible, with all of the accent on its functionality. However, this is not to say features can’t be colorful.
Rethink Your Lighting Fixtures
From sleek and sconce wall lights to dome-shaped pendants, all made of copper, aluminum or steel, the industrial era offers us many types of lighting fixtures for each room of our home. Nowadays you can find these kinds of fixtures wherever you look, so find something that suits you and have it installed above your dining table, kitchen island, front door or even your bed. Also, when it comes to lighting, industrial style will often have wires hanging around the fixtures. If this is something you want, just make sure you’re aware of any existing regulations. For example, in Australia you have to hire a licensed electrical contractor to install the lights and they take full responsibility for their work. This is why hiring a good electrician is the best course of action for anybody who wants to put safety first. Tampering with electrical installations without the necessary skills and knowledge is a recipe for disaster, so avoid it and be smart enough to hire somebody who knows what they’re doing.
Let Your Artwork Speak Volumes
There are many amazing options for those who enjoy art and want to open up their home for as many industrial details as possible. For example, any home that wants to reflect the industrial era should have an exposed brick wall. If yours doesn’t and it’s an investment you’re not ready to make, you can always get wallpapers to get that perfect industrial look, like Faux Bois in teal or other colors. Next, decorate that or any other wall with murals, exciting graphics or even large daring symbols. Consider finding a graffiti artist and have them come over to introduce some street art to your home décor. You can even try to create your own artwork. Just open your eyes next time you go out and let the historical city buildings and even Nature inspire you.
Find Alternative Places for Shopping
One of the perks of the industrial style is that it can actually make it very affordable to refresh your home interior. So, instead of visiting the modern and expensive furniture stores, go to your local flea market, a second-hand shop or watch out for garage sales near you to find various decorative elements for some industrial chic. Things like old signs, vintage slot machines and metal file cabinets can be a great addition to your home. Metal baskets from the fifties’ supermarkets or even a trolley from that era can be used for storage while adding the industrial décor to your living space. And when it comes to old pipes, you can get them for next to nothing, and they can be turned into anything from shelves and clothes racks to table legs or even pegs for hanging your coats and jackets.
Even with the most limited budget, you can always count on industrial style for some affordable inspiration. Any chic detail you bring into your home will freshen up its appearance and make it look cool and contemporary.
Many thanks to Chloe Taylor for another great article to feature on Slipcovers for your walls!
About the author:
Chloe is an interior design consultant from Adelaide, South Australia and a regular contributor to Smooth Decorator. She loves everything related to decor, aesthetic and lifestyle topics. She is also passionate about photography. Her biggest dream is to travel the whole world and take some stunning photographs of beautiful places. Beside all this, she enjoys drinking coffee and reading a beautiful book from time to time.
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