Industrial Living Room Ideas to Revamp Your Home
Construct your dream space.
If you’re in search of industrial living room ideas that combine modern elegance and urban charm, you’ve come to the right place. Inspired by repurposed factory spaces, industrial style is characterized by exposed materials, neutral colors, and vintage-inspired decor. In this article, we’ll explore several examples of how to create an industrial living room that reflects your personal style.
1. Create a Brick Backdrop
Exposed brick walls are a staple of industrial-style living rooms. However, unless you live in a converted loft space or old urban building, authentic brick walls may be hard to come by. Luckily, simple alternatives like brick-patterned wallpaper or paneling allow you to bring that same industrial feeling to your living space without the hassle or price tag of brick installation.
Incorporating leather upholstery into your living room is another way to bring industrial style to your home. Leather (or faux leather) is a durable and easy-to-clean material that will bring a classic look to your industrial living room. You may consider investing in a full set of leather furniture, especially if you have a larger living area and want to provide ample and comfortable seating.
Tip!
Want to extend the life of your leather furniture? Check out Cleaning 101: How to Clean a Leather Sofa for more details.
3. Incorporate Lots of Metals
Metal is a must-have material in any industrial living room. Whether you incorporate this material in the decor, furniture frames, lighting fixtures, or all of the above, including metal in the design of your space will enhance the overall industrial theme. Matte black metal, specifically, is commonly found in industrial-style rooms and creates a beautiful contrast when used among light surroundings.
In addition to using manufactured materials – like leather, brick, concrete, and metal – when designing your industrial living room, you may want to incorporate natural elements as well. Industrial-style spaces can sometimes feel cold and unwelcoming, so adding houseplants to your living area can soften the aesthetic, balance the hard materials, and bring color to your home – not to mention the air-purifying benefits of many houseplants.
Tip!
Don’t have a green thumb? Not to worry! You can always opt for faux foliage to create the same visual effect of houseplants. Read our guides Tips for Decorating With Fake Plants and Best Faux Plants for more helpful tips and creative ideas.
5. Go for a Neutral Color Scheme
Although many industrial rooms use dark colors like brown, gray, black, and deep red, you can choose to go for a lighter and more neutral color palette that will brighten the space. Opt for a neutral color on the walls, light wood tones, and off-white fabric for large fixtures like your sofa and area rug. Create contrast in the room by incorporating traditional elements of the industrial style like black metal and dark wood.
Neutrals aren’t the only option for industrial-style living rooms. You can choose to go bold and add color in the form of an abstract area rug. The bright colors in the rug pictured above pop against the gray hardwood floors, off-white sectional, and concrete walls to bring an unexpected playfulness to the space. Adding colorful accents to your home is a great example of how you can personalize your industrial living room idea.
For an easy, cohesive look in your home, consider investing in a living room table set complete with a coffee table, console table, and TV stand. Not only do these pieces seamlessly tie together the living space, but they provide ample storage space as well. Decorate the surfaces with industrial-themed pieces or transform the console table into a coffee bar to personalize your living space.
To add even more character to your industrial living room idea, opt for statement furniture as opposed to a set. Industrial style lends itself to unique pieces of furniture like old storage trucks or coffee tables made of upcycled industrial materials. These unique pieces are certain to complement your industrial style and give your guests something to talk about.
Etagere bookcases are characterized by open shelves that lack a back or sides, making them an ideal option for displaying your industrial decor. Often made with wooden shelves and a metal frame, etageres are a staple of industrial style with their clean lines and open structure. Pair the bookcase with a nearby accent chair and ottoman to create the perfect reading nook in the corner of your living room.
Tip!
Learn more about the types of bookcases in our article How to Choose a Bookcase: Find the Perfect Style for Your Home.
10. Design a Corner Sitting Area
If you have a spare corner in your living room, consider transforming it into a small sitting area – a perfect place for conversation and relaxation. Place a pair of leather accent chairs and a metal-frame end table to create a functional sitting area that blends with the industrial surroundings. Make the area even cozier by adding a soft area rug and a basket of spare blankets to cuddle up with.
Tufted sofas, also known as Chesterfield sofas, will add a timeless elegance to your industrial-style living room. Choose a leather Chesterfield for an elevated look, and add some throw pillows for extra comfort. These stately pieces of furniture will create a beautiful focal point in your living room and set the foundation for styling other industrial elements.
Another easy way to soften your industrial-themed room is to hang long drapes around your windows. Large windows are commonly found in industrial spaces, so drapes offer privacy and light filtration while also adding soft texture to the room. Opt for light color, floor-length drapes to take up vertical space and create contrast with dark furnishings.
Tip!
Check out our guide Window Treatments 101: Drapes vs. Curtains for guidance on choosing the right window treatment for your style and space.
13. Add Colorful Accents
Though many industrial-style rooms have neutral color schemes, don’t be afraid to add colorful accents that make the space your own. Adding teal throw pillows or an orange pouf, for example, show how small pops of color can make a big difference in an otherwise neutral room. Have fun playing with different color combinations that show off your personality and creativity.
If you like to entertain guests, creating a custom bar space in your main living area is a great way to foster a social atmosphere. Adding a bar can highlight the industrial feeling of your home while elevating the space with a hint of luxury. If you don’t have space for a whole bar set, consider transforming a console table into a small bar area where guests can convene for a drink and lively conversation.
Decor can put the finishing touches on your industrial living room idea and tie the whole space together. Common motifs found in industrial-style rooms include automobiles, architecture, old-fashioned gadgets, and clocks. Whether you’re styling wall art or decorative objects in your home, strive to create a cohesive theme with your decor to enhance the style of your space.
Tip!
For more ideas on how to bring the industrial style to your home, check out What Is Industrial Design? Your Ultimate Guide to Industrial Style.
