Industrial home decor is often viewed as being cold or utilitarian. In fact, however, there are plenty of ways that you can incorporate industrial pieces into your decorating scheme while still keeping the space warm and inviting.
The key is to mix high-quality pieces that have an industrial aesthetic with pieces that are a bit softer or more traditional. This can provide the perfect balance between hard and soft edges in your space, creating a home that has plenty of style but still provides a comfortable place to live.
A good way to kickstart the decorating process is by identifying exactly what you want your home to look like when it is finished. One of the easiest ways to do this is by searching online for inspiration. Creating a bulletin board that has photos of spaces you love can help you identify the overall style that you are going for. From there, you can choose elements from your favorite photos to incorporate into your own space.
Social bookmarking sites like Pinterest can be extremely helpful during this process. Using these tools can help keep you organized and can make it easier to focus in on which aspects of industrial design you like the best.
Once you have a general idea of what you want your finished room to look like, you can then begin identifying the various pieces that you need to purchase. For instance, if you are decorating your living room, you may need to buy a sofa, a coffee table, a TV stand, and a variety of different lamps and light fixtures.
To enhance the industrial theme, consider looking for furniture pieces that incorporate rugged elements such as metal wheels, heavy wrought iron hardware, or rough, unfinished wood. At the same time, make sure to choose at least a few pieces that are comfortable and inviting.
For instance, in your living room, you may want to use a rugged, industrial cart with metal wheels as a coffee table. Combine that with a sofa that is sleek and modern but that also is comfortable to sit on. Combining hard and soft pieces will help you keep the industrial edge while still creating a space where you enjoy spending time.
When shopping for industrial pieces, don’t be afraid to think a little bit outside the box. Consider visiting construction salvage yards to find unique elements that have been torn out of other buildings. For instance, you may be able to transform an old wooden door into a coffee table or turn an industrial shelving rack into a storage unit for your kitchen. Repurposing real industrial pieces that were previously used in factories or warehouses is both practical and affordable.
Using industrial home decor is a great way to add character and style to your space. The key is not to go overboard with industrial elements. Instead, try mixing and matching hard, industrial pieces with softer furniture and accessories to create a space that is both edgy and inviting.