While many people may settle with sleek and minimalistic interiors, modern industrial homeowners expose what lies beneath perfect walls and decorations with an edgy and raw style. The imperfections that other interior styles hide are what industrial designs expose. This design achieves an unfinished look by turning structural elements into home designs, providing a basic, chic and cohesive look.

The modern industrial design is becoming a trend around the world as it is used in more commercial spaces, modern homes and loft apartments. This type of interior design celebrates mechanical and engineering innovation as it combines the modern and sleek, the refined with the raw and the classic with vintage.

Finding Beauty in the Imperfections

Modern industrial style strikes a balance between utilitarian design and textured materials. This harkens back to the visual aesthetics heavily present during the Industrial Revolution. The simple shapes and silhouettes were elevated by the raw materials used to create them. Commercial spaces that adhered to this style would have exposed steel and brickwork coupled with distressed wooden elements.

In a home setting, modern industrial style is often seen in the innovative use of building materials. Homeowners have taken to keeping pipework and brickwork exposed. They complement these elements with modern furnishings for a well-balanced interior design. The rustic aesthetic of this style is all about the innovative use of building materials in the home.

If you want an industrial look for your home, here are a few key characteristics you might want to know:

Rustic Colours

The colour palette you choose for your home significantly influences the direction of how you style it. When going for the modern industrial look, opt for colours that will complement brick walls, cement flooring or wooden elements.

Stick with earth tone colours such as browns, oranges and greens. The reddish undertones of browns and oranges bring warmth to a room that has exposed steelwork. Alternatively, the blueish undertones of dark greens, blues and greys can cool down a room that is heavy with brick and wooden elements.

Bare Tubes and Pipes

People usually hide tubes and pipes, popular elements in an industrial interior design. Tubes and pipes started out as a necessity but eventually became a sought-after element in industrial interiors when warehouse apartments gained popularity. Many design enthusiasts go for an unfinished look that bare tubes and pipes give especially for spaces with exposed ceilings. This metal piping offers a contrast when exposed in all-white spaces.

The concept of bare and exposed pipes is also incorporated in furniture. The combination of wood and metal can be found in industrial interiors. Designers combine the neutrals and earth tones that wood and metal give such as in shelves, tables and chairs. When choosing pipes and tubes for decorative purposes, opt for copper or bronze. These types of metals are warmer to the eyes and complement the grey of concrete.

Vintage Pieces

Vintage pieces are commonly featured in industrial spaces as this style combines the vintage and the contemporary. Vintage pieces can add a unique look to interiors and help build industrial furnishings. Many people use classic furniture, but others are inspired from old laboratory and factory pieces. Industrial kitchen bars and the classic draftsman chair are common vintage pieces.

Another option would be to use vintage rugs and carpets. Older styles tend to have darker colours and simple designs. A vintage rug adds a touch of softness that makes the space look more comfortable for you and your family. If you want to lighten up the space, consider getting a slightly faded rug or carpet. The muted colours are better at showing off the textures of the rug or carpet, giving the room’s interior design more depth.

Concrete Stair Treads

Aside from featuring exposed brick and concrete walls, concrete stair treads are a great addition to industrial interiors. They’re ideal for interiors that have bare concrete floors to give a seamless look. Concrete treads are not only a great theme; they also promote durability as they are built to last and do not rust.

Open Spaces

Industrial interiors emphasise empty space more than most other styles. Industrial interiors feature bold elements that are meant to stand out, like pieces in a museum. Open spaces themselves become an essential part of the design.But this doesn’t mean that the space should be empty. Get creative with your interior design skills to make a room that is architecturally interesting but comfortable for the home.

Aside from the architectural features, enhance the space with carefully positioned furnishings. Create a cohesive space with items that suit the modern industrial aesthetic.

• Use textured materials, such as leather and tartan, for upholstery. These give your room a pop of colour in a mostly concrete and steel setting.
• Don’t settle on a single type of metal. Combine a mixture of copper, bronze, steel and gold-accented items to lift your interior design.
• Add an elegant juxtaposition to the space with feminine touches. Use a light fabric for your drapes. This will still give you plenty of natural light without the bright glare.

Elegant Polished Concrete Stair Treads at Ackworth House

At Ackworth House, we provide a range of concrete stair treads. Our range of concrete stairs includes L-shaped, tread and riser, slim line and solid tread are a perfect addition to industrial interior designs. Our treads aren’t only ideal for concrete floors as they can also be paired with other floorings such as tile and hardwood.

We are a family owned business that has been trading for over 40 years. Our team has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the joinery and building industries, allowing us to give quality solutions to your building needs. Incorporating our values of quality, honesty, punctuality and willingness, we have established ourselves as a trusted supplier of products in New Zealand.

Get in touch with us for a range of quality stairs. Call us on 0800 225 967 for any enquiries.