Get The Look: Industrial Chic

Ready to embrace an industrial-chic vibe? Here’s what you need to know.

There’s something about a home with a sense of history that makes it all the more inviting. That’s likely what makes today’s industrial-inspired design trends so appealing: the warm wood, the red brick and the wrought-iron details so typical of this style all bring so much character even to the most modern of spaces.

In its purest form, the industrial chic look celebrates the structure of a space: ceiling beams, brick walls, concrete flooring and railings are the focal point here. These raw or rugged surfaces are balanced out with thoughtful, homey details—crisply tailored upholstery, framed artwork or even an elegant statement piece like a vintage chandelier. Worn textures and finishes—think matte metallics, not polished ones—and distressed pieces that tell a little bit of a story make the perfect accent pieces for a style that’s inspired by converted factories and historic urban lofts.

The Palette

Warm white walls pair perfectly with brick in an industrial space. It’s all about simplicity here, highlighting textures—galvanized metal, glass, wood grain—above all else. For accent hues, stick to colors found in raw, rugged materials: leather, metals and woods work beautifully with a neutral backdrop. Spindles with a hammered texture or a metallic finish add a rugged-yet-glamorous finishing touch.

Inspiring Spaces

Iron detailing on the window panes and stair railing give this loft a functional, industrial feeling.

Brick walls and concrete flooring—and a dramatic iron spiral staircase—add some beautiful grit to this cozy home. (Photo by Aaron Huber.)

	Rugged details like wood and concrete are staples of the Industrial Chic look. (Photo by Benjamin Voros.)
	This striking kitchen, with a simple black-and-white color palette, wooden accents and naked-bulb pendant lights, offers a crisp, clean and modern interpretation of the industrial look.

Key Pieces

Of course, with a look that’s all about celebrating structure, the right railing is essential. To embrace an industrial-chic style, browse suggested spindles for this lifestyle trend.

A simple spindle in a finish like graphite black, urban bronze or burnished copper fits perfectly with the hardy, rugged finishes so common in industrial-style spaces

The Industrial Chic look has a little bit of edge...so your railing should too. You can achieve this by incorporating a geometric design into the railing pattern.

Design details with some vintage influence make perfect sense in an Industrial Chic space—this design style is all about embracing repurposed pieces and historical elements.

	Steel barstools with a utilitarian shape bring in a hit of masculine metallics. (Trent Austin Lompoc stool)
	Industrial-style light fixtures—like this pharmacy table lamp—make the perfect finishing touch to pull a look together. (Adesso Pharmacy lamp.)

Bricks are the cornerstone of the industrial look, but if you’re not living in a heritage building, brick veneers are an excellent (and easy-to-install) alternative. (Old Mill Thin Brick systems.)

A reclaimed-wood dining table is a great way to bring in some warmth into your space. (Urban Wood Goods table.)

A tufted leather sofa pairs vintage elegance with a hardy fabric. (And the more worn and patinaed the leather, the better.) (Article Alcott Oxford sofa)

Is This the Look for You?

If you love spaces with history and warmth, the industrial-chic look might be for you. Even if you’re not ready to makeover your whole home, incorporating a few key details or accents is a great place to start. All it takes is an edgy new railing system, a great light fixture and some reclaimed wood, and you’ll be well on your way to mastering this on-trend style.