There’s a new game in town and it’s called industrial chic (yeah…we know…everything seems to be “chic” these days). Industrial chic decorating takes functional items out of the factory and into your home. This bold design style can also be referred to as “urban green” since many furniture pieces come from warehouse items that have been repurposed and/or recycled into everyday household items. Some elements of industrial chic design are:
- A color palette of gray, black, silver and white. This may sound cold but the distressed texture of furniture and accessories warms this look up.
- Functional furniture items such as tables, chairs, desks, lighting, and accessories that had a previous life as delivery carts, storage cabinets, lockers, bins, railings and crates. Add large wheels or casters to furniture for fun and versatility. For example, a kitchen island becomes a bar cart when wheeled into the family room during a party.
- Distressed finishes are naturally found on repurposed industrial items. If you have purchased a modern lookalike, rough it up a bit with sandpaper, splattered paint, hammer marks, rusty nails etc. The more the merrier.
- Fabrics can warm up all these cold surfaces. Avoid pretty florals and choose a stripe pattern or, better yet, a textural fabric like burlap, linen, muslin or leather.
- Typography is a big part of industrial chic design. Add vintage letters in varying sizes to a large wall. You can even paint a wall with blackboard paint and add your own typography. This is a fun way to personalize a playroom, kid’s bedroom or even a guest room.
If you live in a large and airy loft, industrial chic design is a natural. However, introducing this idea into a suburban home may be a bit more difficult. There is no need to decorate your entire home with distressed items from a warehouse. Just for fun, replace your ordinary barstools with industrial desk chairs or switch out that glass coffee table for one made of recycled wood with large casters. These pieces all have a story to tell and will add a unique look to your home.