Big cities are all about the urban atmosphere: their image is shaped by wide streets, lots of concrete, glass facades and functional design. Industrial culture is firmly rooted in this image. As a result, it soon found its way into interior design. If you fancy tapping into this urban feel today, then opt for industrial style as your interior look. You’ll find inspiration for creating a functional industrial-look design for your home and kitchen here.

The basic idea behind the industrial look is exposing structures

Industrial style seeks to combine as many functions as possible in one room. In lofts, areas for living, sleeping, cooking and eating are merged together, while the conventional interior layout is broken up. Kitchens typically comprise an island in the middle of the living space. Right next to it is the large dining table, staged by spotlights or industrial lighting. The materials used for the flooring and walls take centre stage in the industrial style. Floors tend to be unpainted concrete or old, unpolished tiles. Walls are usually left in their original state. As a result, the untreated wall shows through in places, or the plaster gives the wall a rough texture. Such imperfection is coveted, as it gives the space its character. This means that lavish decoration and accessories are not required, as they would detract from the effect of the space.

Here are some tips for introducing industrial style to your home.

  • Leave things a bit unfinished: bare brick walls help to break up smooth concrete walls.
  • Choose the right colours: industrial style uses predominantly shades or grey, black, white and metallics.
  • Use steel, glass and concrete as materials. Materials that were once used in factories are particularly sought-after.
  • Use vintage and DIY furniture: Euro pallets can be made into a couch, a heavy door can serve as the dining table and desk lamps such as the classic Anglepoise 1227 light up your study area.

Bang on trend: a concrete look in the kitchen

One material that perfectly complements the industrial style is concrete. Concrete floors are found in old workshops and factories, and can be left just as they are, with all their marks and notches, in the industrial look. You could also opt for a concrete worktop. A concrete kitchen block can be a real visual highlight in a loft apartment. For instance, BLANCO granite sinks made of Silgranit have a fine-pored texture and matte surface that goes well with this material. They also come in a concrete-style colour for those who want to match their appliances perfectly. Stainless steel sinks, meanwhile, create a high-gloss contrast. If you're concerned about the weight of a concrete worktop, rest easy: special wood fibre panels with a thin concrete coating provide the perfect industrial look, without being too heavy.