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Industrial bathroom ideas
Warehouse conversions set the template: concrete, black steel and timber that looks as if it has been used. In a bathroom that means a concrete or dark porcelain floor, charcoal or warm grey walls, a vanity built from reclaimed wood on a steel frame, and copper or black pipework left on show as a feature. Rust and cognac tones arrive through a leather mirror strap, aged copper or towels. In a flat, the darker walls also make a bathroom with poor natural light look deliberate rather than dim.
Try Industrial on a photo of your bathroom
Palette
- Charcoal (#3d3f42)
- Concrete grey (#8d8d8a)
- Rust (#a05a30)
- Chalk white (#e8e5df)
Key pieces
- Reclaimed timber vanity on a black steel frame
- Concrete or stone trough basin
- Exposed shower valve with black or copper pipes
- Black grid-framed glass shower screen
- Round mirror hung from a leather strap
- Caged or bulkhead wall lights
Materials and finishes
- Concrete-effect porcelain floor tiles
- Dark metro tiles with dark grey grout
- Reclaimed oak or pine with an oiled finish
- Black steel, copper and aged brass fittings
- Microcement or polished plaster in warm grey
Tips
- Agree pipe runs, bracket spacing and finish with the plumber before any work starts. Surface copper only looks intentional when it is straight, evenly spaced and the same finish throughout.
- Dark walls and floors swallow light, so plan a bright mirror light as well as a ceiling fitting, and check that any cage or bulkhead light near the bath or shower has the right IP rating for its zone.
- Concrete basins and counters stain from toothpaste, hair dye and oils unless sealed. Ask for a penetrating sealer and reapply it yearly, or choose a concrete-effect composite if upkeep is a worry.
What to avoid
- Pastel tiles or accessories
- Faux brick panels or wallpaper
- Fussy ornamental taps and mirrors
Questions
Will dark tiles make a small bathroom feel cramped?
Not necessarily. A dark floor with lighter warm grey walls keeps the room grounded without closing it in, and one dark wall behind the vanity adds depth. Keep the ceiling pale, hang a large mirror and pick matt dark tiles, since gloss shows every water spot and soap mark.
Can original brick walls be left bare in a bathroom?
Yes, outside the shower area, as long as the brick is cleaned, repointed where needed and treated with a breathable masonry sealer to resist splashes and mould. Inside the shower, cover it with tiles or a full glass panel; bare brick soaks up water and is very hard to keep clean.
More bathroom styles
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- Mid-Century Modern bathroom ideas
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- Boho bathroom ideas
- Modern Farmhouse bathroom ideas
- Coastal bathroom ideas
Industrial in other rooms
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