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Industrial living room ideas

Borrowed from converted warehouses, the industrial look pairs raw surfaces with a few heavy, well-worn pieces. A cognac leather sofa, reclaimed timber tables, black steel shelving and caged pendants sit against charcoal walls or exposed brick, above a concrete-look floor. The palette is dark and warm rather than cold, with rust tones and leather keeping it lived-in. It works well in open-plan flats and rooms with high ceilings, and it is forgiving of scuffs and everyday wear.

Try Industrial on a photo of your living room

Palette

• Charcoal (#3d3f42)
• Concrete grey (#8d8d8a)
• Rust (#a05a30)
• Aged oak (#6f5640)

Key pieces

• Cognac leather sofa, ideally a little worn
• Reclaimed timber coffee table on steel legs
• Black steel open shelving or bookcase
• Metal cage or enamel factory pendants
• Worn wool rug in charcoal and rust
• Factory-style stools or a metal side table

Materials and finishes

• Polished concrete or concrete-look flooring
• Reclaimed oak and pine with visible saw marks
• Powder-coated black steel
• Vegetable-tanned leather and heavy canvas
• Real exposed brick, where the walls have it

Tips

• Industrial rooms can turn gloomy, so add warm lamps low around the edges as well as pendants overhead. Dimmable filament bulbs over the seating keep the evening mood without leaving corners dark.
• Soften the hard surfaces with a big rug and heavy curtains or canvas blinds. Concrete, steel and brick all bounce sound, and without textiles the room will echo.
• In a standard flat without brick or ductwork, paint one wall charcoal and run black steel shelving across it. That suggests a loft without resorting to fake materials.

What to avoid

• Pastel colours
• Faux brick wallpaper or panels
• Decorative mouldings and frills

Questions

Does industrial style work in a small living room?

It can, if the dark colour stays on one wall or in the furniture and the rest is a warm grey. Choose open steel shelving instead of a solid cabinet, a leather two-seater rather than a large sofa, and wall lights so the floor stays clear.

Is a leather sofa a good idea with pets?

Good aniline or semi-aniline leather will pick up scratches, but in an industrial room that patina suits the look. It does not hold hair and wipes clean easily. Avoid bonded or very thin leather, which peels, and keep a wool throw over the arm a cat favours.

More living room styles

• Scandinavian living room ideas
• Japandi living room ideas
• Mid-Century Modern living room ideas
• Minimalist living room ideas
• Boho living room ideas
• Modern Farmhouse living room ideas
• Coastal living room ideas

Industrial in other rooms

• Industrial bedroom ideas
• Industrial kitchen ideas
• Industrial bathroom ideas

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