How to Design
Industrial
Loft-Style Interior
I spent three years living in a converted warehouse in Brooklyn. The exposed brick walls and metal beams got me hooked on industrial design. Now I help friends turn their regular apartments into loft-style spaces without breaking the bank.
Table of Contents
What is Industrial Loft Style
This design style comes from old factories and warehouses that people converted into living spaces in the 1950s and 60s. You keep structural elements visible - pipes, ducts, concrete floors, brick walls. The whole point is showing what buildings usually hide.
Observation
"I've noticed people confuse this with minimalism. They're different. Industrial loft style has more texture and roughness. You see the history of the space."
Why I Like Industrial Loft Design
My first apartment had carpet and drywall everywhere. Boring. Here's what changed my mind about industrial design:
Budget Friendly
You can do this style on a budget. I renovated my living room for under $2000. Paint remover and elbow grease cost way less than new finishes.
Character & Durability
It hides wear and tear. That chip in the concrete? Adds character. The scratched metal shelf? Looks intentional.
Illusion of Space
Your space feels bigger. High ceilings and open layouts make a 600 sq ft apartment feel like 1000.
Easy Maintenance
Maintenance is easier. I mop my concrete floors once a week. Takes 10 minutes. My friend with hardwood floors spends an hour on hers.
Versatile Mixing
You can mix old and new furniture. I put a $50 thrift store table next to a $800 leather couch. Works perfectly.
Value & Timelessness
Resale value stays strong in urban areas. Three apartments in my building sold 15-20% above asking price last year.
Steps to Create an Industrial Loft Interior
/ Strip Back to Structural Elements
Start by removing what hides the bones of your space. I took down the drop ceiling in my bedroom. Found beautiful wooden beams underneath. Took me a weekend with a crowbar and a friend helping.
Check what's behind your drywall before you tear it out. I learned this the hard way. Found nothing interesting behind one wall. Had to put drywall back up.
/ Choose Your Base Materials
Pick 2-3 raw materials for your main surfaces. I use concrete floors, exposed brick on one wall, and white-painted brick on another. My sister tried using five different materials. Her place looked chaotic.
/ Add Metal Elements
Metal shows up in my furniture, light fixtures, and shelving. I bought steel pipe shelving brackets from a plumbing supply store. Saved 60% compared to West Elm prices.
Black steel works in most spaces. I tried copper pipes once. Looked too trendy. Ripped them out after six months.
/ Install Industrial Lighting
I hung three pendant lights with Edison bulbs over my kitchen island. Cost $180 total from a wholesale lighting supplier. The same setup at Restoration Hardware? $890.
Track lighting works better than pendant lights in smaller rooms. I put track lights in my 10x12 bedroom. Gives me flexibility to change the mood.
/ Keep Some Warmth
My first attempt at industrial design went too cold. All metal and concrete. Felt like a parking garage. I added a wool rug and some wood furniture. Made the space livable.
Leather furniture softens the hard edges. I found a leather sofa on Craigslist for $400. Needed some conditioning but looked great after treatment.
Tips from My Own Projects
Start with one accent wall
I stripped the brick on just one wall in my living room. Tested if I liked the look before committing to more work. You can always do more walls later.
Buy used industrial furniture
Factory carts, metal lockers, and workshop tables show up at estate sales constantly. I got a metal filing cabinet for $30. Refinished it. Looks like a $300 piece from CB2.
Don't paint everything gray
I see this mistake everywhere. My friend painted his entire apartment gray. Looked depressing. White walls with gray concrete floors work better.
Mix in plants
This seems obvious now but I missed it at first. Plants break up all the hard surfaces. I keep 6-7 plants around my apartment. The green softens everything.
Test your lighting before buying 10 fixtures
I bought matching pendant lights for my whole apartment. Half of them were too bright for bedrooms. Had to return them. Buy one light. Live with it for a week. See if you like it.
Leave some imperfections
I tried to make my concrete floors perfectly smooth. Hired a guy to do three rounds of polishing. Looked sterile. Some variation and texture makes it feel authentic.
Questions About Industrial Loft Design
Does industrial design work in small apartments?
Yes but you need to be selective. I lived in a 450 sq ft studio. Kept the industrial elements to lighting and one accent wall. Too much raw material made the space feel cramped.
My current 850 sq ft apartment handles more industrial features. The extra space gives the style room to breathe.
Can you do industrial design in a rental?
I've done it in three rentals. You just can't tear down walls or rip out flooring. I used temporary solutions - metal shelving, industrial lighting, area rugs over carpet, furniture choices. My landlord never complained.
Some landlords actually liked what I did. One gave me $500 off my security deposit because my upgrades improved the unit.
How do you keep industrial spaces from feeling cold?
This took me three tries to figure out. Layer in textiles - throw blankets, area rugs, curtains. I resisted curtains for two years. Thought they looked too soft. Finally installed them. Made a huge difference in winter.
Wood tones help. I added a wooden coffee table and some floating wood shelves. Balanced out all the metal and concrete.
What You'll Need to Get Started
Tools
- You can start with basic tools you might already own. A drill, paint brushes, and sandpaper got me through my first project. I spent maybe $200 on supplies.
- If you want to expose brick or concrete, you'll need stronger equipment. I rented a floor grinder for $75/day. Bought a heavy duty paint stripper for $45. Wire brushes cost another $30.
Sourcing
"For furniture and fixtures, I shop at architectural salvage yards. The one near me has metal shelving, factory lights, and vintage lockers."
Pro Tip
Prices run 40-70% less than retail stores selling "industrial-style" pieces.