Softening Concrete and Steel: Adding Warmth to Industrial Interiors

Industrial interiors look incredible.

Exposed brick. Polished concrete. Raw steel beams. This is why industrial design has ruled the past ten years on Pinterest boards and Instagram feeds everywhere. However... there's a problem nobody wants to discuss...

If they aren't finished properly, they seem sterile. Bare. Kinda like an unfinished warehouse.

The good news is that you can maintain the industrial vibe while creating a homey atmosphere. You just need to make a few simple decisions.

Here's what's inside:

• Why Industrial Interiors Feel Cold In The First Place
• The Layered Lighting Fix That Changes Everything
• Natural Materials That Balance The Cold
• Textiles: The Softest Fix You Can Make
• Bringing The Outdoors In
• Colour Tricks That Actually Work

Let's get into it...

Why Industrial Interiors Feel Cold In The First Place

Industrial design is built around hard surfaces.

Concrete floors. Metal fixtures. Exposed ductwork. Steel window frames. All things that echo noise, reflect light harshly and emit no warmth whatsoever. That is beauty of industrial design -- it's tough and gritty.

But hard surfaces alone create a space that feels...

• Echoey
• Dark in the wrong spots
• Uninviting after 7pm
• Impossible to relax in

Don't try to battle industrial decor. Instead, soften it without concealing industrial features. Each of the tips below accomplishes this.

The Layered Lighting Fix That Changes Everything

Lighting is the single biggest lever you have.

One harsh overhead bulb is going to make a concrete room feel like a parking garage regardless of accessories. But three or four layers of softer, warmer light will make the same room feel serene and lived-in.

That is why contemporary wall sconces have become so incredibly popular in industrial settings. They cast light up and away from the concrete or brick, making pools of illumination rather than one flat wash. A quality set of wall sconces with warm bulbs (roughly 2700K) will do more for your industrial living room's ambiance than just about any other change you can make.

The formula is pretty simple:

• Ambient light: overhead fixtures for the base layer
• Task light: table lamps and reading lights where you actually sit
• Accent light: modern wall sconces and picture lights that highlight texture

Mix all three and the chill in the room evaporates. Leave one out and it returns.

Bonus: warm dimmable bulbs allow you to change from day to night mood without moving a single decoration.

Natural Materials That Balance The Cold

Wood is your best friend here.

Every slab of raw or reclaimed wood that you introduce to an industrial space negates some of the chill. A live-edge dining room table. A butcher-block counter top. Exposed wooden beams. Even a wooden bench by your front door.

Want to make your DIY projects look handmade? The secret is to use wood that has obvious grain and knots. Factory smooth pieces that have been perfectly sanded just don't look right -- they seem commercial. Aim for this instead:

• Reclaimed barn wood
• Hand-planed oak
• Walnut with knots and character
• Rough-cut pine

Number two heavy hitter. Leather. Softens the room and an old worn leather chair or sofa only looks better with age. Plus the patina fits perfectly with the industrial look.

Stone and clay also work perfectly fine. Handmade ceramics come to mind, or terracotta pots. Or how about a raw stone fireplace? Anything you can see the fingerprints on is going to warm up the space.

Textiles: The Softest Fix You Can Make

This might be the fastest change you can make in an afternoon.

Fabric softens sound and visually softens your space. Two things an industrial room needs. Lots of it. Let's start on the floor.

A large, heavy rug underneath your primary seating area functions as two design elements -- it absorbs sound from the concrete and provides your eye a soft place to rest. Natural wool or jute works particularly well because of the added texture contrasted with sleek surfaces.

From there, layer in:

• Chunky knit throws
• Linen curtains (skip anything too formal)
• Textured cushions in earthy tones
• Wall tapestries or woven art pieces

Curtains are more important than most people think. Sleek industrial windows look great on Instagram but once you hang fluffy linen or thick velvet you instantly feel like the room is pulled together.

Bringing The Outdoors In

Plants might be the single easiest way to warm up any industrial space.

They soften hard lines, bring colour, purify the air and make the whole space feel alive. Not only does it make your space better - the studies show it. Office workers in green rich environments are 6% more productive, 15% more creative and report a 15% higher level of wellbeing.

The one piece of good news about industrial rooms is that they usually have ample natural light with those oversized steel-framed windows. So you can choose larger plants like:

• Fiddle-leaf figs for corners
• Trailing pothos on high shelves
• Snake plants for low-light spots
• Olive trees as statement pieces

Terracotta or concrete planters maintain the industrial vibes while the plants provide the softening effect. Plus, they aren't just aesthetically pleasing -- 40% of people believe that having natural plants in their indoor environment help them to feel more calm and relaxed.

Colour Tricks That Actually Work

The default industrial palette is grey, black, and steel.

That's great for a starting point. But stopping there is what makes rooms feel cold. You have to layer warm colors throughout.

The colours that work best against concrete and steel are:

• Rust and terracotta
• Deep mustard and ochre
• Warm cream and bone
• Forest green
• Cognac and camel

You don't have to paint your wall. Cushions, artwork, throws and pottery can give you little doses. One rust coloured armchair in a room painted grey concrete will change the temperature of the entire room.

Stay away from cool colors such as stark white, icy blue, or cool grey for your accents. They emphasize the chill you are trying to counteract.

The Final Word

Softening an industrial interior isn't about hiding what makes it special.

The concrete remains. The steel remains. The exposed brick remains. What changes is everything you layer on top of it; warm lighting, natural wood, soft textiles, real plants, and warm accent colours.

Do all five and the room shifts from warehouse to home.

To quickly recap:

• Layer your lighting with warm bulbs
• Bring in wood, leather, and stone
• Cover hard floors with thick natural rugs
• Fill corners with big leafy plants
• Add warm accent colours in small doses

Begin with paint and curtains this weekend. Paint and curtains alone will transform the room more than you think -- the rest can be gradual.