The industrial style emerged when large industrial halls began to be adapted for residential purposes. While designing a bathroom in this style is quite a challenge, by following some principles, it can be done excellently. Although a bathroom is generally neither large nor tall, the right approach can help achieve an industrial effect.
What is the industrial style
It's mainly the greyness of concrete. Although the colour may seem cold and dull, with the right additions, you can break this effect and design it industrially. For this style, tiles in grey or the colour of home installations are ideal. Copper and bronze also work well in this role. An alternative to greyness would be the colour of rusty orange brick, cream colour, and for the bold – dark graphite or even black.
The industrial style is also broadly defined by minimalism and simplicity. Instead of an ultra-modern washbasin tap, a two-tap faucet in the colour of gold, copper, or brass will work better. Angular shapes will also emphasise the industrial style of the bathroom interior more than gentle, rounded shapes. The industrial style is more about rough styles and sparing in flashy accessories. But that is its unique charm.
Lighting in the industrial bathroom
As industrial bathrooms are dominated by elements of grey, graphite, brick, and even black, it's worth considering such an arrangement in a well-lit room. If we have a limited number of windows and still love this style, ensure that there is plenty of artificial light in your bathroom. Additionally, the lamp fittings should be chosen to fit the arrangement. Examples may include factory lamp imitations or trendy tubes this season in concrete colours. The bare bulb will also fit perfectly in our arrangement.
If the bathroom has windows, don't be afraid to leave them without curtains.
Furniture
And here we may encounter a problem. Entering a bathroom furniture shop, we usually get beautifully made, modern cabinets. Perhaps we will find those in the simplest form and in the appropriate colour, but still, it won't be "it." If we want our bathroom to be truly industrial, let’s try rummaging through neighbourhood sales or workshop furnishing stores. There we will surely find furniture and accessories that will perfectly match our industrial interior. Choose furniture wisely, as the industrial style means that too little furniture will appear miniature in our bathroom. Let them be slightly larger. Industrialism is characterised by broadly defined minimalism in accessories, so our bathroom in this style looks bigger than it is in reality.
Accessories
As mentioned, the fewer accessories, the better. If we want to emphasise the uniqueness of our bathroom or break the greyness, let's use pipes. Leave the visible water drain in the sink in copper colour, opt for a free-standing toilet with a so-called "backpack" (instead of modern, concealed ones). Let the mirror be large in a modest frame, e.g., wooden. Proper amounts of wood also fit perfectly into this style. You can boldly opt for a standing mirror in the simplest possible frame. If you like plants in the bathroom, place a green flower on a stool made of "worn" wood. Avoid fancy fittings in the arrangement. All should be as simple and raw as possible. With such a combination, the industrial effect of the bathroom is guaranteed.
Good to Know
Industrial metals, concretes, greys, blacks, and bricks cannot fill the whole house, as instead of a cosy place on earth, we'll get an old factory. Therefore, it's worth considering minimalist accessories that will enliven the rooms. These might be wicker baskets, impressive, large flowers like a palm or ficus. Interesting pot covers and boxes for small items will also enliven our industrial home a bit.
It's also good to know exactly where we live. Although it sounds funny, this information plays an important role in costs. If we live in a tenement house, we don't have to worry about purchasing a brick finish for the bathroom walls. If we live in a block, we focus more on concrete greys, and they should be our starting point.
In the industrial style, the brave can easily leave irregular plasters and black colours. With the right lighting, the effect will be stunning, including a washbasin placed on a thick, old imitation board with a visible, copper drain.
Creating an industrial style is quite time-consuming and requires thoughtful planning. Everything needs to be well planned and the elements appropriately combined. If there are too many, the entire concept loses its effect and becomes a grey mishmash. Therefore, it’s worth looking at proposals and ways of arrangement. Although it might seem that creating a grey, hall-like bathroom isn't difficult, in practice, the matter is quite different. Every element of an industrial bathroom must be precisely thought through, and then we will get the bathroom we desire.