Picture yourself stepping into your bathroom that’s equal parts urban and edgy, with rugged edges and bold textures - the type of bathroom that will leave your guests feeling wowed. The industrial bathroom style has been around for decades and is the perfect way to create a room filled to the brim with character by using wall panels and furniture for an understated and minimalistic look.
Whether you’re trying to make the best of your exposed pipes or looking for a fresh new look that stretches the boundaries of interior decor with unique elements, in this blog we are going to take you through what the industrial decor style is and how you can incorporate it into your own bathroom for the perfect look.
What is industrial interior decor?
This industrial interior decor style started in 1950s New York. At the time people couldn’t afford expensive, refurbished apartments and took to living in old factories and industrial lofts with large windows and high ceilings - which is what inspired this trend.
In the modern day, the industrial style has changed and we can now see it incorporating elegant and minimalistic designs into our bathrooms. This can be done by making use of exposed pipes, and metallic accents such as copper, adhering to a statement black, white and grey colour scheme and showcasing natural materials like brick.
Sophistication and functionality are the two most important key elements for any modern industrial decor design, so when you’re creating your own industrial-inspired bathroom it’s important to keep these things in mind.
How to get the industrial bathroom look.
Just because this style relies on natural materials and a stripped-back look it isn’t as simple as exposing brickwork or putting your pipes on show and leaving it there. There's a fine line between an industrial bathroom and an unfinished bathroom - this can make nailing the industrial look a bit tricky. You have to strike the right balance between bare and stylish so your bathroom doesn’t just look like it’s been left unfinished and people know you’re going for the industrial look. To help you avoid this, below we’ve included some things you can incorporate into your industrial bathroom to really help nail that 1950s New York style in the modern era.
Embrace raw beauty with natural textures
One of the biggest elements of nailing the industrial interior decor style is to embrace natural beauty. This includes incorporating materials such as concrete, brick, marble and other raw materials. However, simply stripping back your walls until you hit brick or concrete will cause a variety of issues from dampness, to mould, so when going for an industrial look it’s important to incorporate these natural elements in a way that can still protect your bathrooms and offer you peace of mind.
Wall panels are a great choice for this as there are a variety of choices from brick to wood effect panels for your bathroom that offer 100% waterproof features for a perfect blend of functionality and industrial style.
Take these Vox Motivo Modern 3D Red Brick wall panels, not only do they nail the industrial bathroom look head-on but they are completely waterproof and no grouting is required - making them fully hygienic and well-equipped with easy-to-clean features. They offer elegant solutions for that sophisticated, bare-wall look that you need for completing an industrial bathroom without worrying about future water and damp issues.
Vox Motivo Modern 3D Red Brick wall panels - £68
Brick not your thing? There are plenty of other natural elements you can incorporate into your industrial bathroom. For example, try some wood-effect shower panel elements for replicating this style such as these Vox Motivo Light Wood panelling, they’re perfect for those who want a lighter and perhaps less bold industrial look for their bathrooms. These wooden panels will pair perfectly with some exposed pipes and metal elements for a soft industrial bathroom finish.
Another great look for embracing the natural beauty of your industrial bathroom are these Silver Retro Metallic Stone wall panels. Excellent for those looking for some darker elements, these stone wall panels replicate the natural textures and style of stone while offering water-tight features that are both easy to clean and easy to maintain. It’s the perfect base for starting your industrial bathroom and embracing that much-needed raw beauty.
Retro Metallic Stone wall panels - £10.99
Incorporate glass and steel
Now that you have a natural base for your industrial bathroom with some durable, waterproof wall panels - we can move on to the accents and other elements you’ll need to complete your industrial bathroom look. Glass and steel, once reserved for big factories can now be found in a lot of modern home bathrooms. Whether it’s a glass and steel walk-in shower or a simple mirror hung in the corner, this look gives a crisp industrial edge to your bathroom.
If you want to take it one step further then you can add black frames to your shower for a more modern-industrial style look.
Using neutral colours
Industrial decor celebrates the raw and unfinished beauty of natural materials and with this - should also embrace natural colours. This style mainly focuses a lot on blacks, greys and whites. However, natural reds from brick walls and copper accents from exposed pipes are a great way to add in some subtle natural colour without straying from the aesthetic.
Functionality meets style
As we mentioned previously, the two key elements of the industrial decor style are sophistication and functionality. Therefore when nailing this unique look it’s important to think about the practicality of the design for a high-traffic area such as a bathroom space where both style and performance are essential.
A great example of industrial design meeting functionality is a radiator towel rack like this Kartell Atlantic Design Radiator. Heated towel racks not only will help heat your bathroom and keep your towels warm so you can enjoy a nice fluffy towel when getting out of the shower, but it perfectly fits the industrial style with its stunning black metal features - making it a must-have in any bathroom of this kind.
Kartell Atlantic Design Radiator £335.79
Another optimal way of incorporating style with functionality is with a statement vanity. Going for a darker vanity will also help to create contrast and highlight textures in your bathroom. For example, this Kartell City Wide Floor Standing Unit is perfect for helping tackle any clutter while adding in some clean lines and statement black accents to help you complete your industrial bathroom look.
Kartell City 790mm Wide Floor Standing Unit Storm Grey Gloss - £1028.07
Exposed pipes and plumbing
One of the most iconic features of industrial bathrooms is the exposed pipes and plumbing. This is especially great if you’ve already got exposed pipes that you’re not sure what to do with as the industrial decor bathroom celebrates these elements. They add a raw and authentic feel which helps to showcase the beauty of functional design.
If you don’t already have exposed pipes in your bathroom then one great way to incorporate these raw industrial elements is with the right taps and shower heads. Rainfall showerheads in particular are a great way to help you achieve an industrial bathroom look. For example, this Kartell Deluge Fixed Shower Head provides a relaxing and indulgent shower experience while still contrasting nicely with the raw industrial elements. Pair this shower head with industrial-style fixtures and a glass shower enclosure and you’re halfway there to completing your dream industrial bathroom.
Kartell Deluge Fixed Shower Head and Arm - £49.73
Polished flooring
The final step to creating an industrial-style bathroom is to get some flooring that will compliment your wall panelling and bathroom accents for a completed look. Just like your walls, your floor should incorporate the raw beauty of natural textures all while still keeping your bathroom protected from mould and dampness.
For this, we would recommend this Grey Black Concrete SPC Flooring, not only does it tick all the boxes for an industrial bathroom by mimicking the natural look of stone but they’re also 100% waterproof, so you can enjoy raw materials while experiencing full peace of mind in your bathroom.
Grey Black Concrete SPC Flooring - £48.93
If you’re looking for a lighter natural texture design for your bathroom then you could also include these Matt Jura Carrara Marble SPC Flooring. It offers a more modern touch on the industrial style and will not distract from the copper and black bathroom accents. It will help to draw the eye and highlight those essential pieces that create the industrial look as well as offering waterproof and easy-to-install features for complete ease.
Matt Jura Carrara Marble SPC Flooring - £48.93
Create the industrial bathroom of your dreams with The Panel Company
The industrial style bathroom is a trend that’s been around for many decades and isn’t going away anytime soon - making it a timeless option for your bathrooms. However, there’s a fine line between an industrial-style bathroom and a bathroom that looks bare and unfinished. So, to help you ensure you’ve cracked the code to the perfect industrial bathroom look, Here at The Panel Company we’ve got wall panelling from brick wall panels to stone effect cladding so you can enjoy easy installation, practicality and timeless industrial-inspired styles.
