What is Industrial Interior Design?
Decidedly fuss-free and no-nonsense, industrial interior design takes inspiration from the abundance of factories and warehouses that were constructed during the industrial revolutions of the 1760s and 1870s. So, when building a picture of this style of design, you're on the right track if you're imagining exposed brick walls, open plan layouts, large scale paned windows, and Edison light bulbs.Today, industrial pieces make use of reclaimed materials such as metal and wood, and primarily use neutral colour palettes of greys, champagnes, whites and an array of wood tones. The popularity of this type of interior design really took off in the 2000s when housing shortages in numerous urban areas meant that old factories were converted into loft style apartments. Additionally, the increasing popularity of hygge and minimalism further bolstered the position of many elements present within industrial-inspired pieces, including the use of reclaimed raw materials and neutral colour palettes.
Whether you're looking for something with classic design features or a uniquely modern aesthetic, we hope you will find something within our industrial side table edit which is composed of pieces that showcase industrial cool in remarkably unique and supremely stylish ways.
Champagne Industrialism
The Calloway side table from Richmond boasts a rich black iron frame and a sleek yet subtly patinated aluminium table top. The champagne gold finish that has been expertly afforded to the table top melds seamlessly with the natural looking patination, which brings a sophisticated rawness to what is otherwise a very sleek and sharp design piece. In fact, it is the juxtaposition that exists between the sense of polish and supremely authentic and lived in look that makes the Calloway side table stand out for all the right reasons.
This delightfully versatile piece can be styled in numerous ways in your home. You could choose to set it in a loft style living area alongside the matching coffee table and a sumptuous velvet sofa in a rich jewel tone, which would allow you to create a welcoming yet stylish space that is ideal for relaxing and socialising with friends. Alternatively, the Calloway side table can be used as a unique bedside table. Position one on either side of a sumptuously dressed bed that has a cool metal or richly toned wooden headboard, and style with an industrial style lamp and personal trinkets. If the matchy matchy look isn't quite your vibe, you could opt to mix and match the Calloway side table with a different, similarly industrial inspired table for a quirky aesthetic that reflects your personal style.
This is a piece that will really sing when located in a space alongside other pieces that have dark iron or champagne toned metal design touches, but its sharp silhouette can also be softened slightly when it is placed in a room with a smart selection of soft furnishings such as a shaggy rug or carefully plumped throw cushions.
Circular Chic
The rich, lead grey tones within the Talca side tables from Light & Living give these striking design pieces an immediate sense of presence, however their circular shape prevents them from ever looking too overbearing, even in the most bijou of spaces. The open-structured table base allows the light to permeate through the tables, giving them an almost unexpected lightness that juxtaposes the sleek circular slab-like table tops beautifully and offers harmony and balance.
The Talca side tables are supplied as a pair, with the smaller table able to slot seamlessly underneath the larger. This clearly offers an array of styling possibilities, as you can place them separately, together, or stacked to suit your space. Their lead hue furthers their versatility, as this is a striking yet neutral tone that will suit most design schemes with ease.
At 52cm and 46cm high respectively, both Talca tables in this duo are the ideal size for holding drinks and nibbles during a casual gathering with friends and family. They can be positioned around a laid back seating area inside your home, or even transported outside temporarily to offer additional table space for those warm-weather garden parties you have pencilled into your social calendar this year. Far from just being the reserve of occasional use, the Talca side tables can also be used to stage permanent stylish displays in numerous locations within your home. In addition to being ideal for placing beside a sleek sofa or cosy armchair, they also make charming additions to put-together bathrooms and can hold a fresh bunch of blooms, a selection of luxury bath products, and mood-creating candles that will allow you to truly unwind after those long, busy and stressful days. You could even opt to use this charming set as a unique coffee table that allows you to play with height in your space, simply by half pulling out the smaller of the two tables from beneath the larger one.
The Angular Industrial Aesthetic
The Banos side tables from Light & Living have a similar vibe to the Talca side tables, however their sleek and angular lines offer a more immediately contemporary aesthetic. Ideally suited to loft style living, the deep antique lead tones are carried through every element of both tables in the set, creating a consistent aesthetic with plenty of versatility.
Again, the Banos side tables can be styled together, separately or stacked, depending on the layout of the space and the look you want to achieve. Position side by side in an airy bathroom and style with a humid environment loving house plant, curated selection of bath products, or a sleek hand mirror. You could also combine them with the matching shelving unit, which can be used to house gorgeously scented candles, towels, and plants to create a cohesive retreat that gives you the space to decompress at the end of the day.
Alternatively, you could choose to use the Banos tables in place of a traditional coffee table, as side tables on either side of a sofa or favourite armchair, or in a cool contemporary sleeping space. They would even make striking entryway tables, offering plenty of space to store your keys and other going-out essentials that you don't want to forget when you're heading out of the door. Plus, there is something about the beautiful antique lead tone that lends itself perfectly to ensuring the green hues of vivacious house plants really look their best. So, you could place one or both of the Banos tables against a distressed white brick ball and use them as a unique plant stand duo with plenty of space to show off your favourite plants in their best light.
Bathe in Boho Chic with an Industrial Twist
The Menzies side table from Gallery Direct puts a bohemian twist on classic industrial-inspired design with its gorgeous circular wooden table top that contrasts wonderfully with the caged metal base. The silver hued caged base has a distressed look and this gives the piece a vintage feel that prevents it from looking too perfect and spoiling the laid-back, lived in aesthetic. The sleek and streamlined table top is balanced by the visible wood grain, which brings an additional textural element and ensures every part of the design feels dynamic and energetic.
Again, the Menzies side table is versatile but in a slightly different way from many of the other pieces we have explored today. In addition to having a distinctive industrial edge that wouldn't look out of place in a loft style apartment, this is a charming side table that will also fit in seamlessly within mid-century modern design schemes as well as more traditional spaces with a boho twist. So, you could position it in a neutral grey space with a light-toned parquet style floor alongside a warm brown mid-century style chair to create a comfortable reading nook. Style simply with a stack of books or a fresh bouquet for a pop of colour. Alternatively, this piece would look beautiful placed beside a plush material sofa that has been scattered with generously stuffed cushions and neutral knitted blankets. In this instance, the sleek metal base will contrast perfectly with the different textures within your chosen soft furnishings and create an ambience that looks and feels balanced and calming.
The joy of industrial design is that it is the perfect partner to countless other design styles. We have already touched on industrial boho chic and now is the time to explore the somewhat surprising ways in which industrial and contemporary design can combine to create a striking aesthetic that is both suited to modern living and making a unique style statement.
Contemporary Industrial Living
Olivia's Menteng side table features a recycled elmwood table top that has been expertly mounted within a sleek, polished stainless steel base. Merging the natural with the manufactured, this is a visually striking piece that is certain to turn heads and, perhaps most surprisingly of all, it is markedly more versatile than initial impressions may suggest.
At 64cm in height, the Menteng side table can be used as an effortlessly cool bedside table, an entryway side table, or a beautiful and practical home office piece. In addition to being the perfect height to hold a stack of books, a sleek lamp or drink, it can also be used to display a selection of your favourite treasures, including ornaments and framed photographs. However you choose to style this unique piece, it is one that deserves to be seen because it has a sense of presence that allows it to take on a starring role within any room.
Its angular silhouette and unique use of polished stainless steel gives the Menteng table a contemporary edginess that can be styled in spaces featuring sleek white furniture and those with similarly gleaming stainless steel accents. Equally, however, it can also be placed alongside classic and contemporary pieces of wooden furniture, especially those which are also made from elmwood and showcase the natural wood grain in a similarly striking way.
Fluidity Meets Industrial Rigidity
Many industrial inspired design pieces boast angular structures, however there are a selection of side tables that celebrate organic shapes using materials that are more often associated with sharper silhouettes. The Kimba side table from Hudson Living is one of the finest examples of this more fluid style of design and features an organic metal base which is finished with a stunning hammered metal table top in an antiqued gold hue.
Tailor made to sit beside a rich blue velvet sofa or vintage leather armchair, the Kimba side table offers plenty of space to stack your favourite reads alongside an incense burner or selection of trinkets. It is also the perfect height to hold your beverage of choice so that it is always within easy reach or a similarly styled lamp to create the perfect ambience for your space.
The hammered metal table top has a rustic look that gives the impression that this piece has already lived many lives in numerous places around the world. This sense of history is incredibly enigmatic, which is something that is carried through into the swirling lines and shapes that make up the circular metal base. This is industrial inspired design with a strong, powerful and feminine edge, proving that this style of interior design can be both soft and curvaceous as well as edgy and sleek.
As versatility really is the name of the game with this interior style, the Kimba side table can also make the right impression within a colourful master bedroom or dressing room, petite entryway, or clean and contemporary bathroom.
Old Meets New
The Rowen side table from Gallery Direct is another example of industrial design with a curvaceous touch, with this piece having an immediately more contemporary vibe that is certain to suit an array of modern and minimalist spaces.
The Rowen side table comes in two different colourways. While both share the same black caged metal base, the metal tray style table top comes in both silver and gold which will allow you to select the piece that will match the tones within your chosen space. Both colourways have a very similar aesthetic, however the silver table top has a slightly more modern look with the gold colourway embodying more of an antique aesthetic.
The unique barrel shaped base contrasts with the very ordered angular shapes found within the caging detailing, which again merges old and new, and sharp and soft. The Rowen collection can make the right impact within a minimally designed space that wants to highlight texture, shape and light rather than bold colours. The Rowen side table even has enough presence to stand proudly on its own, however you may also want to personalise it by using it to house a stack of fashion magazines, a trailing houseplant, or box of trinkets.
This sturdy yet lightweight piece is easy to move around, offering a level of versatility that many pieces of furniture simply can't deliver. So, if you wake up one morning to glorious summer sunshine and you want to enjoy a morning outside, the Rowen side table could be your perfect outdoor companion. Or if you decide that your bedroom is missing that special something, switch out your bedside table with the Rowen table to enjoy something a little different.
The Enduring Sophistication of Industrial Design
As we hope we have shown, industrial-inspired design pieces can bring joy in numerous ways simply because they are so versatile and allow you to leverage your own creativity and artistic flair. Want to experiment with matchy matchy looks in a playful way? Then use industrial pieces to do just that in a way that also has a timeless edge. Or want to embrace a touch of maximalism in a way that doesn't look too visually overwhelming? Then complement your sleek side table with a plethora of colourful accessories stacked as high as you want.Ultimately, you can style your chosen industrial side table in whichever way suits your space and reflects your personality. In fact, that is one of the most exciting elements of this style. Combine rigid structures with plush soft furnishings or really lean into the minimal look by choosing pieces with clean lines and sleek silhouettes. There really are no strict rules here and you're free to experiment with merging industrial inspired design with just about every other design style you can think of, from the exuberant extravagance of maximalism all the way down to the intrinsic airiness of extreme minimalism.
