The New York Institute of Art + Design recently published this mood board about industrial design on their blog:
According to NYIAD, the industrial look features “unfinished woods, metals, and exposed structural work.”
What I love about industrial design is how lighting is so integral. Not only do the right fixtures (like the galactic chandelier shown above) add to the raw, material aesthetic, they also keep your bare-bones rooms from feeling too dismal.
Here are a few other “industrial” lights that will keep your home looking modern and mechanized, but never bleak.
1. The Jointed Desk Lamp
Nothing embodies industrial style better than a deconstructed and boldly architectural desk lamp. These fixtures are iconic, and with good reason – they make function stylish. You can use them traditionally in your home office or workspace, but they also work as highly convenient bedside and reading lights.
2. The Track Lights
If you’re looking to add more exposed building elements, you can’t go wrong with versatile track lighting. These fixtures fit many design styles, but are especially perfect for the industrial look – warding off any gloom without adding any frills. You can angle the light almost anywhere you need it – over open countertops, in living rooms, even to highlight a raw brick or textured wall treatment.
3. The LED Tape Lights
Speaking of using light to accent your home’s industrial features, LED tape lights are another great light fixture to try. While the lights themselves are more sleek than industrialized, you can use them to accentuate or backlight the more interesting architectural elements of your space. They have adhesive backing, so they can fit even the quirkiest shapes.
4. The Bullet Accent Lights
Even small touches of light can add to your home’s mechanized flair. Instead of standard low-profile accent lights, flaunt your fixtures in shelves, cabinets, and niches. These bullet lights’ chrome finish screams industrial, but they’re not big enough to seem too showy. The bright LED light is flattering to any black and white photo display, within modern, deconstructed bookcases and more.
5. The Exit Sign
While you want to keep your space feeling at least somewhat homey, adding an exit sign or two is a clever way to retain some industrial integrity. It might not be the most useful light fixture in your home, but it’s a fun idea for any industry enthusiast who has a great sense of humor.