On the face of it, minimalism and industrial interior design styles could not be further apart; how could a celebration of function, rawness and imperfection possibly harmonise with an interior design form characterised by clean, controlled design?

It is something we have heard about a lot, not only given how we specialise in reclaimed wood fixtures and furniture made from scaffold board, but also in the 15 years of experience working directly with industrial materials in the construction of buildings that embrace minimalism so strongly.

Because of this, we are uniquely positioned to celebrate and appreciate raw, reclaimed materials and their place in interior design beyond outright and overt industrialism.

So how can you mix industrial and minimalism? The answers might be rather surprising, but to get there, we need to understand minimalism, industrial design and how our unique brand of fixtures and fittings fit into both.

Whilst most people are aware of minimalism as a concept, its application in interior design can be somewhat more nebulous.

Largely believed to have originated with the Bauhaus school of design in the 1920s, minimalism is typically characterised as a design style laser-focused on simplicity in design, in its use of colour schemes and its very minimal use of patterns and textures.

A lot of the appeal of minimalism comes from the idea that wide-open spaces, a lack of clutter, brightness and simple aesthetics are linked to a less stressful existence, and it has seen countless permutations over the years to soften its colder edges and mix it with other styles.

Key Traits Of Minimalism

• Monochromatic colour schemes filled with off-white and neutral shades.
• Clean design lines throughout the room.
• Open rooms.
• An emphasis on natural light.
• A less-is-more ideology.

Often easier to conceptualise than describe, industrial interior design is an adaptation of design and aesthetic elements originally central to industrial buildings.

In particular, it follows the concept of embracing the original features of buildings that were central to the industrial revolution, such as factories, mills, warehouses and manufacturing plants.

As industrial sectors refined, downsized or moved elsewhere, many of these older buildings were converted into living spaces, lofts and apartment buildings, which gave them extremely unique features and a scope to celebrate and explore new and unique forms.

Industrial design has become increasingly popular as we have tried to retain a connection to the places we live in. It is part of the reason why we love the particularly industrial and unique look that scaff brick cladding provides.

Key Traits Of Industrial Interior Design

• A celebration of raw materials, especially reclaimed wood, bare brick and concrete.
• Highlighting design elements commonly found in industrial settings.
• Conspicuous functional design elements such as lights and shelving.
• An emphasis on age and how it builds authentic character.
• Repurposing of commercial and industrial spaces.

In many respects, industrial interior design and minimalism are fundamentally different. The latter necessitates a focus on clean lines, an absence of blemishes and details and a very purposeful and meditative use of decorations and details that does not always work in industrial lofts.

However, despite coming from very different schools of thought, industrial design and minimalism have a lot more in common than you expect and have done since their Bauhaus roots.

Both Celebrate Natural Materials

The biggest connection and the one that we emphasise a lot in our shelving kits made from reclaimed wood is the celebration of natural materials, even if that love comes from two very different areas.

Minimalist design styles are often inspired by Scandinavian and Japanese trends and conventions, which rely heavily on natural raw materials such as wood and stone.

Whilst this is far from universal, and there are just as many minimalist rooms which use glass, concrete and brushed steel as their main materials, having natural materials allows for natural textures to create a sense of place and dimension.

By contrast, natural materials are often a core part of the construction of industrial buildings, and because aesthetics are not prioritised, the knots and scars only add to the history and character of the building.

Both Rely On Open-Plan Floorplans

Industrial settings inherently rely on large shop floors, which often translates to some particularly unusual floor plans for apartments and lofts. Tall ceilings, mezzanine bedrooms and offices and exposed pipework are common elements of an industrial loft.

Minimalism seeks out a far more deliberate open plan space. Given that lightness and openness are at the core of minimalist design, more space helps enhance the effect considerably. 

Both Celebrate Function Over Form

Minimalism is, at its core, a design philosophy built around clean lines and a lack of ornamentation; minimalist furniture should only have the elements necessary to ensure it stays upright.

Industrial furniture and design have the same approach, but for more economically driven reasons; prefabricated design elements which use as few materials as possible will be cheaper.

There will be ways to bridge the gap between minimalist design elements and industrial interior design, even if you want to keep particularly visible characteristics.

Prioritise Simplicity

Both minimalism and industrial design are focused on simplicity in form and purpose. Maintain that in your design decisions, such as with our reclaimed scaffold desk tops, and you will have a beautifully minimalist set of furniture that still maintains that minimalist sensibility.

Rethink Minimalism

There are a lot of different aspects of minimalist design, and whilst the most extreme examples of bare white walls and either neutral or natural accents, minimalism can be more focused on philosophy; instead of aggressively simplifying, it focuses only on what truly matters.

Whilst not an interior design style, this is at the core of the KonMari method, which focuses less on what you need but what sparks joy in your life.

Embrace Wabi-Sabi

Finally, there is a particular philosophy that is at the core of Japanese minimalism that should be celebrated when merging industrial elements with minimalism.

Wabi-sabi, or the celebration of imperfection, impermanence and incompleteness, focuses on simplicity in the same way that minimalism does, but is more interested in finding beauty in what exists rather than changing what is there.

Industrial settings often possess elements of rustic patina that help epitomise the “patina” that is at the heart of wabi-sabi and Japanese minimalism more broadly.