Picture walking into a converted warehouse loft - exposed brick walls, weathered steel beams, and that unmistakable character that only comes from materials with a story to tell. This is industrial design at its finest, and it's easier to achieve than you think.

Obviously, the look can trace its roots back to the Industrial Revolution (the clue’s in the name), when factories and warehouses were very much a necessity and, as you might expect, were very minimalist to look at, stripped back and utilitarian, characterised by lots of exposed concrete, brick and steel.

Thus, the industrial look was born! But it wasn’t really until the 1970s that it moved from function to form, appealing to artistic and creative souls as a design aesthetic rather than simply serving as the bare bones of a building.

And the look really hasn’t fallen from grace ever since, growing in popularity during the 80s and 90s, and now a stalwart of design for both commercial and domestic properties alike. We reckon it’s here to stay!

At The Scaff Shop, we've spent over 15 years working with scaffolding materials, watching them transform from functional building components to stunning design elements. 

Here's what we've learned about nailing the industrial look.

A key characteristic of the industrial look is that of rawness, a sense of opening up and revealing the exposed fabric of the building itself.

To this end, you want to leave structural elements visible, with pipes, ducts, wood, concrete and bricks all on full display… in a stylish manner, of course.

For a quick industrial fix, invest in reclaimed scaffold boards, which can be used to great effect throughout the space. 

We’ve seen our customers design everything from floating shelves to desks, benches, tables, cupboards, even raised beds in the garden, with each project unique and telling its own story… the only limit is your imagination!

In need of some inspiration? One of our clever clients used our Jacobean oak sanded boards to create floating shelves that perfectly complemented their exposed brick wall. The industrial look at its very finest!

At The Scaff Shop, our boards come with a range of different finishes - unsanded, sanded or special. 

If you want a more rough and ready look, the unsanded scaffolding board would work well (plus it’s our cheapest option), whereas our sanded products are great for those of you who want something a little more polished… but not too polished.

And then if you really want to up the ante, check out our special boards that come with a flame finish (where we torch the wood) or something colourful (achieved using specialist dyes). Just have a browse of what we’ve got in stock to help you make up your mind.

Pro tip!

Pair your more rugged and raw wooden textures with softer elements to create layers to your interior design scheme, adding depth and making the space feel homely without compromising on your industrial ideals.

Modern industrial interior design is all about opening up your living spaces, so keep everything open plan in the kitchen, dining and living areas if you can.

In an ideal world, you’ll have lovely tall ceilings and huge windows, but if this is something you’re lacking, don’t worry - you can still get the look if you maximise the amount of natural light that floods your home. 

Tricks of the trade include using mirrors to reflect light around and about, installing sheer curtains, decluttering (minimalism is a must for industrial interiors, anyway) and going for a lighter colour scheme throughout.

Pro tip!

Zone your open plan living space so it doesn’t feel cavernous, achieved through the use of different flooring materials and strategically placed plants, home decor items and large pieces of furniture.

Lighting systems make or break any interior design scheme but they’re particularly important for industrial spaces, helping you to add warmth and visual interest while drawing your eye around the room. Use different lights to draw attention to any elements of the space that you want people to notice.

Because your spaces will naturally be quite rough and raw, just by virtue of the materials you’ve gone for and how you’ve chosen to represent them, lighting is essential to bring your rooms to life and to create a sense of warmth.

This can be achieved through the combined use of spotlights, feature lights, sconces and table lamps - but make sure you factor lighting in at the planning stages, as leaving it till last could mean you get it completely wrong.

Pro tip!

Use materials like wood and metal with bronze or matte black finishes for your lights, as well as exposing electrical components in the bulbs themselves for a sense of industrialised sophistication. Don’t go overboard, however… less is more with this particular look.

Ready to rock and roll with your interior design project? Explore our collection of reclaimed and new scaffold boards to see what you can find… the perfect combination of heritage and durability that makes industrial design just so very timeless.