Brick walls, black lighting fixtures and simple metal forms are the elements that have defined the industrial style for years. However, a milder version is becoming more and more popular, in which raw materials act as accents and the space gains a warmer, more homely character. Warm industrial design works well in apartments, single-family houses and compact apartments. Its final expression is largely determined by the floor.
What is warm industrial?
The classic industrial style is based on cool, technical materials: concrete, steel and glass. In large spaces, such a set looks impressive, but in rooms of standard height it may seem austere and not very cozy.
The warm industrial style retains the most important features of the loft, i.e. simple forms, open layout and expressive details. At the same time, he uses wood, fabrics with a natural texture and warm light more often. The result is an interior with character that remains comfortable in everyday use.
The floor as the starting point for the arrangement
The floor occupies the largest area in the room, so it largely determines whether an industrial space will be cool or warm. It is worth choosing it at the beginning and only then choosing furniture, wall colors and accessories. In a warm version of the style, three directions work best.
Gray wood - loft character without the coldness of concrete
The wood in shades of gray refers to concrete, and at the same time, thanks to the visible grain, it retains a natural, warm character. The VinCore offer includes the decors AMALFI and SICILY from the WOOD collection and TORINO from the WOOD+ collection. AMALFI and TORINO are light, cool grays that optically brighten the interior. SICILY has a warmer, gray-brown tone and distinct knots, which is why it is closest to the aged boards known from former factory spaces.
Warm, darker wood - a contrast to black and metal
Black lamps, metal table legs and dark window frames benefit from the background of wood in a deeper, warm shade. This floor goes well with the brick and gives the interior a cozy and expressive character. NAPOLI from the WOOD+ collection, one of the darkest decors in the offer, and MILANO from the WOOD collection with a natural, slightly olive shade of brown, will work in this role.
Herringbone - a classic accent in an industrial interior
Herringbone is associated primarily with tenement house interiors, but when combined with brick and metal it creates an interesting, non-obvious contrast. VinCore offers two collections in a classic herringbone pattern: HERRINGBONE and HERRINGBONE+. STRASBOURG, the lightest decor from the HERRINGBONE collection, as well as natural oaks such as NORMANDY or PROVENCE suit the warm industrial style.
Functionality of the floor in the living area
In a warm industrial style, the living room, dining room and kitchen are often combined into one open space. The floor must then meet not only aesthetic but also functional requirements.
Water resistance
VinCore vinyl floors have a hard SPC core, i.e. a composite of stone and polymers, and are fully waterproof. Therefore, they can also be used in the kitchen and bathroom. Thanks to this, one decor can run throughout the entire living area, without changing the material in the kitchenette, which visually organizes and enlarges the space.
Resistance to intensive use
The top layer of the panels is protected by a matte, scratch-resistant polyurethane coating. In a chair wheel resistance test, floors underwent 25,000 cycles without noticeable changes, which is important in the dining room and work area. Anti-slip resistance of R10 increases safety of use.
Acoustic comfort
The integrated IXPE foam backing reduces impact sounds by 19 dB. In open spaces where hard materials such as brick, metal and glass promote reverberation, this has a significant impact on comfort.
How to introduce warmth into an industrial interior?
After choosing the floor, the character of the interior is determined by the details. The following solutions work best:
- A large carpet in the lounge area, which warms the interior and improves acoustics
- Wooden furniture combined with metal, for example a table with a wooden top and a black steel base
- Fabrics with natural textures such as linen, wool and cotton in shades of beige, caramel and bottle green
- Warm light from several sources: floor lamps, wall lamps and hanging fixtures instead of one point on the ceiling
- Plants that contrast with brick and black, and at the same time enliven the space
A simple rule is helpful: one or two raw elements, for example a brick wall and black fixtures, and the rest of the arrangement based on warmer materials.
Wall colors in a warm industrial style
A brick wall is a classic loft, but it does not have to appear in every room. Walls in shades of off-white, warm beige or light mocha will work equally well. They provide a calm background for black details and go well with a wooden floor. A stronger accent can be one wall in deep green, navy blue or terracotta. These colors harmonize with metal and wood, and at the same time bring warmth to the interior.
Light, calm colors work better in bedrooms and relaxation areas. The industrial character is then provided by individual details, such as a metal lamp, a black bed frame or graphics in simple frames.
Warm industrial style in smaller interiors
The loft style is associated with large space, but its warm version can also be successfully used in smaller interiors. Three decisions are crucial. Firstly, a light floor, such as AMALFI, TORINO or STRASBOURG, visually enlarges the room. Secondly, the same decor arranged throughout the apartment makes the space seem larger and more coherent. Thirdly, it is worth limiting dark and raw materials to a few accents, such as lighting fixtures, mirror frames or kitchen handles. Furniture with slim, metal legs additionally relieves the interior visually.
Click assembly
VinCore panels are laid using the floating method, connecting them with a click lock, without the use of glue. The underlay is integrated with the panel, so it does not require a separate purchase. The stiff SPC core allows you to compensate for slight unevenness of the surface, which facilitates installation also during renovation. The floors are approved for installation on underfloor heating, under the conditions described in the installation instructions.
Summary
Warm industrial style combines the character of a loft with the comfort of everyday use. The starting point is the floor: gray wood such as AMALFI, SICILY or TORINO, warm brown NAPOLI or herringbone STRASBOURG. Arranged throughout the living area, it constitutes a coherent background for several industrial accents and natural fabrics. Since the colors on the screen may differ from the real ones, it is worth viewing the selected decor in the showroom before purchasing.
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