The essential backdrop of post-industrial design style.

A Brief History of Industrial Interior Design While viewed as a modern style, industrial style interiors have their roots in the Industrial Revolution. The development of giant factories that could hold large machines and many workers is the foundation of industrial design.

• First Industrial Revolution: In the 1760s, the Industrial Revolution marked the beginning of mass production in urban Europe and the United States. Factories were the beginning of industrial architecture, with large, grid-paned windows to let in the fresh air and lots of natural light, lofted floors, open plans, and exposed brick walls. Many of these elements were for safety. For example, the plaster traditionally covering brick walls was a fire hazard, leading to the exposed brick style.

• Second Industrial Revolution: In the 1870s, a second Industrial Revolution led to larger factories as businesses consolidated operations under one roof. These structures required stronger building materials, such as concrete and steel, which were still left exposed. The first Edison light bulbs, a primary characteristic of industrial lighting, were invented in 1879. This time period also inspired the steampunk genre and style.

• Housing shortages of the 2000s: While old factories had existed for almost 250 years, the industrial style came of age in the 2000s when New York and other urban areas were facing housing shortages. Factories were converted into industrial loft apartments with open floor plans. The factories’ basic structural elements of exposed materials and large windows became selling points.

• Rise of minimalism and hygge: Recently, the rise of minimalism has led to an embrace of industrial interior design, as the rustic and repurposed elements fit the clean, straight lines that populate modern and minimalist design. It’s even moved out of urban styles and into large, suburban homes that feature open plans, large windows, and neutral palettes. The style is also popular in Scandinavian design, where the neutral palette, distressed leather, and use of reclaimed wood and other raw materials mix well with hygge, the warmth minimalist style.