The ‘Industrial’ look has been going strong for most of the last decade. It’s a celebration of architecture in many ways – all those things that make up a building that in years past might have been covered up. Brick walls, pipework, stainless steel finishes, concrete, wood and vintage furniture all come together to create a natural cohesion, showcasing neutral tones and utilitarian design. However, not all of us live in a warehouse loft apartment and not all of us have the raw elements of our homes on show.
Elements of industrial style have been showing up in many different homes and commercial spaces alike over the last few years, and many of these elements are actually easier to achieve than ever by utilising faux finishes and look-alike products that are less expensive and more robust than the real thing.
One of those elements is the use of concrete effect tiles. Concrete itself is an absorbent material which can easily scratch or stain but when recreated using porcelain or ceramics, reflects that beautiful natural industrial effect without the mess of installation. We carry an amazing range of concrete effect tiles here at Tile Mountain and today I wanted to share just a few of my favourites for getting that industrial look in your own home.
Try Large Format Concrete Effect Tiles
When thinking your flooring requirements, you may wish to consider tiles that really pack a punch in bigger spaces. Using large-format tiles can highlight the scale of a wider space and our 795mm x 795mm Suolo Concrete Effect Tiles will give an earthy weathered look that can be used to tie together a larger open floor area.
Mix Industrial and Contemporary
The natural grain of our Advance Concrete Effect Tiles will create a soft and natural concrete effect which will contrast beautifully with a more contemporary designed space. Suitable for use in the kitchen, bathroom, or conservatory, the glazed porcelain is hard-wearing so it’ll continue to look beautiful for years.
Create Contrasts with the Industrial Look
While Industrial style tends to stick with neutral colours, maximising the impact your finishes create is always a great way to add interest without the need to add more colour. Consider the dark Dunsen Anthracite Concrete Effect Floor Tiles to contrast with white or cream walls and black metal based furniture to tie it together.
Get the Weathered Look
Our Weathered Grey Matt Concrete Effect Floor Tile will give the look of an older warehouse in a thoroughly up-to-date way. The matt finish imitates weathered concrete, smoothed out by years of wear, but will still give you all the benefits of a hard-wearing porcelain tile. Using it on both the walls and the floors can create the warehouse effect, even if your home is brand new.
A Lighter Industrial Look
If the space you are working with isn’t exactly warehouse-sized, don’t despair. Using a pale colour tile such as our Doblo Matt Light Grey Concrete Effect Floor Tiles (seen above) will visually expand the space, making it look larger than it is. Utilise a grout that’s similar in colour to minimise grout lines that disrupt the eye, making your space feel even bigger.
Go for Texture
And finally, if you are looking to add a weathered textural effect to your industrial space, why not consider our Java Stone Dark Grey Concrete Effect Tiles? The natural shade variations create a stunning backdrop to your room with a subtle pattern that looks utterly convincing.
Are you loving the industrial look? Which tiles are your favourites? We’d love to hear from you! Let us know in the comments, tweet us on @TileMountain1 or tag us on Instagram!
Remember, if you love the look of any of these, you can always take advantage of our free cut sample service to make your decision even easier!
As a multi-award winning interior design content creator, Kimberly Duran is an Interior Design-obsessed American ex-pat, who chronicles her decorating journey and dispenses interior design advice in her personal blog, Swoon Worthy. When she’s not helplessly drooling over all the latest trends in design, she’s adding things to the imaginary ‘shopping basket’ in her head, she likes to get messy tackling DIY projects with her partner in crime, Wayne, stalking eBay for vintage bargains and filling her home with her favourite neutral – gold.