Get the Look: Soft Industrial

If you like the industrial look, you’ll simply love our variation on this popular theme. We’ve named it “Soft Industrial” and it works brilliantly well in bathrooms.

Get the Look: Soft Industrial

Industrial style interior design has fast become a firm favourite with homeowners in recent years. If you head to any home furniture store or browse Instagram and Pinterest, you’ll see hundreds, if not thousands, of industrially-inspired items, from desks to table lamps. And, of course, the industrial style also extends to the rest of your home décor.

Whilst the mainstays of the industrial style have included such elements as exposed brickwork, weathered surfaces, repurposed furniture and carefully chosen accessories, many homeowners and interior designers have found the overall look to be a little too industrial for what is, after all, a home! The result is a variation on the style, which we're calling "Soft Industrial".

This softer, more sympathetic look is perfect for bathrooms and we’ve come up with a whole range of beautiful Soft Industrial bathroom ideas to inspire you.

What is Soft Industrial Style?

The industrial look took off in a big way thanks to former industrial buildings being converted to more domestic settings. This prompted many homeowners to make a feature of some of the original features of their homes, including bare brick walls, lighting and heating, to produce an industrial look.

The Soft Industrial style is all about taking the edge off the harsh industrial look, and what better way to do this than by adding more rounded shapes into the mix and introducing softer, more tactile materials, to make the whole look and feel cosier and more comfortable.

Whilst materials like wood, copper piping and concrete remain firm favourites, they are now supplemented by limestone and a brighter colour palette. Check out our room set below for more Soft Industrial bathroom ideas.

How Does the Soft Industrial Style Work in My Bathroom?

One of the best ways to visualise how different elements will interact within your bathroom is to create a mood board. To help get you started, we’ve designed one containing products, colours, textures and materials that work well to achieve a soft industrial style.

Now you get the general idea, we’ve picked out the perfect bathroom products which perfectly illustrate how you can achieve the Soft Industrial look in your bathroom.

Bath and Tap

The mainstay of any contemporary bathroom, the thin edged Novus Double Ended Bath complements the Soft Industrial look perfectly. It isn’t overbearing, whilst the gently curved edges bring a softer touch to proceedings.

To add a more gritty, industrial appearance, we’ve complemented the bath with the Arezzo Freestanding Bath Shower Mixer in Matt Black. As you’ll see, black accents are a key trend which ties in with this look and there are plenty of additional ways to work this into your overall design.

Vanity Units and Black Taps

The Arezzo Countertop Basin Unit - with Black Frame is the perfect choice for any Soft Industrial bathroom, thanks to the black frames and glossy white finish. One thing industrial pieces have in common is that they are usually highly functional with open storage spaces or handy drawers.

Again, to round off the look, pair this unit with a trendy matt black tap like the Arezzo Fluted Matt Black High Rise Basin Tap. This will help to create a sense of continuity in a Soft Industrial bathroom with matt black accents.

Shower and Enclosure

To bring darker elements into the equation, look out for a black framed shower enclosure or screen. The Osaka Matt Black Wetroom Screen features urban inspired horizontal window-frame panelling for added dimension and depth in your bathroom. This is also a nod to those iconic industrial grid effect windows which you might not have in your own home.

If you’re short on space, opt for a matt black quadrant shower like the Toreno Matt Black Quadrant Shower Enclosure to help maintain that industrial aesthetic. The curved edge of a quadrant shower enclosure will add a softer appearance, which is perfect to achieve that Soft Industrial look.

Walls and Floors

When it comes to the flooring in a Soft Industrial style bathroom, using Victorian style patterned tiles is a nod to the heyday of the industrial age. Opting for a black and white encaustic patterned tile will create a bold look in your bathroom, but a softer grey pattern is perfect for that Soft Industrial look.

On its own, all this grey and white could be a little austere, so, to bring a warmer, softer look, you can incorporate some wood effect tiles or wood panelling to introduce some warmth into the space, which will help to soften the look of your bathroom. 

If you need to incorporate a shower tray, consider a slate effect shower tray which exudes those industrial vibes, instead of opting for the classic white shower tray which is more modern and contemporary. 

More Tips on Achieving the Soft Industrial Look

Tip 1 - Concrete Effect Wall

Walls, floors and surfaces are the key to unlocking this style. A great way to incorporate a concrete effect wall is to create your own using paint.

Tip 2 - Exposed Brick Effect

If exposing your brickwork and stripping off plaster is out of your budget, there is a much more cost-effective alternative. Simply use brick effect wallpaper. It's a fraction of the cost, really easy to put up and will still achieve the desired effect. What's more, as it is washable, it's perfect for your bathroom.

Tip 3 - Unique Accessories

For all those little accessories, why not spend a Sunday strolling around some antique shops or bric-a-brac stores? You may just stumble upon some little gems. Or failing that, why not introduce new metallic finishes through taps and accessories.

Tip 4 - Curves in all the Right Places 

Soften the overall appearance of your bathroom by choosing a toilet, bath and basin suite with gentle curves instead of harsh precise corners.

Tip 5 - Reclaimed Materials

Use reclaimed materials such as wood or stone to create elements in your bathroom, like concrete countertops, stone wall shelves or even a wooden bath tray!

Your Soft Industrial Style

We love seeing spaces designed by our customers, so make sure to tag us in your Soft Industrial style bathrooms @victorianplumbinguk.

Shop the Soft Industrial Look with a wide range of matt black taps, patterned tiles and grid effect shower screens available at Victorian Plumbing.