How to Design a Modern Industrial Kitchen

Jenny Gericke
Aug 22, 2018
3 min read

Design overwhelm, indecisiveness, plagued by too many options - this is what can happen when you (a non-designer) try to take on a design project. Sure, blogs and TV shows make it look easy. They make you think you can rip out your old kitchen cabinets and renovate your kitchen in a weekend. But as you start a DIY kitchen renovation - or even a kitchen design - you may quickly realize that it can be a daunting task. You've narrowed down your style, but now how do you accomplish it in real life. How do you design a modern industrial kitchen?

How to Design a Modern Industrial Kitchen

Use White as a Backdrop

White is a very modern, clean color. In fact, you may have seen white kitchens all over pinterest and HGTV for a while now. It's the cabinet color that's triumphing the Modern Farmhouse style right now. With a modern industrial kitchen, we are going to use white as our backdrop - sort of like a white canvas off of which all our other colors and textures will play. You can use white in your kitchen design by using it for your cabinets, countertops, walls, or backsplash. Just remember it should be a predominant part of your design scheme and color palette.

Add a Pop of Color

Now that we have our canvas, we'll want to add in some modern elements to emphasize and highlight. Color is a great way to really bring your kitchen to life. (Sidenote: if you prefer a neutral color palette for your modern industrial kitchen, then stick with cool neutrals like grey instead of beiges and browns.) You can add color to your kitchen by mixing and matching your upper and lower cabinets, adding an accent wall color, or introducing a backsplash tile with some color and pattern.

Incorporate Natural Materials

A big part of industrial design is its use of natural materials. Industrial design draws inspiration from old factories or warehouses. These spaces usually have a lot of concrete, wood, glass, and metal. So you'll want to incorporate some of these finishes into your modern industrial kitchen design. You can select natural wood, metal light fixtures, or even concrete to use in your space.

Keep the Space Open

Industrial spaces are usually wide open with little to no wall dividers or partitions. You'll want to mimic this feel by keeping your kitchen design open to your dining or living spaces. Consider if you can remove a wall, enlarge a doorway or even add more windows to your kitchen area to create a sense of open space.

Use Vintage-Style Furniture and Finishes

To complete the look of your space, you'll want to mimic the design feel with your furniture and accessories. This doesn't mean you have to pop a teal 1950s style refrigerator into your kitchen. After all, form follows function - so you want a refrigerator and appliances that will work for you and your family, not just look good! Think about the furniture, fabrics, and light fixtures you will bring into your space. Select items that have a vintage style or feel. This will give your space a sense of history as well as character - which is what industrial style is all about! For patterns/fabrics, use geometric shapes with simple, clean lines. For materials, you will want to select either a modern tile or something natural/industrial like brick. In furniture, look for items that are made of leather, wood, metal, and glass.

Seems pretty simple, right? Designing a modern industrial kitchen doesn't have to be overwhelming, but it can be! Start by following the simple design guidelines above. Formulate a final design by creating a mood board or concept board. Use this throughout your project as a reference point to help guide your decisions. This will help cut down on the overwhelm and keep you focused on accomplishing the look you want for your kitchen!