Industrial style can be warmed by softer, organic window treatments

What began with exposed brick walls and cement floor in urban lofts has spread to suburban homes, where industrial chic décor is taking hold.


Known as industrial style, it juxtaposes rustic tables with industrial lighting and rolling carts, and not just from modern-day industry. Influences from manufacturing plants are a good mix with traditional home décor, according to the Associated Press (AP).


Designers say the industrial look is more effective if it's used throughout the home, rather than in one room. A tall industrial lamp fits as well in a bedroom as it does in a living room. Kitchens are an easy place to pair industrial-style accents with stainless steel appliances.


"The last thing you want to do is walk into a Colonial house and have one room look like an East Village loft and the others looking like Colonial Williamsburg," Los Angeles interior designer Betsy Burnham told the AP.


Room elements are needed to prevent industrial décor from looking too cold, and the use of softer window treatments can solve that dilemma. Sheer fabric curtain panels can be paired with bamboo shades for an organic look. They are an eco-friendly material that is available in a variety of wood tones.