Space is such an important factor to consider in our homes nowadays, arguably more so than ever. We accumulate so many objects during our busy lives that sometimes it can be hard to remember where they all came from! These can include gifts, inherited heirlooms, retail therapy impulse buys and those ‘useful things’ we always thought we’d need but have sadly spent the past few years collecting dust in the corner of the room.

We’re all a little guilty of buying items we once thought would fit in with the ambiance of the home, or perhaps certain objects that once fitted in seamlessly with your beige 90s décor phase, but now stick out like a sore thumb against your vintage industrial look.

Industrial being the case in point here – few styles are as eye-catching as this bold, confident expression of natural finishes and raw metal statement pieces that can truly transform the look of a room.

The trouble is, one of the hallmarks of the industrial trend is minimalism and the promotion of an un-cluttered open space. Which is all very well when you’ve got a large canvas to work with, but replicating that style in smaller rooms, such as the dining room is a little tricker.   

That’s why this week, we’ve put together some tips and tricks to help you maximise the space that you do have, and enable those industrial focal points to shine through, regardless of the size of the room.

And since we like to think of ourselves as experts in offering gorgeous industrial furniture pieces, if you’re a devout follower of the trend, this is the blog for you!

1. Cut the Clutter!

This one’s obvious, but trying to re-vamp a dining room that’s already tight on space without clearing out the unwanted items first means that you’re forever fighting an uphill battle. 

Any items that do nothing to promote the space, give them the boot. Side ornaments and accessories can be neatly stored away if need be, but leaving them on display in a small area just adds to the sense of claustrophobia and oppressiveness.

Storage is so important here – if you can stash ornaments that you want to hang on to but don’t want to clutter up the room, store them away safely and then you can always bring them back out whenever you need to.

A standalone sideboard is a great option for this. Perfect for storing away plates, cutlery and other necessary items for the dining room, keep things hidden but close at hand to make the space feel fresh and uncluttered when it’s not in use. Choose a sideboard that has a combination of wood and metal for it to slot effortlessly into your industrial theme. 

2. Let There Be Light!

Windows can make a world of difference. They transform any space, large or small, and instantly make the whole room feel bigger.

What’s more, the industrial theme lends itself perfectly to large windows. Traditionally, industrial décor was based on old factory-style environments that utilised huge glass panes to allow the building to bathe in sunlight. There’s just something about letting in natural light that instantly brightens the mood and paints an entirely new perspective on a given area.

This may not be practical for small dining rooms, but utilising any window can have a significant effect. You may need to consider swapping rooms around – if the living room makes use of a larger window, then perhaps think about switching it for the dining room décor. It all depends on what architectural design works best for each area.

You’ll be amazed at the difference a seemingly minor change can make. Also, consider doing away with the curtains. Bare windows play well into the hands of industrial décor, and naturally let in more light than those with curtains or blinds.

3. Focal Points

One of the best trade secrets for making the most out of the space you have is by implementing a killer focal point feature.

Drawing the observer’s eye into the scene with one or two ‘wow’ pieces can detract from the fact that the amount of room you have comes at a premium. This can range from anything such as imaginative wallpaper, a large mirror (which also creates an optical illusion to make the room appear bigger) or perhaps a bench or chair that speaks volumes based on its design. 

For example, our Oxford Ottoman is the perfect design for an industrial theme, thanks to its tufted leather upholstery and gorgeous gold-coloured metal frame. Perfect for a more informal dining room, the ottoman has plenty of space for people to sit on, enabling you to squeeze in more guests despite a compact space. 

Alternatively, we have a fantastic selection of wallpaper on our website, containing several designs that lend themselves perfectly to an industrially themed room.

For a dining room wall like no other, our Cutlery Copper Wallpaper is a dazzling design that really does place an emphasis on industrial dining! The black and copper colours are tailor-made for the genre, and would match up wonderfully with similar seating options such as our Copper Tolix Chair.

Bear in mind that you should aim to keep your statement pieces to a minimum, though. Overloading the space with too many special items will have the opposite effect, and lead you back into a cluttered mess that has far too much going on.

4. Mirror Mirror, On The Wall...

We’ve given mirrors a brief mention already, but they’re so effective at making a small space feel bigger that they warrant their own dedicated section.

Not only does a well-placed mirror create an optical illusion that tricks the brain into thinking there’s more room than in reality, they also work wonderfully with both windows and artificial lighting.

They certainly help to make small windows feel larger – you can help achieve this by placing the mirror adjacent to the window, rather than opposite to make the most of the light reflecting into the space.

Furthermore, once it’s gone dark, well-placed lights can be boosted with the assistance of mirrors. Given that industrially-themed environments are generally dominated by darker shades of metal and leather, a mirror can maximise the available light and add some different textures to the area as a whole.

Plus, we’ve got just the type for you. We sell our radiant Sun Mirror in two sizes – the larger of the two has a diameter of 100cm, providing a wonderful way of really making the most of the light and giving you something to smile about.            

So, there you have it.

Working with a small space isn’t easy at times, especially when you’re desperate to promote that industrial theme you’ve always dreamed of.

But with a few tweaks here and there, all it takes is an imaginative re-think and a savvy plan of action to get that dining room looking more gorgeous than ever before! Give it a go and experiment with what you think looks best.

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