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A modern bathroom with a Villeroy & Boch white wall-mounted toilet, a dark shelf with decorations and a small side table with a plant. The room has grey walls and a floor with a herringbone pattern.

Industrial Style Bathroom

Reading Time: 7 minutes | Article from 12.10.2026

Vibrant materials and striking contrasts are the hallmarks of the industrial style. Find out how to design your industrial-style bathroom here.

Characteristics of industrial style Tips for your industrial-style bathroom Bathroom trends

At a glance

This style is inspired by old factory buildings.
Exposed walls are a characteristic component of industrial style.
Design features can be used to create functional furniture items.
Lighting is often cool in colour.

Modern bathroom in a minimalist design with a glazed shower, a wall-mounted black shower head, a large mirror with lighting, a washbasin with a dark countertop and a stool next to a window.

What characterises industrial style?

The key inspiration for the industrial style we are increasingly seeing in bathrooms is old factory buildings. The design blends a certain rawness with an urban aesthetic.

Industrial style generally tends towards minimalism but still allows for some decorative elements, of course. An open-plan design is another characteristic of industrial style. Neutral tones and bold contrasts are preferred over vibrant colours.

Tips for your industrial-style bathroom

Tip 1: Brick, exposed walls and a concrete look

Exposed, ideally very high walls will accentuate the loft style of this trend. Rather than conventional tiles, opt for wall coverings with a brick or concrete look to create the raw, open effect.

Tip 2: Visible pipes add to the industrial look

In most bathrooms, the pipework is concealed behind the vanity units. An open countertop will leave the pipes visible and is a popular choice for the industrial style. Existing pipes can also be used as towel holders – check whether they are hot or cold water pipes. Another option is to fit artificial pipework to the wall to hang your towels on and accentuate the industrial look.

Tip 3: Rustic industrial lights

An industrial bathroom needs lots of light to complete the effect. Daylight is ideal, but large pendant lights with bulbs can be used to illuminate a windowless bathroom. In contrast to other styles, cold light is often used with this look. If you don't want to use bare light bulbs, illuminated mirrors are a great choice for an industrial bathroom.

View illuminated mirrors

Modern loft bathroom with Villeroy & Boch bathroom collections, a brick wall, a large window, a white washbasin with a round mirror, a carpet and a potted plant.

A minimalist bathroom consisting of a small white O.novo washbasin, a rectangular mirror with wooden slats, a towel on a black holder, a small plant on a wall shelf and a hanging plant.

Modern bathroom with a floating washbasin, a round mirror, two hanging lamps and dark textured walls. A white washbasin from the Villeroy & Boch Antao collection and minimalist decorations are visible, along with a small table and a rug.

Modern bathroom with an elegant black washstand, a white Collaro washbasin from Villeroy & Boch, a round backlit mirror and wall-mounted lights. A large window provides natural light and an outside view.

Tip 4: A cool black & grey colour scheme

Create contrasts by combining dark black and bright white. Shades of grey will add extra depth to your industrial bathroom. Your colour scheme can also include natural brown shades or light pink, but bright colours are best avoided. Combine a black industrial-style washstand with a chrome tap to add the finishing touch to your design.

Find the right tap

Beige Manufacture vase with fragrance sticks on a tray with towels.

Tip 5: Cosy touches with decorative features & plants

Decorative features are essential even in an industrial-style bathroom – provided they coordinate with the rest of the design. A carefully chosen vase is a great way to bring plants into the bathroom and offset the coldness of the industrial style. Soft bathroom textiles will create a cosy feel and should harmonise with the colour scheme.

Villeroy & Boch vases

Tip

The loft character of the industrial style works particularly well in spacious bathrooms with large windows and high ceilings. But small bathrooms can be given an industrial look too. In this case, it is even more important to use the elements typical of this style.

A modern bathroom with black walls and a white Antao bathtub by Villeroy & Boch.

More trends for your bathroom

As well as the industrial look, there are numerous other styles to choose from for your bathroom. Decide which style best matches your personal taste and bathroom design. In most cases, there is no need to change everything. A few simple tweaks are often enough to bring your bathroom up-to-date.

Bathroom trends