A New York state of mind…and home

Celebrating the bare bones of a building is at the core of industrial-chic design, and its urban appeal has increased in popularity over the years. However, while it is one thing to go all hipster hangout in a disused factory in East London, it is quite another to try to introduce industrial elements in a new build or period house.

We've all dreamt at one point of living it up in the Big Apple - skyscrapers, coffee in hand and endless possibilities. The next best thing however is to recreate that cool, city look inside your own home. The classic New York style works brilliantly in all living spaces and it is incredibly easy to achieve, especially on a budget. Here are a few simple tricks to help create your own NYC haven.

Industrial

New York apartments are known for their stripped back, industrial feel. Plenty of wooden flooring, exposed brick walls and lots of metal furniture work well to create that cool, cosmopolitan look. Try adding some antique pieces like steel filing cabinets, worn rustic radiators or even vintage photo frames and warm rooms up with rugs, plush cushions and plenty of lamps. When it comes to the living room, the most social room of the house, New Yorker's favour the modern look but never skimp on comfort.

Utilise Light

Large windows are usually the main feature to New York homes and it's easy to see why with a city view like that. Embrace the amount of light you have and create a sense of open plan (even if your room isn't) by painting the walls white and keeping everything centred. To contrast the simplicity of the exposed space, dark wood flooring looks great and means you can play with textures like faux fur and woollen rugs to create an inviting atmosphere which is bold, laid back but seriously sleek.

Bare Brick

Bare brick is a staple feature in industrial schemes and is usually paired with equally unadorned windows and minimal soft furnishings. If the thought of all that bare concrete and exposed pipework puts you off this rough and ready vibe, how about a softer version of the aesthetic? For a warmer take on the trend, combine with floor-sweeping curtains and a relaxed, cushion-filled sofa. Black and burgundy accents and dark grey column radiators  help punctuate otherwise neutral living rooms.

Oversized Art

Make a statement with oversized artwork. Bold prints can dominate spacious rooms, providing an appropriate sense of scale whilst smaller paintings can be grouped together in table top displays for emphasis.

Leather

Embrace the dark side and create a colour scheme that is full of blues, blacks and browns. By investing in large, good quality leather sofas, and a coffee table as a centrepiece to the room, you can create the perfect New York look allowing you to be minimalist when it comes to accessorising with a few books, cushions, a vase and a painting here and there. With less comes more drama.

Townhouse Boho

For that downtown, townhouse look, place a fun statement rug in the middle of the room and match key colours with art prints, lamps and seating. Burnt orange and yellow can look extremely stylish against woods and leathers.

So if you’re hoping to confidently curate a mix of New York into your home that won't leave you (or your living space) cold, then follow these simple tricks that hopefully inspire you to get creative and gives your current décor a dose of NYC.