For many, the general idea of what the industrial office style consists of is simplicity, neutrality and understated furniture. Everything about it promotes the opposite of excess because it instead wants to promote efficiency. And to a certain extent, it is that. But there’s so much more that goes into this interior office design – especially now.

So what is modern industrial design? When the term “industrial” comes up, one generally thinks of the Industrial Revolution. And sure enough, that’s where it came from: the late 18th century, when the great British Empire led the rest of the civilized world into the Industrial Revolution and streamlined mass production. As workers switched from hand-craftsmanship to operating machines, industrial furniture became much more simple to mass produce, especially with two materials on hand: wood and metal. These came along with the side benefit that both were extremely sturdy and durable. In the 2000s, the industrial furniture style made a resurgence because it fit in with the modern-minimalist trend and made it easy for customers to be more environmentally friendly with its use of repurposed wood and steel.