How to create a soft industrial style garden

Urban forests, vertical gardens – these buzzwords are born of important conversations about making manmade spaces more planet-friendly. But not only does greenery make our city spaces cooler, healthier and more environmentally friendly – the juxtaposition of raw urban materials and lush plants in a ‘soft industrial style’ garden also looks amazing!

What is a soft industrial style garden?

A soft industrial style garden embraces this unlikely marriage of materials. Its key components include:

• Clean, minimalist lines of a manufactured space appearing as though reclaimed by nature, and made cosy and welcoming in the process.

• “Raw materials like concrete, steel and timber are softened by greenery,” says horticulturist Tammy Huynh.

• Raw construction materials, such as steel, concrete in both hardscaping and furniture, and reinforcing mesh as a frame for climbing plants.

• Weathered materials like corten steel and exposed brick (especially recycled) for walls and garden edges; salvaged materials and those with a patina of age are a big yes, junkyard clutter is a hard no.

What are the key features of a soft industrial style garden?

Hard materials are a defining feature of the look, but to put the ‘soft’ in soft industrial, look for:

• Opportunities to blunt the hard edges and soften sharp angles, most often with greenery – the more lush the better.

• Large planters provide growing space within the courtyard gardens and rooftop spaces of an urban industrial area, but even if your backyard is at ground level, they’re a great way to add height and material interest to the garden space; line walls with rectangular planters and use large-scale contemporary pots to grow graceful trees and large-foliage plants.

• To balance the raw, urban palette of hard materials, a soft industrial design places an emphasis on comfort – though garden furnishings are minimalist and conservatively curated, the overall effect is cosiness and warmth. Think ample seating with plump cushions and perhaps a conversation corner built around a firepit.

• And don’t forget about lighting! Install simple wall sconces that cast a wash of warm light over textured surfaces and, for decorative effect, a string of festoon lights with Edison-style bulbs.

What materials are in a soft industrial garden?

Concrete and iron form the unyielding backbone of industrial character, but to blunt the look for a home garden, balance these materials with visually softer surfaces. Think textures, like natural stone; irregular shapes like crazy paving instead of sharp, rectangular pavers; or a mix of materials, like greyed decking timber next to concrete stepping stones.

The softer side of an industrial palette also includes materials with an aged patina – think converted warehouse – so add weathered materials, like corten steel and recycled railway sleepers, into the mix. Both of these can be used to striking effect as garden edging or raised planter beds.

Texture speaks louder than colour in a soft industrial garden, with a neutral palette dominated by shades of charcoal and steel grey. Warmth is brought through materials (particularly the muted ochres of corten steel and recycled brick), taupe tones and natural textiles, like linen cushions and jute rugs.

Which plants work with a soft industrial garden?

Greenery is the major source of softness in an industrial-style garden and it pops beautifully against charcoal grey, the typical primary colour. “Large potted trees and lush tropical-style leaves bring warmth and life to raw materials and hard surfaces,” says Tammy. An industrial garden doesn’t usually bother with flowers; colour and interest is created with different leaf shapes and shades. “Use a mix of foliage shapes, textures and shades of green – foliage can be patterned, too.”

Trees: Large pots add structure and material interest to an industrial garden, try filling them with fiddle leaf fig or rubber trees. Other striking trees might include weeping fig (Ficus benjamina), tree fern (Cyathea cooperi), and Bismarck palm.

Shrubs and climbers: Layer lots of lush greenery in large and interesting shapes, like giant bird of paradise, giant bromeliad (Alcantarea), giant taro (Alocasia macorrhiza), Philodendron ‘Xanadu’, staghorn fern, tractor seat plant (Ligularia reniformis), Ctenanthe ‘Grey Star’, and cardboard cycad. To soften the impact of large walls, use a climber such as Ficus pumila. 

Groundcovers: Fill gaps with an intriguing patterned foliage plant like Ctenanthe burle-marxii. Or contrast all those large-leafed trees and shrubs, with dense and delicate groundcovers like club moss (Selaginella), baby’s tears (Soleirolia soleriolii), and kidney weed (Dichondra repens). 

Ready to design a soft industrial garden?

Consider a conversation zone with a central fire pit.

Image credit: Rebecca Newman, Sue Stubbs