Amal and George Clooney's former living room lighting trick makes me rethink industrial design – it's my new favorite solution for brightening any home

As a design aficionado, industrial decor has never been my favorite. I consistently find the look too cold and too hard. Since I'm a city dweller, I see so many exposed brick and steel beams that it never feels like the most inspired look. The Sullivan Street Townhouse, renovated by The White Arrow and once inhabited by Amal and George Clooney, changed all of this.

I absolutely love how the glass garage door in the living room fills the space with light. It feels like a clever lighting solution that would only be possible in an industrial space. The hack reduces the need for ceiling or floor lights during the day and provides a provisional amount of light during the night.

In addition to the benefits of living room lighting, turning an entire wall into glass brings a new, tantalizing texture into the space. The smooth, bright glass is a delicious contrast to the rough, porousness of the exposed brick surrounding the windows. It's also gorgeous against the natural wood flooring with a deep, inviting stain. This combination of textures leads to a room that is much more dynamic than one with simple white walls.

Black is the perfect paint color for the steel beams because it contrasts the white walls, and cuts across the brightness of the windows. It also coordinates with the black fireplace against the back wall. If you are considering creating a similar scheme in your own home, thinking about contrasts is a great place to start. How can you bring in a color opposite, or an opposite texture that will bring dynamism to your own home?

Furthermore, the wall of garage doors looks ultra-stylish in this space because of the curved couch and furniture brought into the space by The White Arrow design. The team decorated the New York City townhouse for their clients who are a family of six, revolving around the idea of integrating their collection of gorgeous art and one-off design pieces with a space that is comfortable for the lifestyle of four teenagers. This ethos filters through the warmth and softness of the design in this living room.

I previously stated that I often find industrial design 'too hard' but the softness of the lines in the space helps to subvert its firmness. The plush, deep blue velvet sofa stretches across the space, introducing a massive, curved line. A boucle sofa and round glass coffee table echoes this curve gorgeously. Even the circular bulbs on the ceiling pendant add a contrasting shape that offsets the harshness that typically accompanies the style.

Shop My Industrial Style Edit

So, if you are considering how do I increase natural light in my home, a wall of windows is a great place to start. This type of lighting looks gorgeous on all colors, increases mood and looks absolutely gorgeous with curved furniture.