It’s time to drop a few truth bombs about one of the most common, yet underappreciated building and decorative materials available: concrete. Concrete doesn’t have to be drab and gray, hidden within the framework of a building, nor does it belong solely outside.
Concrete is like a chameleon, capable of looking and performing like a high-end material at a fraction of the cost. Let’s take a look at a few of the ways in which you can incorporate concrete into your home to create a fresh, innovative look that is also low-maintenance.
1.) Concrete Flooring
Colored Concrete
Concrete makes an attractive and durable flooring option inside the home. Sun rooms, mud rooms, bathrooms, dining rooms, kitchens and even living rooms can all look updated and modern with a concrete floor. The key is to make sure the concrete has the right color and texture for the room so that it complements the overall look.
To color concrete, a powdery substance can be added to the mixer before the concrete is poured. This results in a permanent color that is integrated throughout the entire layer of concrete. The other option is to stain the surface of the concrete. Dozens of colors are available for both options.
Textured Concrete
Many possibilities exist with adding texture to concrete. Concrete can be stamped to look like tiles, stone or even brick. Or, you can leave it flat. Concrete floors can be polished to give a high shine, and a non-slip sealer keeps the floor safe to use.
According to TexCon Ready Mix, properly insulated concrete will not become damp, and if the room gets plenty of sunshine, the concrete will also retain heat and be extra cozy on your feet. However if a cold floor is a real concern, installing heated elements when the concrete is poured is a better long-term option.
In short, if you’re ready to try something new and exciting on a budget, check out concrete flooring. It’s far more beautiful than the name implies.
2.) Concrete Countertops
Aside from its use as a flooring option, concrete also shines in the home when used as a countertop material. A concrete countertop is an easy way to add a customized touch to your kitchen. Everything from the color to the edge design can be made to order; there’s even an option to embed other materials into the concrete before it dries.
A few important thing to note about concrete countertops is that you can place hot items on them, use them as a chopping board, or have a stain-free countertop. “Or” is the operative word here: to have a stain-free concrete countertop, a sealer must be applied. But this sealer can be damaged by the heat of a hot pan or by knife marks. The sealer can be repaired, but it’s an extra maintenance step that some people wish to avoid. To skirt around the issue, some people embed trivets into the counter top so that hot pans have a safe place to rest.
Another common addition is a drain board, which allows you to set aside items to dry after rinsing. The water drains straight into the sink. And, if you’re looking for an easy place to scoot trash and composting materials, place a hole in the concrete countertop that leads directly to pull-out trash cans underneath.
Installing concrete countertops gives you the perfect excuse to make your kitchen as user-friendly as possible.
3.) Concrete Showers
Hate scrubbing mildew off the grout in your shower? Go for a permanent remedy and remodel using concrete. It’s usually troweled on when installed but there are no seams, while sealers make it extra easy to maintain. A non-slip material can be integrated into the sealer to prevent accidents from occurring, and/or a broom-swept texture can be used to give even more traction.
If you haven’t realized it by now, the colors, style and design of incorporating concrete into your shower can meet your heart’s desire (just be prepared to pay up for more extravagant details!).
Concrete tubs are also a unique and creative possibility to add your own personal signature.
4.) Concrete Fireplace Hearths
Finally, concrete makes a show-stopping feature when used to create a fireplace hearth. Keep it seamless to create an impressive, monolithic structure. Or, stamp concrete to give the appearance of brick, without the added maintenance. A skilled concrete installer can color stamp concrete to give it depth via shadows and highlights, while no one will be able to tell the difference.
In addition, concrete retains heat and will radiate the heat from a fire long after it’s been doused for the night, making winters even more comfortable.
Re-evaluate Your Notion of Concrete
Are you convinced that concrete is capable of creating a contemporary and practical aesthetic in your home? Explore all of its possible uses inside and outside your own home; you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more durable and flexible building material than concrete.
Guest blogger, Cathy Habas, is a freelance writer based in Louisville, KY. She is a content developer for Dirtwirx.com, writing pieces of interest for both construction crews and homeowners alike.
Love that you are promoting concrete! I’ve been in this business for awhile and just within the 5 years has decorative concrete exploded, at least down here in south Louisiana. Keep posting!
Thanks!
Nice job on this post! I love the growth of interior concrete in the last few years and I will be sharing this with clients. We have interior concrete floors in our home and adds such a great modern feel!
Thank you for all the fun ways we can use concrete in our homes. I have always liked the look of decorative concrete and I have been wondering how I could have it in my home. I really like the idea of having concrete flooring. I’m glad that it can be a really durable flooring option.
Great info! Decorative concrete inside the home adds such a nice touch!
Thanks for explaining different ways to have decorative concrete. I actually didn’t know that concrete could be stamped to look like tiles. I’m interested to learn if this type of concrete could only be ideal for outdoors or if it’s possible to have textured concrete for a more indoor setting.
Thanks for sharing these amazing tips on how we use these concrete inside the home for decoration. I was looking for something like this from sometime to decorate my floor. Definitely going to use your tricks.
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I was searching for “beautiful design in concrete” and I found this website and i am very happy to read this blog a few days ago I planned to give different designs to my house now I will do this trip on my own house.
Hi Ron & Lisa Beres! We are glad to see your content about a concrete solution. We are also concrete contractor in Raleigh, with over 20 years of experience. As a concrete professional, I always read your blog which takes to the next level for my future project. Please keep updating, Thanks
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Thank you so much for your great tips on how we can use concrete decoration inside the home. I was looking for some information to decorate my new floor. I will surely apply those awesome tricks.
Thank Ron & Lisa Beres. We did know that stamped concrete cape cod could crack easily and be quite complicated but nowadays our technology has changed and improved every year, so we consider going for stamped concrete with our driveway. We would like to leave it to some pros near the MA area as recommended by our best friend – Sarah, she’s a good consultant in this field
Decorative concrete is an excellent choice for adding a unique touch to any home. With its many uses, it’s no surprise that concrete flooring has become a popular option for homeowners. One of the best things about concrete flooring is its durability, making it a long-lasting and low-maintenance option for busy households. With the proper sealing and finishing, concrete floors can also provide a beautiful, polished look that adds to the overall design aesthetic of any room. Whether you’re looking for an industrial, modern, or rustic feel, concrete flooring can be the perfect solution to achieve the look you want in your home.
Thank you for bringing up all of the points on how to use concrete inside the home! We have a concrete shower that we absolutely love.
Well crafted and concisely written content.
Thank you so much for your excellent advice on how to decorate with concrete within the home. The interior of the house looks so great with decorative concrete!
I wholeheartedly concur with this. Any home would benefit greatly from the addition of decorative concrete. Given all of its applications, it is not surprising that homeowners are increasingly choosing concrete flooring.
Very nice article! We appreciate you sharing these wonderful suggestions for decorating with concrete within the home. My wife and I have been hunting for something similar to decorate my floor for a while. Definitely using your advice.
Well done on this article! I will tell my clients how much internal concrete has grown over the past few years. We have interior concrete floors in our home and adds such a great modern feel!