Concrete is unobtrusive, predictable and even a little bit boring. It’s definitely the last material that comes to mind when you’re thinking of a sophisticated home upgrade.
Many interior designers, however, have been experimenting with concrete on the execution of modern, clean and stylish home renovation projects. There are various reasons why the demand for the material has grown. Let’s examine a few of those, as well as some of the fun ways that concrete can be incorporated in your home upgrade.
The Benefits of Using Concrete in Interior Design
Concrete is a material that brings a number of distinctive merits to the table.
The first important benefit is versatility. Concrete is strong, flexible and lightweight in comparison to many other materials. As a result, it can be used in places and projects that will make heavier materials impractical or even impossible to employ.
Concrete can also be cast in any shape and colours can be added to change its appearance. Artisan concrete can even replicate the appearance of more expensive materials, which increases the range of applications even further.
The material is suitable for any room – from the bathroom to the kitchen and even the bedroom. It is stain-resistant, it’s customisable and it happens to be a sustainable material. Adding a reasonable price tag to the mix justifies the use of concrete throughout the home even further.
Some Ways to Use Concrete Elements in Your Home
There are many standard and unorthodox uses of concrete in your home’s interior design.
In the past, concrete use was limited to industrial design. With new casting technologies and ways to pour concrete, it can now be a part of much cosier interior design styles and trends. Furthermore, the material can be paired with warmer choices like wood. These combos result in even more balance and they can give you some fun juxtaposition for the creation of visual interest.
Concrete is a particularly great choice for floors and walls. It can create panels, arches, recesses and even built-in shelving solutions that are seamless and clean.
In the kitchen, concrete can be used to create custom and fairly affordable countertops. It is a heat and scratch-resistant material that will perform really well for work surfaces. The lightweight nature of modern artisan concrete turns it into a great choice that will make the casting of any countertop shape an easy task.
Kitchen backsplashes crafted from concrete can also be really fun, especially when it’s paired with a more exciting material like glass or small tiles that will create a beautiful mosaic.
Bathroom dividers and partitions made of concrete also tend to perform really well. There can be various other applications in wet spaces because concrete is such a splash-resistant material.
A few other home décor options include concrete light fixtures, art pieces and sculptures and even textured walls that will serve as interior design accents. Concrete can also successfully recreate the elegance of more expensive materials like marble or even some metals. The addition of dyes and stains turns this chameleon of a material into something much more expensive-looking than it actually is.
A Few Design Tips That Will Help You Make the Most of Concrete Elements
You can easily come up with multiple ways to incorporate concrete in your home’s interior design. If you’d like to make the concept and the execution cohesive, however, pay attention to the following tips and rules.
Start by planning the use of concrete in its natural state. The material is available in various shades of grey, turning it in a perfect neutral. Originally, it was an important part of industrial and brutalist home interiors. Contemporary designs, however, are becoming more eclectic than ever before. So, before thinking about staining concrete, try to work with the material in its purest form.
If you are worried about concrete elements being too cool and sterile, start out with a few small accent pieces. Little touches of concrete here and there can create some visual interest without overwhelming or taking over the design concept.
Decorative concrete pieces are readily available in home stores. If you don’t like any of those pieces, you can have some custom-ordered. Microcement is a great alternative that you can actually employ in DIY projects. Its ability to adhere to any surface and any material makes it incredibly easy to work with.
Finally, don’t shy away from bigger concrete installations and statement pieces. There are actually concrete pieces of furniture like coffee tables, lamp stands and even concrete chairs. These are a great choice for the people who aren’t afraid to think outside the box. Don’t be fooled by the rigidity of concrete – furniture made of this material can be as comfortable and ergonomic as their counterparts made of lightweight or more traditional materials.
Concrete gives you many chances to try something new and do that without breaking the bank. It’s an easy material to work with and the customisation potential is limitless.
If you’re thinking about the use of concrete or you’re wondering about the materials that make the most sense for your project, contact Home Guide. We are an experienced interior design company happy to guide you through the options, acquainting you with the strengths and potential of each.
