A concrete patio often looks dull and lifeless. Its grayish hues can definitely be an eyesore, and this is why not a lot of homeowners are fond of their patios
But I don’t blame them for opting for a concrete patio. After all, concrete is cost-effective, durable, environmentally friendly, and works best regardless of the size of your patio.
Fortunately, concrete is also highly versatile. By doing these simple tricks, you can instantly improve the whole look of your outdoor space.
1. Stain the Concrete
The most common way of improving the look of concrete is by staining it.
Staining gives concrete an opaque yet polished look, which makes it more pleasing to the eyes. The process uses a chemical that leaves the cement with a permanent coat of color. It’s worth noting that you are at liberty to choose what colors you want to use so you know you’re not limited to a random dull color.
Staining concrete is also a great way to keep it from developing cracks in the long run. But most importantly, staining can be done at an affordable price and leaves the concrete incredibly low maintenance.
2. Add Clay Pavers
Another way to enhance your concrete patio is by installing clay pavers.
Clay pavers are durable pieces of brick you can put along your walkway to give it that instant rustic vibe. Because it’s made of clay and takes advantage of the natural color of clay, you won’t have to worry about the colors fading away at any time.
Luckily, modern clay pavers now come in various shapes and sizes, so you now have more options to choose from – and not just settle for the traditional brick shapes.
3. Paint the Floor
If you want more vibrant colors on your concrete floor, you can always choose to paint them.
You can either choose just one solid color, or you can create your own masterpiece with several colors. Patterns like stripes or gradients are also doable – and can also create an illusion of a more spacious patio.
With painting, you have absolute control over your outcome. Think of the concrete as your canvass – and go wild.
4. Use Floor Stencils
For those who are not as creative but just want a more lively floorboard, you can opt to use floor stencils instead.
You can choose from a wide selection of stencil designs ranging from simple stripes to more intricate prints. Once you’ve chosen your ideal design, you simply lay them on the floor and paint away.
Painting with stencils may not last as long as staining your concrete, but it’s definitely more affordable and easier to do.
5. Try Sponge Painting
Another way to paint the texture onto your concrete floor is by sponge painting. Sponge painting is really cheap and perhaps one of the easiest ways to add pizzazz to your patio.
Sponge painting is done simply by dipping the sponge into your desired paint color and then dabbing it onto the floor. Depending on the size and shape of your sponge, you can create patterns that can be likened to marble or brick pavements.
6. Use Patterned Rubber Rollers
If you don’t mind the gray hues of concrete but just want to add texture to your floor, your best bet is to use patterned rubber rollers.
While the cement is still wet, run these rollers over them and watch how the textures come to life.
Of course, the downside is that you have to do this for freshly-poured cement – and that can be quite tricky to do.
7. Make It Your Outdoor Entertainment Area
An advantage of using concrete for your patio is that it seems to extend the living area of your home to the outdoors. So, why not make the most out of it?
The possibilities are endless: you can install a fireplace, add an entire wicker furniture set, build a swing, or build an outdoor library.
You may have to shell out a little more money for creating an outdoor living room but know that it will be worth the investment.
8. Install Faux Wood
Laying laminated wood flooring over concrete is another affordable way of improving how your patio looks.
These beautiful resin boards look a lot like actual wood, so they perfectly complement the look of the outdoors.
Aside from looking fabulous, these faux wood flooring is also durable. In fact, it can resist moisture, stains, and scratches more than real wood. They’re also really comfortable to walk on, so you can’t go wrong with them.
9. Lay on the Tiles
As an alternative to faux wood flooring, you can also opt to use faux stone tiles.
Faux stone tiles give you the same effect as having stone flooring, but without making the effort of placing stone after stone. Faux stone flooring is also as durable as actual stone flooring.
Additionally, using faux stone tiles is more cost-effective because it reduces the amount you have to pay for labor. It’s also low maintenance since weeds don’t grow between the faux cracks.
10. Construct a Pergola
Another costly way to make your concrete patio look better is to construct a pergola.
Pergolas can instantly give any space a chic and sophisticated vibe while giving you additional protection from the harmful rays of the sun.
You can also build your outdoor entertainment area underneath the pergola. But if you’re running a little low on budget, you can just place your patio furniture underneath it and let the pergola work its own charm.
With a pergola on your patio, the attention will be on it – and not on the drab concrete.
11. Eye-Catching Furniture
Adding eye-catching furniture is a surefire way to update the look of any concrete patio.
Generally, the more vibrant the color, the more it contrasts with the grayish hue of the cement. This is why colors like yellow and orange are a common patio color because it instantly brightens up the place.
Nevertheless, muted colors like white and beige also work wonders. You can also shop for antiques at your local flea market.
12. Breathe Life With Plants
Plants placed in colorful pots can instantly give life to your outdoor space. And if you’re running a little low on floor space, you can always build a vertical garden.
If you don’t think you have the green thumb to keep plants alive, that’s not a problem. Low-maintenance plants like succulents and aloe vera are widely popular these days, so you won’t have a problem with looking for them.
13. Cover with Carpets
Perhaps one of the easiest ways to make your concrete patio look better is to lay a carpet on it.
With carpets, you don’t have to bother with painting or with laying tiles, but you can similarly give your patio an instant pop of color.
Additionally, carpets are affordable, have virtually unlimited designs and patterns to choose from, and are really easy to clean. They’re also easily replaceable, so you don’t have to deconstruct everything just to change how your patio looks.