Which is a staple in new-age construction? Concrete! This wonderful material has become an everyday material apart from its structural capabilities. Concrete has been in the construction industry for a long time now, and its affordability is what makes it one of the major building materials.
Being accessible to all opens several possibilities to explore. Whether we’re talking about the envelope of a building or its enclosed spaces, concrete has its own value and application. The landscape of interior design trends keeps changing, but decorating your interiors with concrete has become a timeless addition to any trend.
Have you ever wondered about the limits of adding concrete to any design project? Let’s find out about concrete home décor ideas!
Reliable Qualities of Concrete for Home Interiors
Before we jump into the applications of concrete as an interior accent, let’s see what qualities make it one of the most reliable architectural materials.
Versatile: It Can Be Cast Into Anything in Any Shape
Whether you want sharp geometry or smooth curves, you can molded concrete into any desired shape. This versatile nature of the material makes it a popular pick among designers for decorating with concrete to explore each angle or shape that exists.
Strong
Concrete is a rigid material, which is why it’s the major constituent of structural elements in a design. The material gets its strength at ambient temperatures and is resistant to water and high temperatures.
Durable
Concrete structures and design elements can last for a long time owing to their sturdiness. Durability can further be enhanced by mixing suitable additives.
Cost-Effective
If you have decided to decorate your interiors with concrete, you needn’t worry about the high construction bills. It’s not only affordable while manufacturing, but there’s a minimal cost for its maintenance as well. Its sturdiness will save you from constant repairs and management expenses.
Can Be Made Environmentally Friendly
The product of concrete is all about how you make the mix. Thus, by opting for greener aggregates, you can take your structure on a greener route and make it eco-friendly.
Additives Can Be Added For Customised Properties
Want to add a subtle tint to the concrete? It’s possible by mixing colours. You can customise the properties of the mix by adding extra additives.
High-Temperature Resistance
The resistance to high temperatures makes concrete fire-resistant, which makes the structure safe and sound.
Low or Zero Maintenance
Concrete in interiors is becoming popular owing to its minimal maintenance. Whether you’re opting for a polished concrete fireplace or countertop, rest assured that you don’t have to go through hefty maintenance methods for this admirably simple material.
Multi-Field Applications
From a huge slab to a tiny candle holder, there are multiple possibilities of molding and shaping concrete into something functional and aesthetic. And the best part? It’s convenient to get concrete in any part of the world.
Sets Faster Without Any Hassle
Workability with concrete is much more convenient as compared to other building materials. Once cast, it will set quickly without you having to put extra effort into that. All it’ll take from you is the curing part.
18 Innovative Ideas for Decorating Your Interior with Concrete
Following are some amazing ideas for decorating your interiors with concrete:
01. The Warm Candle Holders
You can add a designer touch to the interiors with concrete candle holders. Break the conventional rules and opt for a new dimension in your interior design. While typical candleholders are shiny and reflective, such concrete home décor items have warmth infused within them. The charm of grey will light up the entire room in a much more amazing way.
02. Exposing Elegance with Concrete Walls
Why conceal it behind layers of paint and plaster when there’s elegance within the rawness of concrete surfaces? One of the captivating interior design ideas with concrete is to keep the walls exposed. You can play around with the textures and finish for an enticing design. Such concrete wall décor ideas always work amazingly.
03. Contrast with Planters
While the visual appeal of concrete is extremely sublime, you can bring home a bright contrast by opting for concrete planters. The lush green plant foliage will balance out the concrete look. Consider opting for tiny planters for succulents and accentuating the aesthetics of your interiors. These types of cement home décor pieces are also pocket-friendly compared to other materials.
04. A Surprise in the Flooring
Bring an industrial edge to your home with concrete flooring interior design. Gone are the days of wooden or tiled flooring. Concrete floors are here to set a new trend with their neutral and subtle appeal. You can paint this grey canvas with intricately patterned floor rugs or carpets to add dazzling charm to the space.
05. A One-of-its-kind Dining Table
Are you looking for out-of-the-box ideas to make your meals even more interactive and comforting? How about opting for a concrete dining table? Yes, you heard it right. A concrete dining table will have an artistic appeal, and the smooth, solid surface will help you host great family dinners without having to worry about cleanliness.
06. Storage Shelves
Concrete is known for its strength. Why not take advantage of this characteristic and install concrete shelves? Whether you need it for storage purposes or to put up decorative elements, these shelves can accommodate even the heaviest components with their sturdiness.
07. A Striking Fireplace
Rather than imparting a traditional look to your fireplace, make it the center of attraction with concrete. A polished concrete fireplace will sit as a striking feature in the living room with a unique concept that will amplify the warmth in the space.
08. The Ultimate Showstopper: Concrete Bathtub
Ceramics have played a role in bathroom fittings for a long time. Don’t you think it is time to add a little twist to the design? Well, how about a concrete bathtub?
A concrete bathtub standing in a nook of the bathroom can prove to be the ultimate attention-seeker with its simple yet bold design. The key consideration in this case is the bathtub’s heavy weight, which needs a careful and expert installation team.
09. Solid Kitchen Countertop
While the most common countertop material is natural stone, make your home exude a unique statement by replacing this basic material with concrete. Such interior design with concrete will help in curating a modern farmhouse design language. You can pair these countertops with an accent colour and jazz up the entire kitchen with ambient lighting.
10. Basin Countertop
You can opt for a smooth design in your bathrooms with concrete sinks embedded within the countertop made of the same material. This design will bring refreshing vibes to the entire bathroom decor. It minimises the drama and keeps the decor towards elegant sensibilities.
11. The Attention-Seeking Feature Wall
Walk on a daring path by opting for a concrete wall décor idea like a feature wall. The accent wall paired up with metallic, wooden, or leather furniture is sure to serve as an eye-catchy feature in the space. The design, when paired up with the right elements, transforms into something contemporary or Scandinavian. You can play around with the surface of the wall and add an intricate texture to add more depth to the space.
12. Coffee on Concrete!
Keep the rest of the decor bold and vibrant and create a harmony with the central coffee table constructed in concrete. Even the simple block design of the table is loud enough to make a concrete statement in the entire decor. Make the design even more welcoming by adding metallic accessories to the table.
13. Seamless Bath Area
Looking for seamlessness in bathroom design? Rather than adding tiles to your mood board, go with concrete. From floor to ceiling, you can cover every surface with concrete and be guaranteed that there’ll be no damage to the material, even in the wet bathing area. The soothing design executed in concrete will serve as nothing less than a calming retreat.
14. Inbuilt Storage Units
There’s a simple solution to all your storage problems: concrete. Whether it’s for extra linen or glassware, consider the idea of adding an in-built storage unit to concrete home interiors. This can be a cupboard, or you can also opt for concrete storage as a living room display unit.
15. Glam Factor with Concrete Light Fixtures
There’s no limit to innovation and technology’s support in making everything possible. One such example of a fine creation is concrete light fixtures. You can opt for simply suspended lights that serve nothing less than an artistic masterpiece in the interiors. The warm lighting will balance out the heavy look of concrete.
16. Duplicating Luxury Materials
While concrete serves multiple purposes with its originality, it’s also great at imitating other luxury materials. In case you’re looking for a pocket-friendly luxury, concrete is the answer. You can achieve a plethora of finishes in interior design with concrete to maintain the desired design language in your interiors. Colour stains in white concrete can help you achieve the marble look in the design.
17. A Fantastic Bed Frame
You can artfully bring concrete into bedrooms in the form of a bed frame. Let the natural accents, like wood or a few green friends in the bedroom, balance the rigid base of concrete. You can play around with the levels and lighting in the case of a concrete bed base.
18. Concrete Stool: Grab a Concrete Seat!
Want to add extra seats to your party? Opt for concrete stools. These not only serve as a comfy seat, but their versatility in design makes them fit to be used as a tabletop.
Concrete it Out!
If you want to take a daring step in interior decor, go with concrete accents here and there. Decorating with concrete might be a little challenging, but the interior design elements in concrete are one of the most unusual ideas that exude a sense of elegance and prove to be extremely utilitarian.
Whether it’s the bedroom that’s demanding a makeover or you’re simply running out of storage, there are endless possibilities with concrete that will not only solve the problem but also take your home interiors to an extremely aesthetic dimension. Explore the textures and finishes and curate the most fabulous interior design.
FAQs
01. Does the Concrete need Specialized Individuals to use it?
Concrete offers easy workability. Just by understanding the basic concepts and consistency of the material, one can easily carry out DIY projects without the need for specialized professionals.
02. How easily available is Concrete?
Upon comparison with building materials like steel or polymers, concrete is extremely easy to access and is available across the globe.
03. Does Concrete look good as an Interior Material?
Concrete looks extremely elegant as an interior material. It’ll not only give a soft look to the interiors but also bring a refreshing vibe to the whole space. The material brings with it a promise of enhanced contemporary aesthetics.
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Author Bio
Saili Sawantt – She is an Architect and Interior Designer by profession. Writing is what she treats as her passion. She has worked as an Architectural Writer, Editor, and Journalist for various design as well as digital portals, both national and international. Formerly she has also worked with Godrej Properties Limited (GPL) Design Studio, Mumbai, due to her keen interested in learning about Sustainability and Green buildings. Apart from this, she runs her blog ‘The Reader’s Express’ and is a practicing Architect & Interior Designer.