Using Concrete for Interior Designs
Have you been curious about using concrete for interior designs? Are you wondering why this material has become so popular in recent years or if you can use it to bring glamour into the interior of your clients’ homes?
There’s nothing new about using concrete as a foundation for homes that are being built. However, the use of concrete as an appealing, eye-catching focal point has surged in popularity in the past few years.
We’re going to discuss the benefits of using concrete for interior designs, a few pitfalls of this material, how to beautifully incorporate it, and where to find a suitable contractor. Keep reading for more details.
Benefits of Using Concrete for Interior Designs
Although concrete is physically solid, it is quite flexible when it comes to interior design. Because it can be poured into almost any shape or formation, concrete can be used in several aspects of a home, including countertops, flooring, and as an overlay or completely solid wall.
In addition to the wide variety of uses, it can be stained or finished in a number of ways and homeowners always have the option to paint it later.
Any fixture in a home that is made of concrete will be quite durable and last for years to come. This can help save money by avoiding future replacements and major repairs. It is also appealing to homeowners who are aiming for sustainability within their residence.
Concrete can lend itself to a number of aesthetics. One homeowner may choose to use it as a way to bring a modern, industrial look into their home, another might implement concrete as a way to complete a rugged, earthy design. Still, other designers may choose to use concrete to make a home feel cozy and warm.
Because the color of concrete is various shades of gray, it can complement almost any existing color pallete, blend nicely with a few pops of color, or look fantastic in a monochromatic color scheme.
Possible Drawbacks of Using This Building Material
Concrete may be durable, but it is also porous. Because of this, it must be resealed every 2-5 years; it also is easier to accidentally stain than other types of materials. These two facts can be a major deciding factor for your clients who may have kids or lead busy lifestyles.
Concrete is also susceptible to cracks and any supporting structure usually needs to be reinforced because of the weight. Although cracked concrete can be unsightly in some instances, cracks can add character to designs - they’re also simple to repair.
Depending on how you plan to use concrete in your design, it can become quite expensive due to the level of skill needed to construct and install different fixtures. For people with unlimited budgets, this isn’t usually an issue, but for anyone who wishes to keep their project within a certain dollar range, this fact may influence their decision.
Finally, if you’re trying to complete a quick job, concrete can add several hours or days to the project. The thing about concrete is that it can take several hours to dry and up to 48 hours to fully set.
How to Incorporate Concrete Into Your Designs
Because concrete is so aesthetically flexible, it gives designers a wide range of choices of how to incorporate this material. Depending on your goals for the home you’re designing, you may choose to stain concrete a darker color, gloss it, paint it, or add other personalized touches to it.
If using large amounts of concrete isn’t within the budget or time constraints, opting for concrete fixtures is an option as well. You may wish to incorporate a concrete lamp, mantle, or coffee table.
Using concrete for interior designs can give you and your clients choices you might not otherwise consider, helping to further customize any home.
Concrete Contractors Can Make Your Design Happen
Pouring, shaping, and finishing concrete requires a lot of technical skill. This will mean that you should consider using a concrete contractor who is experienced in using this material in various ways.
By using a knowledgeable concrete contractor, you will help to ensure the best-looking results and can avoid costly mistakes. Be sure to find out how their concrete is sourced and if they honor any warranties for a certain number of years.
Using concrete for interior designs is a fantastic choice when it comes to flexibility and creating a highly customized aesthetic - be sure that your contractor has the level of skill needed to complete your look or simply contact us for all of your concrete design needs.