Concrete has been used as a building material for thousands of years—the Romans used it as the Colosseum’s foundation, and a form of cement was also used to build the Great Wall of China. While concrete has been a foundation for modern-day buildings, bridges, roads, and dams for centuries, it was 20th-century architects like Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier who brought the use of concrete to the forefront of design.

In recent years, the use of concrete has moved into homes through polished concrete floors and concrete-based bathrooms and kitchens. Today, a new breed of product designers are pushing concrete even further, using it to make unique furniture and accessories bringing a sense of industrial intrigue to home interiors. We’re covering the basics of concrete at home, and all the various ways you can use it below.

Concrete floors

Concrete floors are a durable, modern, and seamless flooring option, with polished concrete among the most common of this flooring type and lend themselves to many sealing options, from matte to glossy. While glossy concrete floors are much easier to clean than their matte counterparts, they require a high level of maintenance and show scratches easily—whereas matte concrete floors have a more natural feel and hide imperfections better. 

Acid stains are another concrete flooring finish that involves using acid to burn an almost marbled effect directly into the concrete. The colour options skew toward earthy yellow and beige tones, and the result definitely makes a statement!

A more subtle option is a water-based stain, which adds an understated effect to the floor. Water-based stained concrete comes in more subdued tones and allows you to get the same textured effect of concrete without having to stick to the natural grey colour palette.

It’s important to remember concrete floors, while extremely durable and easy to maintain, have zero absorbency, and are thus a hazard for young children and the elderly—they can be hard on the joints and make for a painful slip and therefore are best kept for smaller, low-traffic areas.

Concrete lighting

It goes without saying concrete and industrial design go hand-in-hand. If you’re eager to bring some industrial design elements into your space, but need to consider budget or space constraints, concrete lighting is a perfect option for you. 

Image via @artemiscreatestone, Instagram

Concrete pendant lights can be found in smooth, organic shapes, or sharp geometric shapes. Seen often in trios, these lights bring a cool sense of artistry to any space, while concrete lamps bring structure and stability to a room. 

Concrete furniture

From tabletops to fireplaces, benches to bookshelves, we’ve seen it all when it comes to concrete furniture!

When investing in concrete furniture, remember to stick to the core elements of urban modern design: bold art, open-concept spaces, neutral colour palettes, and understated furnishings. 

While concrete furniture looks great, it isn’t always the most comfortable. You’ll want to pair your pieces with ample cushions, blankets, and other hygge comforts. 

Consider browsing CB2 and Article to find plenty of concrete furniture options that won’t break the bank.

Concrete walls

Concrete walls are a style statement, bringing a bold punch of texture and visual interest to a room, and have been popping up in luxurious condos and freehold homes in recent years. Strategically, it’s best to stick to a single accent wall, as multiple concrete walls can make a space feel stark and rather apocalyptic.

We love concrete walls paired with wood and other organic furnishings to bring balance and ease to a space. 

Concrete accessories

Another great way to bring the industrial textures of concrete into a space is through accessories like sculptures, desk sets, planters, etc. There are endless home accessories out there made of concrete! Remember to get creative, and try to pair concrete accessories with contrasting soft, organic textures. 

Concrete accessories are reasonably easy and fun to DIY, and can be amply found by makers on Etsy! 

Concrete fixtures

Concrete sinks, showers, and tubs are moving into bathrooms across the globe. These fixtures are a modern upgrade to the typical porcelain bathroom fixtures you often find in washrooms. The advantage of concrete fixtures is they are easy to clean and maintain. Also, mold doesn’t like concrete much, so that’s an added bonus! We love concrete fixtures paired with gold or copper handles to add some contrast. 

Concrete is a versatile and low-maintenance design material that can be used to create just about anything you can dream of, bringing texture, structure, and industrial vibes to any space. Concrete can be a bold complement to just about any design schematic, so have fun with layering it into your space!

Source CREA cafe June 2020