Concrete patios are very durable, but they’re just not very exciting. If you have a concrete slab in your backyard and you’re itching to jazz it up a bit, here are 6 ways to make over a concrete patio!
1. Paint a Pattern
Yes, you can paint your concrete slab. The Handmade Home scored their concrete slab with a circular saw to create a diamond pattern and then painted it with two shades of gray using concrete paint. What a transformation!
2. Lay Decking Flooring
Did you know you can lay decking over a concrete slab? And that it’s not as hard as it sounds! Here’s how you can do it. To finish it off, you can attach white fascia boards along the sides. This is a really great way to make over a concrete patio, because decking flooring will instantly warm up your outdoor space.
3. Add Curves With Pavers
A square concrete slab is standard, but you can add curves around your concrete patio with the help of pavers. For instance, you could add a half circle to one side to create a fire pit area. Or use pavers to border off a circular garden at one corner of your patio. This is such a pretty way to make over a concrete patio.
4. Lay Slate Tiles
Concrete is already a great base for tiles, so you could lay slate tiles to completely transform your concrete patio. First, check for any cracks or weak spots and repair them. Then you’re good to go! Tile your concrete patio just as you would tile any other space in your home.
5. Stain the Concrete to Look Like Tile
If you love the look of tiles but not the hard work or the expense, you could stain the concrete to look like tile! Use 1/2 inch tape (try car shops to find this size) to create “grout” lines on the floor and then stain over it. Peel off the tape and ta-da, instant tile! Just make sure to clean it beforehand and seal it afterwards and you’ll have a concrete patio that looks nothing like concrete.
6. Add a Beautiful Outdoor Rug
The easiest way to make over a concrete patio is to invest in a large and striking outdoor rug. Here’s a great example. The eye will instantly go to the rug and the concrete patio will disappear into the background. Put some great outdoor furniture on top of the rug and you’ve got yourself an outdoor space you can be proud of. If you like a beachy color scheme of blue and white, you’ll love this rug.
For some more inspiration, check out this painted concrete floor. And if you’re actually itching to get a concrete patio because you have nothing in your backyard right now, see how you can DIY a concrete patio!
Featured image via Better Homes and Gardens.
I like how you suggested using curves with pavers as a way to add some extra fixtures to a patio, like fire pits. Thinking about it, a fire pit would be an excellent idea for my own outdoor space since the cold wind of the evening could make it a bit uncomfortable for people who wanna mingle outside. I’ll start looking for a concrete contractor that can help me design this so our patio project can begin.