How Do I Choose the Right Colour for My Concrete Project?

Concrete can be more than just a slab of grey that you walk or drive over. In the right colour and design, your concrete surfaces can become beautiful focal points for your property that can even make the space more comfortable to live and work in. But, like with any creative decision regarding your home, office or warehouse space, choosing the right colour isn’t always easy.

Concrete can come in a rainbow of beautiful hues, but choosing one that doesn’t suit your area well can lead to your concrete looking garish, dull or just plain wrong. It’s no quick and easy effort to add colour to concrete, so it’s a choice that you want to make correctly the first time.

This blog will help you decide what colour is best for your concrete surface, whether it’s a driveway, pool surround or office floor. There are several factors you’ll need to consider, so let’s get to it!

How Do I Colour My Concrete?

One of the best ways to colour your concrete is to use a coloured concrete hardener that is either mixed through the fresh concrete as it is poured, or applied to the surface of dried concrete. You can also add colour over the top of existing concrete using products like paving paints and concrete sealers, which can be used to add a shiny coating that prevents spills and rubbish from interacting with the surface of your concrete.

By using a concrete hardener that mixes through the concrete or penetrates deep into its surface, you can expect a long-lasting, fade-resistant colour that also has the bonus effect of making your concrete much more durable.

Not convinced? Check out our blog here on Top 9 Benefits of Using Coloured Concrete Hardener for Your Projects. 

You can find coloured concrete hardener in a fantastic range of colours at Australian Slate-Crete Supplies.

Steps to Choosing the Right Colour for Your Concrete Project

You know that you can use a concrete paint sealer or hardener to change or add colour to your concrete surface. Now comes the fun part–picking the shade that you’ll use.

Follow these steps if you’re not sure how to pick the right colour for your project!

1. What Do You Want the Colour to Achieve?

First of all, why are you painting your concrete in the first place? Adding colour can achieve a mix of different effects, and the effect you are hoping to achieve can help inform the best colour for you to choose. Here are some examples:

• You want to beautify the space. Coloured concrete can add colour, brightness and contrast to your property. It’s a great way to make any space more attractive, and if this is what you’re after, then you’ll want to go for attractive colours like terracotta, peach or dark coral.

• You want to hide stains and spills. Cars, motorbikes, and other vehicles can leak oil and grease, which can stain plain concrete easily. If you want to prevent these spills from being seen, then a darker driveway can help! Colours like charcoal, bluestone or gunmetal grey are smart choices in this case.

If you need advice on the best colour to achieve the look you’re after, speak to one of the decorative concrete experts at Australian Slate-Crete Supplies.

2. What is the Look of the Space Surrounding the Concrete?

If you want a colour that will look good, but aren’t sure how to create a cohesive look with the rest of your property, take note of the colours surrounding your concrete space. 

Is your home very modern, with shades of white, grey and navy? Blend in your driveway with a bold black colour! Or do you have a charming brick property with a healthy garden and wooden accents? A salmon or marigold concrete patio or pathway will fit right in.

You can discover more about coloured driveways in our blog, Exploring the Benefits of Full Depth Coloured Concrete Driveways. 

If it’s the contrast you’re after, have a look at any colour chart to see what colours look good when paired together. As you can see in the colour chart below, opposing colours like yellow and purple, red and green, and blue and orange all look good next to each other. There’s a reason we see these colours used so often commercially, after all!

3. How Will Your Concrete Space be Used?

What role does the concrete you want to colour play? Will it be walked on, driven on or left to bake in the open sun? Different colours look best in certain places, which can help make choosing the shade a little easier.

Here are some examples:

• Pool surroundings tend to be clean and crisp, with blue water and beachy accents like canvas umbrellas and white lounge chairs that reflect the heat. Match this theme with a concrete pool surround that is white, off-grey or sandstone.

• Backyard patios can accumulate dirt and plant debris, but are still part of your entertaining area. Choose colours like a sandy beige or faun to add some colour and still hide dirt and dust so you don’t have to clean quite as often.

• A modern office floor needs to be sleek and sophisticated without seeming overly utilitarian. A soft dove grey or bold charcoal can work wonders, especially with a glossy coating.

4. What is the Temperature in Your Area Like?

Living in Australia means we have to deal with heat, or a lack of it, fairly often. If we’re not trying to get rid of the heat in summer, then we’re desperately trying to keep it around in winter! 

Your choice of concrete colour can actually help–or hinder–these efforts. Think about your clothing choices. Wearing black during a sunny day means your clothing will absorb and retain a lot of heat, while white will reflect it and keep you cool. Your concrete can act in the same way.

A black concrete driveway will get warm and stay warm easily when it’s sunny, while a white pool surrounds will help keep the feet of those enjoying the space cool. Concrete that is very close to your house may even change the temperature you experience inside. Keep in mind how much shade is around your house and if people will be walking on your concrete barefoot before choosing a colour. Your air-conditioning bills will thank you later!

5. How Will the Colour Affect the Value of Your Property?

Concrete surfaces, particularly those at the front of your house, such as for the driveway, front deck or garden borders, can affect how your house looks from the street. This is known as curb appeal, and it can affect the value of your property, which is quite important if you’re looking to sell in the future.

Houses with beautiful-coloured features will look more attractive and appealing to buyers. Plus, those who have an understanding of coloured concrete hardeners and sealers will know your property’s concrete is also durable, long-lasting and less likely to need repairs in the future.

In contrast, a drab, cracked and stained grey driveway or pathway won’t be doing your property any favours. Colouring your home’s concrete driveway, patio or pool surround can be an easy and effective way to boost its value!

You can learn more about the power of curb appeal in our blog on Coloured Concrete for Curb Appeal: Boosting the Value of Your Home.

Where Can I Find Concrete Coloured Concrete Hardener, Sealer and Paint?

If you are interested in colouring your concrete, you’ve come to the right place. Australian Slate-Crete Supplies has been in the decorative concrete industry for over 25 years and is known as one of the best concrete colour suppliers in Melbourne. We design our products to be easy to use for keen DIYers, and every product we sell is tested thoroughly to make sure you’re getting a fantastic product for an even better price.

If you’re interested in learning more or would like to speak to one of our team, please call us on 03 9408 7722 or use our online form to leave us a message. You can also visit our store in Epping to have a chat with us in person. Either way, we’ll be keen to talk your ear off about how best to approach your concrete colouring project!
You can also shop with us for concrete hand tools, safety gear and pressure washing supplies.