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The Art of Colour Matching

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When it comes to colour matching around your home, individual preferences probably play a large part in the hues and shades you select. Exterior and interior paint, curtains, bedding, and even the flowers you plant might be chosen with your favourite colours front of mind. So, are there any colour matching guidelines you should follow when using decorative concrete, especially coloured concrete? After all, it is probably going to be used in some of the largest and most eye catching features of your home: driveway, floors, pool surrounds, and outdoor entertainment areas. Are there some very general rules of thumb to follow when deciding on what colours to match in areas such as these?

Rules are made to be broken, but colour matching usually revolves around the following schemes:

Complementary – this refers to the use of two colours directly opposite each other on the colour wheel. Complementing colours generally enhance the vibrancy of each other e.g. yellow and purple are often used together for this very reason.

Analogous – analogous colours are next to each other on the colour wheel and are used when a more harmonious design effect is desired. E.g. red & orange, or yellow & green

Monochromatic – the use of the different tints and shades of one colour. Another popular way to achieve harmony when colour matching.

Primary colour matching – red, yellow and blue are the primary colours, and add energy when used together. With the colour range available these days, there’s no reason why concrete cannot be dyed in one of these primary colours.

Pastel – pastel shades are used for a softer, more subtle effect, Pastel colours are generally used with other pastel colours, and this is a very popular match in exterior settings. Decorative concrete is particularly well suited to colour matching along these lines.

You can’t always consult a colour wheel, or be expected to absorb the minute details of colour matching as it applies to exterior design. It can all be a little complicated. However, you can simplify things a little by following broad guidelines based on colour matching theory. Here’s an example: when colour matching, this very general rule can be applied – Conform or Contrast.

There are so many colour options now available when choosing decorative concrete that it is very easy to select a shade that conforms to its surroundings. For example, a concrete driveway and pathway can be dyed to match the colour palette of the front garden or the home’s exterior walls. Similarly, a honed concrete patio can mirror an interior polished concrete floor, in a classic example of indoor outdoor flow.

The other side of this colour matching rule is to contrast. On the surface, and using basic definitions, the words “contrast” and “match” might not seem like a perfect fit. However, if you consider the bigger picture, contrasting can be a very effective part of the colour matching equation. For example, subtly coloured decorative concrete can help to highlight a bold and striking feature in near proximity, rather than detract or distract from that feature. In these circumstances, in the larger scheme of things, a contrasting colour is a great match for its environment.

The art of colour matching, as it applies to decorative concrete, is made easier thanks to the versatility of the product. Contrasts can be as sharp as you desire, and conforming colours can beautifully reflect their surroundings. When coloured concrete can be customised to match your vision, or satisfy your personal preference, or follow widely accepted colour matching guidelines, anything is possible.

Four Reasons Why Decorative Concrete Is Family Friendly

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Decorative concrete is an increasingly popular surface, and it’s not hard to figure out why. It is extremely versatile, offering a wide variety of looks – exposed aggregate, coloured, multi-coloured, dyed, stained, honed, polished, stamped, trowel finished…you get the idea! But decorative concrete is also gaining popularity beyond its eye-catching qualities. For example, it can be considered a very family friendly surface. Here are four reasons why:

Decorative concrete is hypoallergenic – in other words, it is less likely to cause an allergic reaction. This makes a polished concrete floor potentially a better choice if you’re trying to create a healthier, low-allergen home where your family can breathe easily (obviously seek your own independent advice). You’d probably be surprised, and terrified, if you could see what could live in the average carpet – millions of dust mites and other tiny creatures that can trigger cold and hay fever-type reactions, and possibly even symptoms that resemble asthma. Vacuuming the carpet does little to alleviate the problem, so it can be an ongoing, if unseen, headache. This is less of an issue when decorative concrete is used as an easy-to-clean and hypoallergenic floor surface.

Decorative concrete is slip resistant – decorative concrete around the pool, on the driveway, or on the floor in internal areas like bathrooms and laundries, is not just there for its good looks. Decorative concrete, such as honed concrete or exposed aggregate, has skid-resistant qualities that can reduce the chance of falls in slippery places. Accidents are likely to happen in every family home, but reducing the risk of spills and tumbles on wet floors and pool decks will help to make that home a safer place.

Decorative concrete is stable – furniture situated on unstable or uneven surfaces can present a number of potential dangers. Assuming that it is correctly placed, the stability of concrete, and the ability to create an even surface when using it, can alleviate the risk of people toppling backwards in a chair, or items sliding off a table, or other mishaps. This is probably why concrete patios and floors are now a selling point, particularly in family homes. Not only do they look good, but they also add stability and safety.

Decorative concrete is a time saver – “quality time” is probably the most precious resource a family has. Because decorative concrete is a relatively low maintenance surface that is easy to clean, less time might be needed to look after it. Concrete’s renowned durability also means it should last longer, so money is saved on frequent repairs and replacements – and in this day and age, money is definitely another precious resource for any family.

Many other materials are nice to look at, and some are comparable to concrete in terms of practicality and safety. However in the decision making process it is wise to consider decorative concrete along with other materials. Throw in decorative concrete’s visual appeal, and you have a material that can be family friendly in a very good looking way.

Can Concrete Really Be Beautiful?

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The short answer is YES. Concrete really can be beautiful. The question of beauty could be a nagging one though, even if you’re sold on concrete’s other qualities, such as lower maintenance, durability and strength. Deep down however, you might see concrete as a big grey slab of functionality. Lots of functionality to be sure, but of little aesthetic value. If you’re thinking along those lines, it could be time to change your mind set and explore the world of decorative concrete.

Decorative concrete can be beautiful concrete in and of itself, but it can also enhance the rooms or outdoor areas where it is installed. The versatility of decorative concrete with its different colours, textures and finishes means it is able to be applied in many settings around the home, including:

Exposed aggregate concrete: featuring the raw texture of Australian stone, exposed aggregate concrete can lend unique character to areas as diverse as driveways, pathways, pool surrounds and outdoor entertainment areas. The natural colours of Australia are captured in exposed aggregate concrete, with the additional benefit that its texture can help to create a skid resistant surface. These slip resistent qualities can make exposed aggregate a good-looking and safe choice for pool surrounds in particular.

Coloured concrete: there are now so many colours to choose from, that you can use this type of concrete to match many existing features around the property. By doing this, coloured concrete can enhance the area in which it is located. For example, coloured driveways and pathways can match the palette of a front garden, which should significantly add to a home’s street appeal. A qualified installer should seal coloured concrete at the pouring stage, and with regular resealing, the colours can stay vibrant for many years.

Polished and honed concrete: for a look of sheer luxury and indulgence, similar to marble, polished concrete is becoming a popular choice as an interior flooring surface. Meanwhile, honed concrete has had its top layer removed to reveal natural stone and a matt finish. In wet areas such as bathrooms, the laundry, and pool surrounds, honed concrete comes into its own. Its slip resistent properties help to make it a safer surface, but one that is also very eye-catching.
Decorative concrete might have changed the way we use concrete around our homes, but it should also change the way we think about concrete. No longer should it be considered as just a functional surface. When you use decorative concrete, you can enjoy the benefits of its many practical qualities, with the added bonus of huge aesthetic appeal. Reconsider your opinion of concrete and take a new look at how decorative concrete can be used as an interior and exterior feature. You’ll probably be very pleasantly surprised by what you see.

Natural Materials for Your Renovations

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Whether you’re an established homeowner or a first-time buyer, chances are that your home is the greatest investment you’ll ever have. Restoring, revamping and rebuilding to give your place a creative facelift, the latest innovative design features and some extra comfort for you and your family is, after all, something most of us dream of. Today’s smart renovator is turning to ideas that will make it easier to adapt, reuse and, if needed, dismantle. Think simpler living, minimal maintenance, pop-out colour and stylish elegance. Bringing the Aussie landscape closer to home doesn’t have to be dull or expensive.

Decorative concrete is hard to beat when it comes to pattern and colour options. A solid bed of exposed aggregate can provide a pleasing showcase setting for natural materials like stones, sand, pebbles and even flecks of ore.

NATURAL MATERIALS EMBEDDED ON DECORATIVE CONCRETE

Natural stone is an eye-catching feature in any home, indoors or out, and its aesthetic qualities can really be brought forward with decorative concrete. There is no other medium quite so versatile as decorative concrete when it comes to introducing and showcasing natural materials such as coarse beach sands and pebbles, sea-shells and the natural raw textures of river stones. The concrete industry of today offers an array of attractive, functional and high quality wall and floor solutions that can help any home sparkle. Decorative concrete is the perfect partner for just about any natural material; it enhances and complements. Polished concrete and exposed aggregate applications in which the upper concrete skin is removed to reveal the innate properties of natural aggregates, quartz and igneous rock provide the homeowner with a multitude of ways to bring a dash of Australiana into the home. A large square patio deck of decorative concrete under the surface of which softly glistens a dense bed of polished stone is a stunning focal point and certain conversation starter at any outdoor barbecue. Decorative concrete allows you to bring elements of the Australian landscape into any part of the home. A sprawling polished concrete dining room floor containing quartz is a striking way to combine polished elegance with a hint of the earthy parchedness of the Australian bush.

NATURAL STONE

Natural stone works wonderfully with concrete, either as part of the mix or a stand-alone feature. It can be used for splashbacks, bathrooms, wall cladding, flooring, vanities and for framing-type impressions. Durable, heat-resistant and long lasting due to their high density, granite and marble are great choices for outdoor kitchen tops. Marble is more porous but if you care for it with a regular coat of sealant it will last a lifetime.

“There’s interest from homeowners who want to add a special unique touch such as a stone surround for a fireplace hearth or to encase a TV unit,” says Martin Wagner from 120-year-old stonemasonry company JH Wagner. “And there’s certainly a greater awareness of natural stone and its use as a designer material. It has textural elements – it’s something we love to touch. People used to think they would have to win Lotto to get the full-stone cottage but now there’s an understanding it can be a lesser but still mightily impressive feature. The important thing is that you understand the best use of the product.”

TIMBER

Beautiful wood is warm, sensuous and nearly always pleasing on the eye. It complements the other materials you partner it with, and provides a distinguished border edging for decorative concrete walls and floors.