Ideas for Stamped Concrete Remodels

Use Color

• Although many stamped concrete designs feature only one color, multiple colors can be used to create a more striking effect. Use a lighter color, like sand, for the majority of your driveway or walkway, and then add a darker color, like a dark brown, in the border. Because of the way concrete is poured, secondary colors in stamped concrete designs need to be in an area that can be sectioned off, such as a center circle or separate border, so keep that in mind as you search for the look you want.

Get Intricate

• In the past, concrete could only be stamped in certain ways, such as in squares or rectangles that looked like brick, but advances in stamping technology have made it possible to create different patterns and shapes, including circles and other unusual shapes. To make your driveway unique, think about creating a more intricate pattern, like a mosaic effect with several different shapes or a border of half moons.

Add Elements

• Stamping isn't the only way to make your driveway look less ho-hum. Combine stamped concrete with other concrete design elements to create an eye-catching look for your driveway. Add borders or sections with colored stones, like rose quartz or riverbed stones, mixed into the concrete. Once the concrete is poured, the top layer can be scraped away to reveal the stones or aggregate underneath.

Get Creative

• After reviewing designs and speaking with concrete stampers, sketch out your own design on a pad of paper. Get inspiration from anywhere you can think of that uses geometric shapes--from architecture to a mosaic table to the backsplash behind your kitchen counter.