Thinking about giving your outdoor living space a style boost?Interior and outdoor living designers are predicting that stamped concrete will be appearing center stage at patios, pool decks, porches, and walkways this year. They’ve discovered that stamped concrete offers a beautiful foundation for outdoor living areas and is quickly becoming known as the new ‘cool factor’ for homeowners. In this article, we’ve put together some design ideas to set the stage for entertaining, lounging, and having FUN this summer on your stamped concrete patio.
Why is Stamped Concrete So Desirable?
Stamped concrete is durable, beautiful and can be stamped in patterns and texture to look like much more expensive materials. Today, professional masonry contractors can create a beautiful stamped concrete patio that resembles natural stone, wood planks, brick, and more for a lot less money than the real thing. When you add color, patterns, and texture to the concrete, the overall effects can turn a drab slab into a stylish outdoor living area. The base concrete can have colors integrated throughout the material and when you add an accent color to the surface, the finished look can be stunning.
Trend #1- Outdoor Living Rooms
A design trend that won’t be going away – ever – is how homeowners are bringing indoor rooms outside by creating outdoor living rooms and lounging areas. Trends in patios have gone from a boring slab of cement with a small table and chairs, to creating sophisticated stamped concrete outdoor living areas that provide a comfortable and stylish gathering place for family and friends.
Trend #2 - Stamped Concrete Walkways
Stamped concrete sidewalks and garden pathways are both practical and beautiful. Not only do they cover bare ground, provide drainage, and create a transition from one area of your yard to another, but they also offer an opportunity for adding style and usable space. Adding a bench alongside your walkway or creating a quiet meditation garden off of your walkway can be other areas for you and your guests to enjoy.
Trend #3 - Outdoor Fire Features
More and more homeowners are adding warmth to their stamped concrete patios with outdoor stone fireplaces and ovens, gas fire features, and fire pits. With an attractive stamped concrete floor as your foundation, you can make an outdoor fire feature your focal point and arrange outdoor furniture around it for cozy conversations or lively gatherings.
Trend #4 - Retaining Walls and Sitting Walls
Concrete and/or stone retaining and sitting walls are popular, as well as classic, patio features. They can be used for practical purposes to hold back earth, but can also provide additional seating and overall beauty to your stamped concrete patio or outdoor living space.
Trend #5 - Stamped Concrete Patio Steps
Creating stamped concrete steps / stairs that lead to different levels of your patio or yard used to be merely functional landscaping elements. Today, designers are creating steps that are only practical, but are striking design elements in their outdoor living areas. They can be constructed of stamped concrete alone or a combination of concrete and other hardscape materials.
CONCLUSION
It’s no wonder why stamped concrete has become the new patio style trend. It can turn a worn out, backyard concrete slab into the foundation for an outdoor oasis. Stamped concrete design and installation is best left to professional masonry contractors like those at Gruttadaurio Masonry who serve Rochester, NY, masonry customers as well as those in Monroe County, Wayne County, Ontario County, and the Finger Lakes Region. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment for a free estimate. Call (315) 310-7193.