Concrete has an unglamorous image as something councils use to make footpaths and this isn’t fair. Its design applications for the home are endless, both outside and in. Concrete isn’t just a boring material you only use for making driveways. We’ve listed its other design uses below.

Patios

These are found in any home, whether it’s made of pavers or a concrete slab. Patios are an essential part of the Australian lifestyle. Where else would you put the barbecue and the outdoor dining set?

The method for laying out a patio is the same as if you were installing a new driveway. You can choose the type of finish you want the concrete to have, colour and surface area.

Garden Beds

Inbuilt garden beds are great for adding a little life wherever they are. Contractors build them against a wall or as a stand-alone structure. They’re strong and versatile. You don’t even have to use the garden beds for plants. They make a great storage solution. If you build a garden bed but don’t plant anything, there’s another option. You can use it to store equipment overflowing from the shed or any kid’s toys lying around. Add some thick wooden or steel slats, some cushions and you have an extra seat!

Walls

Concrete walls are an out-of-the-box design idea for modern homes that get featured in the pages of home and real estate magazines. Tadao Ando, the Japanese architect, designed structures entirely made of concrete. He designed his buildings to use the natural light wherever they are, and purposefully left the walls bare to emphasise the beauty in simplicity.

Some homeowners, though, might not see things in Tadao’s perspective. Blank walls are blank canvases. They might hang several pieces of art on the walls or even commission a mural as something unique.

Concrete and rebar together make a near-indestructible combination. They are a great return on investment and provide something sturdy for the home. While concrete home designs are nothing new, people designing a home might not give them much consideration. They favour more “traditional” home builds. The above ideas show, however, that concrete and rebar have so much more potential than just making new footpaths.