Some Quick Tips for Dressing Up a Concrete Driveway
When you're ready to have a new concrete driveway installed in your home, you want to consider how it will look and not just how strong it will be; your home's driveway can easily add to its curb appeal with a few simple decorative touches. On the other hand, a dull grey driveway can make your home look just as dull and drab. Note a few quick tips for dressing up a concrete driveway and then discuss these with your concrete contractor before work begins.
1. Stone
Stamped concrete can be made to look like stone; square patches of virtually any size can be stamped or painted so that they each look somewhat unique, just like natural stone. Note the overall décor or outside look of your home before you decide on this choice; if your home's exterior is somewhat busy, with a bold trim color and dark shutters against the walls, a stone pattern for your driveway might be even more busy and downright cluttered. However, if your home's exterior is just one solid color without a bold choice for the trim, a stone stamping for the driveway can dress it up and add some visual interest that might be missing.
2. Paint
If your home does have a somewhat busy exterior, consider a solid paint color for the driveway. This will give it a nice look without overwhelming the space. Choose a color that matches a color to an accessory on your home, meaning the trim work or the shutters, versus the brick or siding. This will make those accessories stand out, and the color of the driveway won't compete with the color of your home's aluminum siding or brick.
3. Aggregate
An aggregate is something mixed in with concrete to give it texture and color; this might be a type of smooth, polished glass, or very small pebbles. Adding an aggregate can make your driveway safer as it will then offer more traction during rainy or snowy weather. An aggregate can also easily coordinate with your home's overall look; for a modern home, choose a polished glass in a clear or grey color. For a more traditional home, choose a type of pebble that has earth tones of brown and green. You can also coordinate the aggregate to your landscaping; if you have red rose bushes, opt for a coordinated red aggregate, but for a driveway lined with purple lilacs, choose a grey or soft white so the driveway doesn't clash with the flowers.