Thinking About Decorative Concrete Coating for Your Garage of Patio?

So, you’re looking to change your garage, lanai or other flooring in your home and considering a decorative concrete coating. The salesperson shows up with samples that have lots of different colors and color combinations. How do you choose?

There are several considerations:

• The mood: How do you want the space to feel when you enter it?
• Existing colors: What colors are already in the space you can’t or don’t want to change?
• The space: Its size, location and even lighting.
• Utility: How do you use the space?

Probably the most important consideration is mood. How do you want to feel when you enter the space?

Lighter color hues can make the space feel more open; adding a splash of color either on the floor itself or walls and furniture can be uplifting and add whimsy.

Earth tones are just that: earthy, which can be grounding and provide a foundation for a more natural space.

Darker tones and less busy designs can make a space feel more formal and organized.

These aren’t hard and fast rules, but directional – a starting point.

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The next consideration is existing colors. You’ll want to consider colors that complement or contrast well with colors that are already in the space. Here’s where you can also make objects in the space “pop” or stand out. You have a hot red Corvette or couch? Having it sit on a mostly white or black surface will make it stand out. Have a favorite color on a furniture piece, wall or artwork? Adding a bit of that color to the floor can make those items pop in the space.

Color can also make the floor itself blend into the background or pop.

Here’s where having those samples the salesperson brought can help you see what gets accented and what blends in.

Let’s move to the space’s size, location and lighting. If you have a smaller space that isn’t well lit, keeping the colors very light can help increase its appearance of size and make it feel more open. Very dark colors can make a space feel smaller and more enclosed.

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You’ll also want to look at the samples in the space, both in the well-lit areas and darker areas, because light can change the appearance of color. A space that has natural light will change color over the course of the day, so this can be another consideration.

Let’s also talk about utility and how you’ll use the space.

Take a garage, for example. If you’re using it as a workspace and small parts get dropped on the floor, you may want a less busy pattern or color that doesn’t camouflage those small parts. If you get a lot of mud and dirt in the space, having a busier pattern can hide that dirt between cleanings.

This isn’t an exhaustive list of considerations, but it should get you started in choosing a color scheme that works for you and your lifestyle. Your salesperson can assist by showing you various styles and colors, and many can even customize the colors and blends to create the perfect look for your space.