Style Canvas: Decorative concrete driveways

Question:
I have partially renovated a low set house, painted it white inside and out and am not sure how to paint the driveway or what colour would suit it (currently an ugly faded light terracotta). I need a colour that will be darker than white to hide dirt and marks, but not dark enough to look like dismal. The driveway is about 40m long and the entrance pillars are white. There are also steel posts around the veranda that would need to be painted, the fascia boards and under the veranda.

Styling advice
Of all the different types of decorative driveway finishes, such as acid stains, etching, overlays and stamped concrete, coloured concrete is one of the most hardwearing and requires very little maintenance. It should need resealing every two years at most. You should, however, remove stains as soon as possible. Use a pressure-wash to clean the driveway periodically to remove dirt or grime.

Here are some ideas to add interest to your concrete driveway.

(Image credit: Concrete colour systems,
Colours: CCS Black 21 and CCS Lemon crème)

Contrasting colours
A mix of colours: light concrete separated by bands of darker concrete as an alternative to traditional joint lines or a grooved finish.

(Image credit: Concrete colour systems,
Colours: CCS Pewter and CCS Paperbark)

Subtle, naturally coloured ripple pattern for a beach house using two different base colours for the driveway.

Top Layers
Cement driveways can have pebbles added to the top layer of cement. This leaves the pebbles exposed. Usually the pebbles are coloured to give a dimensional effect. Another approach is to saw-cut patterns into the top layer of cement.

Stamped concrete driveways
Less expensive than traditional pavers and natural stone, stamping can give concrete the look of cobblestones, canyon stone, brick, tile, slate or flagstones.

If the cost of doing the whole driveway is out of reach, borders are a less expensive alternative. Just adding a 6” border will make your driveway look more elegant. You can also add depth by using a contrasting colour in the border.

Image credit: www.concretenetwork.com

If it’s too expensive to redo your entire driveway in decorative concrete, then just add a stamped concrete apron for the first several feet of the driveway. With an apron, the entrance to your home will be more inviting, and you won’t risk having it look overdone.

Another way to spruce up your driveway is with plants. Well-designed landscaping can highlight or minimize a driveway, depending on the effect you desire.

Image credit: www.amslandscapedesign.com

Soften a long driveway with cobblestone edging that follows the treeline.

Tools & Tips:
The Concrete Visualiser is a helpful online tool that helps you select a pattern and colour for your driveway.

Styling advice for exterior colours:
I always advise clients to have the gutters the same colour as the fascia and the house because gutters aren't the nicest of things to see. Picking them out in a different colour draws attention to them whereas using the same colour helps them to blend in.
Most of the time I recommend using a single colour for the exterior but sometimes certain colours can look good together. Of course, it costs more to use two separate colours but sometimes it’s worth the expense.

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