When you think of concrete mixers you may immediately think of a building and construction site that isn’t too pretty. Although concrete and concrete mixing machines have primarily been used in architectural designs through the centuries, it is now becoming popular in home finishes and decor items. It is no longer just a heavy and structural building material, but something that can change your home or apartment into a design that is modern, contemporary, and industrial.
If you are interested in the aesthetics of using mixers to make furniture the possibilities are endless. Concrete can be found in designer homes as living room furniture, kitchen countertops, garden displays, light fittings, and much more. This article covers some of today’s top trends in furniture made with concrete mixers, giving you some great ideas for redecorating and incorporating concrete into your home.
Why is Concrete Furniture Trending?
If you’re wondering why this hardy material has suddenly made its way into our hearts and homes, just looking at some of the pros of concrete will bring things to light. Its durability makes it the perfect choice for creating both indoor and outdoor furniture that lasts, and it can enhance any home. Here are a few reasons why people are choosing concrete furniture and following this new trend.
Functionality: If you’re familiar with mixers and concrete you’ll know what a hardy and durable material it is. It doesn’t break or chip the same way that glass or wooden furniture does, making it a great choice for anyone with children or pets. Being used in furniture means your table or bench can hold weighty objects because of its strength, this means your bench could suddenly function as a table, or vice versa.
Aesthetic: Concrete is great because it creates almost unbreakable furniture, but it also looks good! Design trends have made a minimal aesthetic popular, and concrete furniture has become the go-to for many. Its aesthetic is extremely versatile and concrete furniture can suit any home if used with creativity. Concrete mixers are now being used to enhance the interior of rustic, modern, contemporary, or even country homes.
It opens doors for design: Working with such a versatile material means designers can go all out with new ideas. Pieces can be made for both indoor and outdoor use, without any setbacks. Concrete can also be used to add variety to the design of your home, it may be used to redesign your fireplace, or you could add an interesting concrete coffee table as a centrepiece in your living room. Many designers are able to pair concrete with wooden furniture, tiles, or stone, as it compliments many other textures and items used in interior design.
It is eco-friendly: If we haven’t already given you enough reasons to choose furniture made by concrete mixers, the fact that it’s eco-friendly is turning heads. mixers produce furniture that is strong and enduring, this means it lasts a long time and you don’t need to replace it often. Another benefit is that concrete releases much fewer greenhouse gases than other materials used in household items, and when the time comes it is also recyclable.
Affordability: Concrete furniture is a great option for anyone on a budget. Even though it’s being used in the most expensive designer homes, it is often much cheaper than other furniture options such as marble countertops or expensive wooden furniture. Many people are now creating their own furniture out of concrete which makes it a cheaper option too.
Maintenance: Another great reason why concrete furniture is on trend is that it is so easy to maintain. You don’t need special oils or cleaning products to keep it looking good, it’s water resistant and can handle a good scrub. Concrete furniture comes with different finishes and some are smoother than others, so choose an option that best suits your needs.
Concrete Mixers and Furniture Ideas
You might be enticed by the idea of concrete furniture but may not know exactly where to begin. There are hundreds of ideas out there that are just a quick internet search away, and it’s very easy to find concrete furniture ideas to suit any home or styling choice. We’ll take you through just a couple of the internet’s top concrete furniture ideas that people love. There’s something for every room in the house!
The Kitchen
If the kitchen is the centre of your home and you love spending time cooking up a storm, consider adding concrete to your design. One of the most popular ways to do this is by choosing a concrete countertop or creating a concrete island for the centre of your kitchen.
These types of countertops are great because they are often more affordable. They also come with a range of sealants for a smooth surface, making it easy to wipe up any spills or messes. These countertops are usually made onsite with concrete mixers because they can become heavy to transport, speak to your home builder or construction company if you are interested.
If you feel this is going to add too much concrete to your kitchen design you could opt for something smaller and choose a decorative piece to add to your kitchen. Consider looking into concrete and cement light fixtures. These usually fit any kitchen design because of the neutral grey shades, and you can often customise them with interesting light bulbs.
The Bedroom
If you love modern and industrial design, you might be interested in incorporating concrete into your bedroom. There are tons of wonderful ideas for creating a bed base made out of concrete. Your bed is the centrepiece of your bedroom, and having a contemporary bed base makes it stand out that much more.
A concrete bed base can be built into the floor to elevate your bed, these can be made on-site using one of BS Commercial Powers’s concrete mixers. Alternatively, some concrete bases are designed as 4 concrete cylinders with a flat wooden top for the mattress to rest on. The wood compliments the concrete and can be easily customised to suit your style.
If you are a plant lover and want to incorporate some greenery into your bedroom, consider adding a few cement or concrete planter pots. These are great accessories to add to any room, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Larger ones can be displayed on the floor, or smaller ones can be added to a dressing table or shelf.
The Bathroom
One of the biggest design trends this year is adding concrete finishes and furniture to your bathroom. Concrete is extremely water resistant and can be sealed with materials such as micro concrete making it the perfect choice for bathroom finishes. There is an array of concrete sinks available which could change the look of your entire bathroom. Some can be made with a mould for a perfectly round and smooth finish, others resemble concrete stone for a more rustic design.
If you are in the process of renovating your bathroom you can design your own concrete bathtub. They can be designed to fit any shape, and you can choose to have a built-in concrete bathtub or purchase a free-standing design. Concrete is now being crafted especially for bathtubs, and can be made smooth enough that it is comfortable to lie in.
The Living Room
There are ways to incorporate concrete furniture into any room in your home or every room in your home. Adding a concrete coffee table to your living room might just be the unique piece you need. You could even incorporate a glass top on your concrete coffee table for an ultra-modern look.
Other accessories to add some flare to your living room could be in the form of concrete shelving to place your books on. Perhaps consider a concrete ottoman with cushions added for comfort. The possibilities are endless and you can get creative when it comes to your living room space.
The Garden
This new concrete furniture trend doesn’t stop at interior design, and there are many ways to incorporate beautiful pieces into your garden landscape. Your garden or patio is an area of relaxation to read a book and relax, or even entertain guests on a sunny afternoon. Having durable but also comfortable furniture is a huge part of making your outdoor area welcoming.
If you have an outdoor patio, some beautiful tables and benches come in the sleekest designs to add as an outdoor dining room table. You can incorporate comfortable cushions onto your concrete benches to host lovely lunches or dinners on your patio. Having a concrete table and benches means you won’t have to worry about weather damage the same way you would with other furniture.
The Art of DIY Furniture to Make with Concrete Mixers
If you are an artisan, furniture maker, or just looking for a new hobby where you can work with your hands, you can try making your own concrete furniture design! It’s a great way to keep yourself busy and active, whilst adding beautiful pieces to your home. You don’t need to be an expert in construction to work with concrete, as long as you do your research beforehand you will have the freedom to experiment.
There are many step-by-step tutorials on how to create beautiful concrete furniture pieces online. A great way to start is to read up about it before you start, making sure you source all your materials beforehand. Give yourself time to get organised and create a workstation for yourself at home.
It is also a good idea to start small when making your first concrete project. It can be a hefty material to mould so consider starting with a planter pot or rectangular shelf. Once you’ve experimented with these you can move on to something bigger like a coffee table or bathroom sink.
A few tips for making great concrete furniture:
- Source the correct concrete for your project. You want to use high-strength and high-performance concrete for making furniture.
- Use concrete alongside other materials such as wood and steel.
- Create your own moulds or build unique forms using materials like liquid rubber.
- Make a reusable mould out of fiberglass to create multiple pieces.
- Add textures such as a chipped edge for a rustic design.
- Consider the colour of your furniture by choosing concrete to suit the shade of grey you are looking for.
If you are a furniture maker and want to scrap traditional furniture materials for concrete, it’s a good idea to create strong and reusable moulds which can make multiple pieces of furniture.
To be productive and create large-scale concrete furniture, consider purchasing one of our Baumax concrete mixers, especially if making concrete furniture is your trade. Using one of our top-quality concrete mixers will save you lots of time and money in the future.