Polished concrete floors are transforming modern apartments into sleek, stylish spaces. At Superfloor Australia, we’ve seen a surge in homeowners embracing this versatile flooring option.
Styling polished concrete floors in your apartment can be an exciting journey of self-expression. This guide will walk you through colour selection, furniture pairing, and maintenance tips to help you create a stunning living space.
Choosing the Perfect Colour Palette for Polished Concrete Floors
Selecting the right colour palette for your polished concrete floors can dramatically transform your apartment’s ambiance. Let’s explore some popular options and considerations to help you make the best choice for your space.
Neutral Tones: A Timeless Choice
Neutral tones remain a popular choice for many homeowners. Light greys, warm beiges, and soft whites create a versatile backdrop that complements various decor styles. These shades reflect light well, making your space feel larger and brighter. A recent study found that blue is the most popular paint colour, with 62% of Americans selecting it as their favourite.
Bold Colours: Make a Statement
If you want to create a striking impression, bold colours offer an exciting option. Deep blues, rich burgundies, or even vibrant greens can turn your floor into a conversation starter. However, bold colours require careful planning with the rest of your decor. Industrial living rooms with concrete flooring can provide inspiration for layouts and colour schemes.
Complementary Shades: Harmony with Existing Decor
To create a cohesive look with existing decor, choose complementary shades for your polished concrete. For warm-toned furniture, consider concrete in soft earth tones. Cool-toned decor pairs well with blue-grey or slate-coloured concrete. The key is to create balance – if your decor is mostly neutral, a slightly bolder floor colour can add depth without clashing.
Consider Natural Light
The natural light in your apartment plays a crucial role in colour selection. The use of concrete flooring in apartments creates a refined feel that builds upon the naturally existing elements of light and texture. Rooms with ample sunlight can handle darker shades, while spaces with limited natural light benefit from lighter tones to keep the area feeling open and airy.
Take Your Time
The colour you choose will be a long-term commitment. Take your time, request samples, and view them in different lighting conditions before making your final decision. Your polished concrete floor is an investment in your home’s aesthetic (so choose a palette that you’ll love for years to come).
Now that we’ve covered colour selection, let’s move on to how you can enhance your polished concrete floors with the right furniture and accessories.
Furnishing Your Polished Concrete Space
Define Spaces with Area Rugs
Area rugs serve as powerful tools to define spaces in open-plan apartments. They add warmth, texture, and colour to polished concrete floors. When selecting rugs, size matters. A rug that’s too small can make a room feel disjointed. Try rugs that extend beyond your furniture to create a cohesive seating area.
For living rooms, select rugs at least as wide as your sofa. In dining areas, ensure the rug extends at least 24 inches beyond the table on all sides. This allows chairs to remain on the rug when pulled out.
Texture plays a key role when pairing rugs with polished concrete. Choose high-pile rugs in bedrooms for a plush feel underfoot. In high-traffic areas like entryways, flat-weave rugs offer practicality and easy cleaning.
Select Furniture to Complement Floor Shine
The reflective quality of polished concrete floors presents a unique opportunity to play with furniture styles. Matt finishes on furniture create an interesting contrast against the glossy floor. Consider pieces with clean lines and simple silhouettes to maintain a modern aesthetic.
Wood furniture adds warmth to the cool tones of concrete. Pick rich, warm woods like walnut or cherry to balance the industrial feel of polished concrete. For a cohesive look, match the undertones of your wood furniture to the colour of your concrete floor.
Upholstered furniture in textured fabrics (like linen or velvet) can soften the hard surfaces in your space. Choose colours that complement your floor colour. If you’ve selected a bold concrete hue, neutral furniture can balance the look.
Accentuate Floor Texture with Lighting
Lighting plays a crucial role in showcasing the beauty of polished concrete floors. Strategic placement of light sources highlights the floor’s texture and sheen.
Floor lamps with downward-facing shades create pools of light on the concrete, emphasising its reflective qualities. Consider adjustable floor lamps to direct light where you need it most.
Pendant lights with metallic finishes create interesting reflections on your polished concrete. Hang them at varying heights for a dynamic look. In kitchens or dining areas, a cluster of pendant lights forms a striking focal point.
For a dramatic effect, install LED strip lighting along the base of walls or under kitchen cabinets. This low-level lighting casts a soft glow across the floor, accentuating its smooth surface.
The key to styling polished concrete floors lies in balance. Mix textures, play with light, and don’t hesitate to experiment. Your polished concrete floor provides a canvas for your personal style (waiting to be enhanced by your unique choices in furniture and accessoriesんですね).
Now that you’ve learned how to furnish and accessorise your polished concrete space, let’s explore how to maintain the beauty of your floors for years to come.
How to Keep Your Polished Concrete Floors Pristine
Maintaining polished concrete floors requires consistent care to preserve their sleek appearance and extend their lifespan. This guide will help you maintain residential polished concrete floors.
Daily Cleaning Routine
Start each day with a sweep or dust mop to remove loose dirt and debris. This practice prevents scratching when walking on the floor. For a deeper clean, use a microfibre mop with warm water and a pH-neutral cleaner designed for polished concrete. Avoid acidic or alkaline cleaners as they can damage the floor’s finish.
Clean spills immediately to prevent staining. For tough stains, use a soft-bristled brush and a specialised concrete cleaner. Always test new cleaning products on a small, inconspicuous area first (this simple step can save you from potential disasters).
Protecting High-Traffic Areas
Place mats at entrances to trap dirt and moisture in areas with heavy foot traffic. Use felt pads under furniture legs to prevent scratches when moving items. For office chairs, choose soft rubber wheels instead of hard plastic ones.
Apply a high-quality sealer every 2-3 years to protect against stains and wear. This step is especially important in kitchens and other areas prone to spills (your future self will thank you for this extra protection).
Professional Maintenance
Polished concrete floors are easy to clean, thanks to their smooth finish. You only need a vacuum and a damp microfibre mop for regular maintenance. However, professional maintenance may still be beneficial for more thorough cleaning and restoration of the floor’s shine.
Address any chips or cracks promptly. Small issues can quickly become bigger problems if left unattended. Professional repair services can fix these issues, seamlessly blending the repaired area with the rest of the floor.
Avoiding Common Mistakes
Don’t use harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaning tools on your polished concrete floors. These can strip away the protective sealant and damage the surface. Also, avoid dragging heavy furniture across the floor, as this can cause deep scratches.
Try not to let water or other liquids sit on the surface for extended periods. While polished concrete is resistant to moisture, prolonged exposure can lead to staining or damage to the sealant.
Long-Term Care Strategies
Implement a regular maintenance schedule to keep your floors in top condition. This includes daily cleaning, weekly deep cleaning, and annual professional treatments. Keep a log of when you last applied sealant or had professional maintenance done.
Consider using area rugs in high-traffic zones to reduce wear on the concrete. Rotate these rugs periodically to ensure even wear on both the rug and the floor beneath.
Final Thoughts
Polished concrete floors in apartments offer a unique blend of style and practicality. The right colour palette creates a versatile backdrop that complements existing decor or makes a bold statement. Furniture and accessories, such as area rugs and strategic lighting, enhance the beauty of polished concrete floors while adding warmth and personality to your space.
Regular cleaning and protective measures in high-traffic areas will keep your floors looking their best for years to come. Polished concrete floors in apartments are durable, easy to clean, and can improve indoor air quality by reducing allergens. Their reflective properties can make your space feel larger and brighter, while their thermal mass properties can help regulate temperature (potentially reducing energy costs).
Superfloor Australia specialises in delivering high-quality polished concrete flooring solutions in Brisbane. Our expert team can help you achieve the perfect polished concrete floors for your apartment, combining aesthetics with durability. With the right styling choices and proper care, your polished concrete floors will continue to impress and serve you well, making them an excellent investment for your apartment living space.