5 Sensational Outdoor Concrete Pairings
Concrete is a self-evident decision for outdoor furnishings. It’s durable, trend-forward, and blends perfectly into the natural environment while still maintaining an elegant presence. Make sure you get all the other patio elements right by pairing concrete up with the details and decor that bring the backyard together.
1. Concrete & Woven Patterns
The smoothness of concrete invites a contrasting texture, and woven patterns are a perfect match- especially if they are made of natural materials. A concrete dining table pairs perfectly with other natural elements that help it blend into the relaxed vibe of the backyard.
One of our favorites is World Market’s Cabrillo II outdoor dining chair with acacia wood frame and woven rope seat and back. We prefer the olive color for optimal natural looks. A rug underneath a concrete dining table or coffee table is a welcome combination. This Nord Moroccan Tribal patterned outdoor rug from Well Woven provides color, texture, and pattern that will offset any concrete beautifully.
2. Concrete & Wood
Wood and concrete are a natural pair that balance one another. Where concrete exudes strength and consistency, wood brings flexibility and warmth. If you’re worried about wood in your outdoor environments, explore our Woodform Concrete®. Woodform is a design solution pioneered by Trueform that blurs the boundaries between art and science. Using concrete, the look and feel of wood can be achieved with astonishing authenticity. This enables you to experience the aesthetic of wood but in a more durable manner – meaning without warping, splitting, cracking, or rotting.
Trueform’s Blok comes across as a large chunk of carved heartwood and is available in 8 wood-look finishes indistinguishable from the actual wood. They can be used for end tables or seating, making it a versatile option. Likewise, the Alpine concrete bench looks like a solid wood bench but is wood-look concrete that’s perfect for the garden or backyard.
Take a Look at Blok
A concrete table paired with wood chairs is a perfect balance of materials. We love the simple, straightforward design of Ash & Ember’s Savannah teak armchair. Somewhere between wood and grass, rattan is another excellent choice to pair up with concrete. Frontgate’s Graham armchair serves the purpose perfectly.
3. Concrete & Cush Upholstery
These two may seem at odds with each other, but on the contrary, they can easily coexist in the right design. More indoor amenities are coming outside to create outdoor living areas that are just as much a part of the living space as the rest of the home.
Our rustic wood-look concrete Café table is right at home with modern, clean-lined slingback chairs, Jericho, by Rove Concepts for luxury outdoor dining. An outdoor upholstered sofa is a centering detail of an outdoor design that you shouldn’t miss. Pottery Barn’s Gloria looks like it belongs indoors but it was made specifically for the patio.
4. Concrete & Fire
No backyard oasis is complete without some form of fire. From tiki torches to a tabletop fire pit, there are many options. Concrete is a natural pair for fire as it’s extremely fire resistant. You can use it to create a firepit or to “dress-up" the surround on a fireplace.
Trueform offers several semi-custom fireplace surround solutions that provide an opportunity to drive overall design cohesiveness with your choice of color, shape, or finish. Or, if you’re looking for something unique, we can custom make whatever you’re envisioning.
Pair up your concrete furnishings with the warmth of string lights overhead or some low laying path lighting. We love these glowing boxes from Dazuma. Consider spotlighting key elements of your landscape like a tree or the house, like this one from Kichler.
5. Concrete & Landscaping
A well-conceived backyard design typically includes both landscaping (plants, flowers, bushes, trees, etc.) and hardscaping (benches, fountains, firepits, etc.). Hardscaping is a more permanent foundation around which everything else is built.
Concrete is an ideal material for hardscaping because of its durability through any season. Our Alpine Benches, available in several sizes and 8 standard finishes, offers functionality with sophisticated modern design.
Pair concrete hardscaping with a variety of textured plants at different heights and splashes of color. Fuzzy leafed Lamb’s Ear is a nice contrast to the smooth stateliness that is concrete. Low lying Hyacinth adds long heaven-reaching leaves and clouds of vibrant color in the spring. Of medium height, lacy-leafed Scented Geranium has lots of texture and pastel colors throughout the summer.
