You’re probably aware that a lot of modern and contemporary home interiors feature polished concrete floors. Perhaps this can be your source of inspiration for giving your own home concrete floors that you can be proud of. But before you do that, take some time to consider all the pros and cons so you can make an informed decision. We’ll give you some tips along the way as we have a look together at some stylish concrete floor interiors.

Polished concrete floors offer many advantages, one of the most important one being durability. This is especially helpful for spaces such as the kitchen or high-traffic hallways and entryways. This stylish house designed byStudio Gilexemplifies how easy it is to incorporate concrete flooring into a modern kitchen and how you can coordinate it with matching concrete countertops for a cohesive effect.

Another great advantage of concrete flooring in general is the easy maintenance which makes it a perfect option for summer homes or holiday retreats like this house designed byLuciano kruk Arquitectos inValeria del Mar, Argentina. Keep in mind however that concrete floors need to be properly sealed in order to resist moisture and to actually last and maintain their beauty over time. You should periodically reseal them. This applies to concrete countertops as well.

You might think that concrete flooring is cold and not suitable for spaces that should be warm and cozy such as a bedroom. However, that’s not necessarily true and can defintiely be avoided. Soft rugs can ensure a warm and comfortable feeling, as shown in this contemporary house designed byPedra Líquida.

It’s also important to take into consideration the cost associated with polished concrete flooring. That’s when you’ll discover yet another advantage. Concrete flooring is very cost-effective so you’d actually make a bold design statement while also staying within budget. This can also inspire you to use concrete for other surfaces, likeBAK Arquitectosdid here.

ArchitectHenri Cleingedesigned a very beautiful house which takes full advantage of every aspect associated with polished concrete flooring. You can see here how the cold and hard nature of the concrete is balanced by the warmth and unique texture of the wood.

We should also mention the fact that concrete flooring can feature a variety of different color and texture effect so you won’t really be stuck with a common and boring design feature. A good example is this house in Joplin, US designed byHufft Projects.

Of course, it’s equally important to acknowledge the cons of having concrete floors in a home. One of them has to do with the fact that concrete flooring is cold and can give out a rugged, harsh look. This can actually work if your favor if you’re planning on adopting a modern-industrial style. Perhaps this design byMathew and Ghosh Architectscan serve as inspiration.

Another disadvantage can be the fact that concrete floors are hard. You can actually solve this issue along with the one related to the cold nature of the floor by using rugs. They don’t have to contrast with the floor or hide it completely. Perhaps you can choose something with a color and look similar to concrete, like this area rug. This is an interior designed byS-AR andComunidad Vivex.

As you can see, deciding whether the pros outweigh the cons or not is not easy and if you’re having trouble making a definite decision, we suggest a compromise. You can have concrete flooring and wooden flooring together in your home. You can use concrete in some areas and wood or tile or other material in other areas. The idea is inspired by this amazing house from Japan designed byFORM Kouichi Kimura Architects.

We mentioned before that polished concrete floors and countertops go well together but have you even considered the possibility of combining these two functions into one single fluid surface? The architects and designers atEZZOdid and this is what they came up with.

Concrete and wood make a lovely pair and complement each other wonderfully, the result being a balanced design with lots of character. Of course, wood isn’t the only material which can tone down the cold and hard nature of polished concrete floors. Check out these beautiful brick walls whichAtelier d’Architecture Bruno Erpicum & Partnerspreserved when they renovated this old, historic house fromDüsseldorf, in Germany.

Because polished concrete flooring is often very simple and neutral, this gives interior designers the opportunity to add color and texture to a space in other forms and to use the floor as a sort of blank canvas. A lovely example is this stylish living room of a house from Bulgaria designed byI/O Architects.

It’s not just polished concrete floors that are trendy right now but also exposed concrete walls. These can make an interesting pair with plenty of potential when it comes to interior design. An example could be this large atrium inside a concrete art gallery/ studio from Bangkok, designed by ASWA Architects.

We love the way the black sofa sits directly onto the polished concrete floor of this house from Melbourne. It really grounds the space and it looks great in combination with the custom wooden furniture features throughout the space. That and the fact that the space is large, airy and open make this living area look very welcoming while also allowing it to look elegant and to maintain a very simple character. The space was designed by studioRitz&Ghougassian.

There are a lot of details which can influence the way polished concrete flooring looks, such as the lighting, the colors and textures of the furniture and all the accessories and even the views outside the windows. It’s important to take into consideration all these elements and to see the big picture, putting everything in context. We think that this house located in Wyoming could serve as a source of inspiration. It was a project by studioAbramson Teiger.