If building a whole house from concrete seems a step too far, get the look with smaller hints

Concrete is an adaptable material that can be moulded into almost any shape. You could have a fire surround, a bath or a kitchen worktop made from concrete, although if you're using it as a worksurface make sure it's properly sealed. Crete Designs use a three-step system which means its concrete surfaces are tough enough to be cleaned with bleach.

You could even have a decorative wall. Concrete Blond create wall panels with a range of effects, from those with the pattern and texture of wallpaper, to gently embossing the first chapter of a book into a panel. Known as decorative shuttering, this technique can make concrete look warmer and less industrial.

Concrete needn't be grey - a colour that can look a little bleak under the British skies. When the concrete is mixed the cement can be grey or white. Aggregates can be chosen for their colour too, which becomes evident if you grind the surface of the concrete back. By using pigments and stains, concrete can be any shade under the sun, even bright pink. Integral pigments added at the mix stage give very vibrant tones if you want the whole pour one colour. Or if you want tonality, variation or pattern, stains can be used once the concrete has set. ‘The control you get with a stain is fantastic,' says Rebecca Green of Crete Designs. This technique can also be used on old concrete, so if you're doing a makeover, this method is the answer.

Soon, you may even be able to use translucent concrete. Hungary-based company Litracon has developed a concrete full of optical glass fibres which transmit light, which will soon go into industrial production.

Words: Joanna Booth