What's on trend for decorative concrete in 2026?

Remember when rendered houses and studded belts were all the rage? Same. But they didn't age well.

We like a trend here and there but what we like most is giving you a timeless, classic look that will age gracefully, like Helen Mirren.

Our favourite decorative concrete trend for 2026

1. For architectural concrete

If you're looking to add structural concrete with a visual aesthetic to an outdoor space (feature walls, outdoor kitchens, floating stairs and retaining walls), our favourite decorative concrete trends 2026 are brown or neutral tone concrete colours.

Pros:

• Timeless and blends seamlessly with natural surrounds

• Works great with most smooth or textured finishes

• Doesn't show up dirt

Cons:

• Cost: You will pay more for coloured concrete but it really does give an entirely different aesthetic to your home compared to plain grey concrete. Some additional cost for huge visual impact.

2. For large concrete areas

Our go-to triple-threat and personal favourite for large areas is a Honed finish in brown and neutral tones. Why? Because it not only looks fantastic and stylish but very practical as well.

Honed concrete is a grind and seal finish. It exposes stones within the concrete yet keeps a beautiful lightly textured finish that is naturally grippy, so it's good for wet areas. We love it for large outdoor areas to be enjoyed barefoot.

Honed concrete finish by your local Surf Coast concreters, Arkonik Concrete.

Pros:

• Hides dirt / low maintenance

• Ages well – looks better over time

• Slip resistant (fantastic around pools)

• Timeless look

• Feels great underfoot

• Option to choose an oxide and stone mix to match the colouring of your home and surrounds

Cons:

• Cost: You'll have roughly a 25% cost increase compared to exposed aggregate because of the additional labour in grinding the concrete down to a smoother finish. Check out concrete pricing for 2026.

The CROWD favourite concrete trend for 2026

Salt Rock Finish

Salt Rock Finish is an old style of textured finish that has made a recent comeback. It's achieved by pressing actual salt rocks into the top of wet concrete and later washing it off to give a natural dappled finish. It sits somewhere between a smooth trowel finish and exposed aggregate look (without the extra cost!).

Salt Rock concrete finish is often a preferred choice for pool contractors (for pool surrounds) and landscapers. Their reasons for loving it are valid – landscapers love the earthy aesthetics in the garden setting, and the price.

Pros:

• Cost-effective but fancy: It's a simple and cost-effective way to add a little character to a basic residential pour

• Cool underfoot: Because of the salt finish, unlike darker or smoother surfaces it stays cooler underfoot, especially in a hot Torquay summer.

• Natural look: If you're looking for something to blend seamlessly with your Australian landscaping and natural fibres – this is it.

Cons:

• Requires more maintenance than other finishes

• Not overly slip resistant: There's some misinformation about exactly how slip resistant this finish is. For pool surrounds we'd much prefer to use a Honed concrete finish for safety.

• Corrosive by nature: If not consistently and properly maintained, the salt element of this finish can really wreak havoc on your concrete long-term. Don't fret, we've done a whole blog about it so you can make an educated decision.

Need a quality Surf Coast concreter?

Contact your local Torquay & Surf Coast concreting team at Arkonik Concreting to chat through your decorative concrete needs. Our expert team can guide you through the whole process and help bring your vision to life.

Get in touch with our team or call us!