Why Ordering Concrete Samples Matters Before Choosing Coloured Concrete
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Choosing a concrete colour is one of the most exciting parts of planning an outdoor space. Whether you're creating a new driveway, patio or entertaining area, the right colour can complement your home and tie the entire landscape together.
While online galleries and brochures are a great place to start, nothing compares to seeing a physical concrete sample in the environment where it will be used.
At DesignHub, we recommend ordering concrete samples before making your final decision.
Colours look different in every environment
A concrete colour can appear quite different depending on where it's viewed.
The same sample may look warmer in direct sunlight, cooler in the shade, or change subtly throughout the day as natural light changes.
Viewing a sample at your own property allows you to see how it responds to your unique surroundings rather than relying on images viewed on a screen.
Compare it with your home's exterior
Concrete is one of the largest visual surfaces around a home, so it should work alongside the other materials you've chosen.
When you have a physical sample, you can compare it with:
Exterior cladding
Roofing
Brick or stone
Window joinery
Decking
Fencing
Outdoor furniture
Landscaping materials
Holding a sample beside these finishes makes it much easier to determine whether the colour complements your overall design.
View your sample outside
Lighting has one of the biggest influences on how colour is perceived.
A sample viewed indoors under artificial lighting can look very different once it's outside in natural daylight.
For the best comparison, we recommend placing your concrete sample in the area where it will be installed and viewing it from different angles throughout the day.
Try looking at it:
In the morning
Around midday
During the afternoon
In both full sun and shade
This provides a much more accurate representation of how the finished concrete will appear.
Consider the surrounding landscape
Concrete doesn't exist in isolation.
The surrounding environment also influences how a colour feels once it's installed.
Think about nearby elements such as:
Gardens and planting
Lawns
Retaining walls
Pool surrounds
Paving
Natural stone
Timber features
A colour that looks perfect on its own may feel completely different once it's surrounded by other materials and landscaping.
Remember that texture matters too
Concrete samples are designed to help you assess colour, but the final appearance of your project will also depend on the selected finish.
Exposed aggregate, broom finishes, polished concrete and standard finished concrete all reflect light differently and can influence how a colour is perceived.
If you're unsure which finish is right for your project, the DesignHub team can help you understand the available options before ordering.
Why Choose DesignHub?
Ordering samples through DesignHub makes it easy to compare colours before construction begins.
Our FormaColoured sample options allow you to either:
Order the complete sample collection to explore the full range.
Select up to three colours you're considering for your project.
Taking the time to compare samples now can help avoid costly changes later and give you confidence that you've selected the right colour for your home.
Order your FormaColoured samples
Choosing coloured concrete is an investment in the appearance of your home for years to come.
Seeing your shortlisted colours in your own environment is one of the simplest ways to make a confident decision.
Order your FormaColoured samples through DesignHub today and discover how the right concrete colour can bring your project to life.
