Concrete flooring provides a simple solution to add an industrial feel to a space, from entryways to lounge areas. On this page, you can discover a range of design options, with houses that boast matte or polished concrete floors. From small cabins nestled in nature and coastal retreats with a huge square foot layout to vacation homes built in forests or urban dwellings, these architectural projects show the most ingenious and inspired use of concrete and cement floors. In these projects, this humble flooring material becomes a striking element of the decor. The designs vary from rustic to contemporary and industrial, but all of these examples and different flooring options put concrete in the best light.

Creatively designed, these houses with concrete floors use the material in different ways. While some buildings also feature a concrete slab base and concrete walls, sometimes used with great effect in a minimalist brutalist home design, others reserve these building materials only for an interior concrete floor. In most cases, architecture and interior design studios or DIY loving homeowners design or remodel interiors by pairing aggregate concrete with warm surfaces to create a striking home decor. For example, solid wood floor accents or furniture in light or darker colors, brick walls, ceramic objects, terracotta, soft area rugs, and plush seating –  in a living room. Steel and metal can also enhance the industrial look of this type of flooring, whether with they boast a lustrous finish, a matte gray surface or a powder-coated black coating.

Architects also explore the materiality of the material when designing houses with concrete floors or completing a home improvement project. A polished concrete surface can subtly reflect the golden light of the sunrise, for example. By contrast, raw concrete surfaces with textured floor finishes can provide the perfect counterpoint to smooth glass, metal, and lacquered wood. A creative floor installation can also enhance existing flooring by bringing together different finishes or patterns, for example.

Apart from its aesthetic value, concrete is also a low-maintenance and highly durable material that can be used for a basement floor or with floor heating. Furthermore, the longevity of concrete and its weather-resistance make it an ideal choice for coastal areas. That’s because unlike other materials, concrete resists high salinity and requires only minimal maintenance over time. Regardless of their location, these houses with concrete floors are as beautiful as they are inspiring.