In addition to the kitchen, another room in the house where you can get maximum return for your remodeling investment is the bathroom. Here, too, concrete offers the benefits of durability, easy maintenance and customization. Get ideas for incorporating concrete sinks, vanities, tubs and backsplashes into your bathroom remodeling design plans.

If the appearance of your kitchen is as bland and colorless as a bowl of mac and cheese, there are a number of cost-effective ways you can use decorative concrete to give it a zesty makeover that will be a feast for the eyes. Just one of these upgrades will change the entire look of your kitchen, or if your budget allows, do them all to really satisfy your redecorating appetite. With its durability and resistance to heat, moisture and stains, concrete will also make your kitchen surfaces more functional and easier to maintain. Follow our recipe of four key ingredients for giving your kitchen a new look this year.

Start with custom countertops

The customization possibilities for concrete countertops are endless, allowing you to be as creative as you wish and serve up a one-of-a-kind look. You can design with different shapes, create long seamless runs, vary the thickness, use a multitude of colors, incorporate custom inlays, and more. Get more ideas.

Stir things up with a new floor

If your ugly linoleum tile has seen better days, cover your kitchen floor with a concrete overlay, which you can then stain or dye with a warm, solid hue or a multi-colored design. Concrete can withstand all the wear and tear common to kitchen floors including heavy foot traffic, food and drink spills, and missiles of dropped cutlery. In addition to perking up the entire look of your kitchen, it'll be the last floor you'll ever need. See these kitchen floor design options.

Blend in a built-in sink  

A concrete sink can be built right into your countertops to create a cohesive, seamless look. The sink can be cast integrally with the countertop or be a drop-in farmhouse-style installation. On this project, both types were used to create a beautiful, functional kitchen.

Finish it off with a concrete island  

If you can't afford to replace all your countertops with concrete, consider installing a concrete island. Islands can be cast in sizes to fit nearly any kitchen space, from small to large, and can incorporate built-in cooktops, drainboards, food prep areas, storage cabinets, breakfast bars, and more.