Top 10 'Concrete-Chic' Decor Projects to make for a Minimalist Brutalist Vibe on Weekends
There's an undeniable honesty to concrete. In a world saturated with sleek plastics and polished veneers, this raw, unpretentious material speaks of strength, substance, and authenticity. It’s the soul of Brutalism, an architectural style known for its monolithic forms and unapologetic use of raw concrete. But you don't need to live in a Le Corbusier building to appreciate its power. A new wave of design, which we can call 'Concrete-Chic', is bringing this humble material indoors, celebrating its textural beauty in a minimalist context.
This aesthetic is all about contrast—the roughness of concrete against a soft rug, its cool grey tones next to a vibrant green plant, or its solid weight holding up delicate books. It’s a design language that feels both ancient and strikingly modern. The best part? You don’t need to be a master sculptor or have a high-tech workshop to bring this vibe into your home. With a bag of concrete mix and a little weekend creativity, you can craft stunning decor pieces that are both functional and artistically expressive.
Ready to get your hands a little dusty? We’ve curated a list of ten accessible yet impressive 'Concrete-Chic' projects perfect for a weekend. These DIYs will not only elevate your space with a minimalist Brutalist edge but also give you the immense satisfaction of making something beautiful and lasting with your own two hands.
1. The Essential Hexagonal Coasters
Let's start with a classic and a perfect entry point into the world of concrete crafts. Coasters are small, require minimal material, and the results are almost instantly gratifying. While you can make simple square or circular coasters, hexagonal ones add a geometric flair that feels intentional and modern. They protect your surfaces while serving as tiny, functional sculptures on your coffee table.
To create these, you’ll need a silicone hexagonal coaster mold, which is easily found online or at craft stores. The key to a professional finish is in the details. Mix your craft concrete to a smooth, pancake-batter-like consistency. After pouring, tap the sides of the mold vigorously for a few minutes to release any trapped air bubbles. This simple step is what prevents a pockmarked, amateur finish and gives you that smooth, dense surface characteristic of high-end concrete decor.
Pro-Tip: Don't stop at plain grey! You can add concrete pigments to your mix for a splash of color—think terracotta, charcoal, or even a muted sea green. For an extra touch of luxe, consider painting one edge with gold or copper leaf paint after the coaster has fully cured. To protect both the coaster and your furniture, glue a thin cork backing to the bottom.
2. The Minimalist Planter Pot
There’s no better pairing than the industrial coolness of concrete with the organic vibrancy of a houseplant. A DIY concrete planter is a statement piece that makes any succulent, cactus, or trailing vine look like a work of art. The process is surprisingly simple and relies on the "mold-in-a-mold" technique. You'll use a larger outer container (like a plastic tub or milk carton) and a smaller inner container (a plastic cup) to create the pot's walls.
The secret to a successful planter is twofold: ensuring your inner mold is weighted down so it doesn’t float up as the concrete is poured, and remembering to create a drainage hole. You can create a drainage hole by placing a small, greased dowel or a wine cork at the bottom of the outer mold before pouring. Once the concrete is set, you simply remove it. Getting the molds out can be tricky, so be sure to coat them generously with a mold release agent or simple cooking oil beforehand.
Pro-Tip: Experiment with different mold shapes. A large yogurt container makes a classic round pot, while a square plastic food container creates a sharp, modern look. For a taller planter, a Pringles can (with a smaller tube inside) works wonders. The slight imperfections and mold lines that result are part of the charm of handmade home decor.
3. Sculptural Concrete Bookends
Tired of flimsy metal bookends that can’t handle your art book collection? Heavy, architectural concrete bookends are the perfect solution. They bring a sense of gravity and stability to any shelf, transforming a simple row of books into a curated display. This is a project that feels substantial and is a favorite here at the Goh Ling Yong blog for its blend of pure function and sculptural form.
The easiest way to make a set is by using two identical milk or juice cartons as molds. Simply fill them to your desired height (about 4-6 inches is good) and let them cure. For an L-shaped bookend, you can create a simple mold from melamine wood or rigid plastic sheets, holding them together with silicone caulk and clamps. The key is to ensure your mold is watertight and sturdy enough to hold the weight of the wet concrete.
Pro-Tip: For an ultra-smooth, almost polished finish, be patient with the sanding process. Start with a coarse-grit sandpaper (around 80-grit) to smooth out any major bumps or seam lines, then progressively move to finer grits (120, then 220). Wiping the surface with a damp cloth between sanding stages will help you see your progress.
4. Taper Candle & Tea Light Holders
There's something magical about the interplay of flickering candlelight against the solid, stoic surface of concrete. Creating your own candle holders is a simple project that adds a touch of hygge-meets-Brutalism to your home. For tea light holders, you can use silicone muffin liners or small plastic cups as your main mold, pressing a tea light (wrapped in plastic wrap for easy removal) into the wet concrete to create the perfect-sized indent.
For elegant taper candle holders, the process is slightly different. Use a small, stable mold (like a cut-down plastic bottle or a small food container). Before the concrete fully sets (but after it has started to firm up, usually about an hour in), gently press a taper candle into the center to create the socket. Twist it slightly as you pull it out to ensure a clean opening. This timing is crucial; too early and the concrete will flow back in, too late and it will be too hard to make an impression.
Pro-Tip: Create a set of three holders of varying heights for a dynamic centerpiece. Pour the concrete to different levels in three identical molds. This simple variation creates a sophisticated, clustered look when they're arranged together on a dining table or mantelpiece.
5. The Modern Catch-All Tray
We all need that one spot to drop our keys, loose change, and jewelry at the end of the day. A concrete catch-all tray is an elegant upgrade from a simple ceramic bowl. Its clean lines and weighty presence make organization feel deliberate and stylish. This is one of the easiest projects on the list and offers a large surface area to appreciate the unique texture of your concrete mix.
Find a shallow, smooth plastic lid or the bottom of a food storage container to use as your mold. For a tray with a slight lip, you can use a technique similar to the planter: find two shallow, nested containers (like two plastic plates of different sizes). Pour the concrete into the larger one and gently press the smaller, greased one on top to create the indentation. A small stack of books on top will keep it weighted down as it cures.
Pro-Tip: This is a fantastic project for experimenting with a terrazzo effect. Save colorful broken glass, small stones, or chips of old tile. Sprinkle them into the bottom of your mold before you pour the concrete. After it’s cured and de-molded, you’ll need to do some heavy-duty sanding and polishing to reveal the embedded aggregate, but the result is a stunning, one-of-a-kind piece.
6. The Industrial-Chic Door Stop
Function meets form in this undeniably useful project. A concrete doorstop is heavy enough to hold open the most stubborn of doors and doubles as a minimalist sculpture when not in use. Forget the cheap plastic wedges; this is an object that feels permanent and intentional.
The simplest form is a classic wedge, which you can mold using a sturdy, triangular-shaped plastic container or by building a simple three-sided mold from scrap wood. Another popular option is a spherical or semi-spherical doorstop. You can achieve this by using an old rubber ball or a plastic sphere ornament as a mold, cutting a small hole to pour the concrete in. For a handle, embed a loop of thick, natural rope into the wet concrete before it sets. This adds a wonderful textural contrast and makes it easy to move around.
Pro-Tip: To protect your floors from scratches, it’s essential to add a felt or rubber base. You can buy self-adhesive felt pads or cut a custom shape from a sheet of cork and attach it with strong construction adhesive once the concrete is fully cured and sealed.
7. The Statement Concrete Vase
While a planter holds soil, a vase is designed for water and fresh-cut stems. This requires a slightly more precise approach to ensure it’s watertight. The basic construction is similar to a planter—using an outer mold (like a tall plastic juice bottle or a cardboard tube) and a narrower inner mold (like a test tube or a thin plastic tube) to create the cavity.
The critical step for a vase is sealing. Once the concrete has cured for at least 48-72 hours, you need to apply several coats of a waterproof concrete sealer, both inside and out. Pay special attention to the interior, ensuring every surface is coated to prevent water from slowly seeping through the porous material over time. This step is non-negotiable if you want to use it for fresh flowers.
Pro-Tip: Create a "dipped" effect by using painter's tape to mask off the bottom third of the cured vase and painting the exposed section with a metallic or matte black paint. This two-tone look breaks up the monolithic form and adds a touch of refined, graphic detail.
8. The Sleek Phone/Tablet Stand
This project is a bit more advanced but incredibly rewarding. A concrete phone or tablet stand is a stylish and stable addition to any desk or kitchen counter. It holds your device at the perfect angle for video calls or watching recipes while you cook. The challenge lies in creating the thin, angled slot that will hold your device.
You'll need to create a custom mold. A simple box mold made from melamine or foam board works well. The key is to fashion a thin, angled "fin" from a piece of sturdy plastic or wood. This fin, well-greased, will be suspended in the mold to create the slot. You’ll need to measure the thickness of your device (with its case on!) to ensure the slot is the right size. Precision is key here, so take your time with the mold-making process.
Pro-Tip: Before committing to concrete, do a test run. Build your mold and pour it with plaster of Paris first. It's cheaper and sets much faster, allowing you to quickly see if your mold design works and if the angle and slot size are correct before you mix up a batch of concrete.
9. Minimalist Wall Hooks
Why settle for boring metal hooks when you can have small pieces of functional art on your wall? These DIY concrete hooks are perfect for hanging light jackets, bags, or towels, adding an unexpected touch of industrial texture to your entryway or bathroom. They are small, so you can make a whole batch in one go.
Use a silicone ice cube tray with interesting shapes (like spheres or large cubes) as your mold. The crucial element is embedding the hanging hardware. Before the concrete fully sets, you'll need to insert a screw, leaving the threaded part sticking out of the back. You can hold it in place with a small clamp or a piece of tape stretched across the mold until the concrete hardens around it. This screw will then go into a wall anchor for a secure mount.
Pro-Tip: Ensure the screw is perfectly perpendicular to the back of the hook. If it's inserted at an angle, the hook won't sit flush against the wall. Using a small level during this step can make a huge difference to the final, professional look. It's this kind of attention to detail that elevates DIY from homemade to handmade, a philosophy we cherish on the Goh Ling Yong blog.
10. Decorative Spheres & Orbs
Sometimes, an object doesn't need a function to be beautiful. A collection of concrete spheres or orbs, displayed in a wooden bowl or stacked in a corner of a bookshelf, can serve as a powerful decorative accent. They are pure form and texture, embodying the minimalist Brutalist ethos.
The best molds for these are clear plastic fillable ornaments, which come in two halves that snap together. They're available at most craft stores, especially around the holidays. You simply snap them shut, drill a small hole for pouring, and use a funnel to fill them with a slightly runnier concrete mix. Tap and rotate the sphere gently to work out air bubbles and ensure the mix fills the entire space. Once cured, you can carefully crack or cut the thin plastic mold away.
Pro-Tip: Create orbs of different sizes and textures. For some, focus on getting the smoothest finish possible through meticulous sanding. For others, leave them rougher and more organic right out of the mold. The contrast between the different finishes when they are displayed together creates a visually rich and compelling vignette.
Your Concrete Canvas Awaits
Stepping into the world of DIY concrete decor is more than just a weekend project; it's an exploration of material, form, and texture. It’s about slowing down and creating something tangible and permanent with your own hands. The beauty of these projects lies in their imperfections—the subtle air bubbles, the slight color variations, the faint lines from the mold. These are the marks of a handmade object, telling a story that mass-produced items never can.
So pick a project that speaks to you, grab a bag of concrete mix, and transform your space with the raw, elegant power of 'Concrete-Chic'. Don't be afraid to experiment and make these ideas your own.
Which project are you most excited to try this weekend? Share your plans in the comments below, and don't forget to tag us in photos of your finished creations on social media! For more creative guides and minimalist design inspiration, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter. Happy making
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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