• Concrete staining can offer many different project ideas.concrete image by Empath from Fotolia.com
  
  Concrete staining is the process of using a special color stain to cover concrete for a new look, according to the Ask The Builder website. There are several concrete stain projects you can create in your home or in a commercial building that will add some character to the landscaping or building.
  
  

Entrances

• If you have ever wanted to have a marble entrance to your home or office building but felt that marble was too expensive, consider making it a concrete stain project. You can purchase pre-mixed stains for a marble look or you can mix your own. You can also go the extra step of marking tile lines while the stain is still wet to give the finished product the authentic look of marble tiles.
  
  

Basement Floors

• Staining your concrete basement floor can add color to your basement and help you use your basement as additional living space. It is important to make sure your basement is waterproof before staining, as moisture may prevent the stain from drying properly. You can give your basement floor a solid color, give it a marble look or create designs and patterns. For example, a basement that will be used as a workout room or to watch sporting events could have a floor stained to look like a tennis or basketball court. Staining is much like painting, so you can get as creative as you would like.
  
  

Concrete Walls and Ceilings

• Some home basements, as well as many commercial buildings, have concrete walls and ceilings. You can give the ceiling a new look by staining the concrete. You can stain to match the color theme of a home basement, or you can help direct people to different levels of a commercial building by color-coding the concrete ceilings of different levels. The concrete walls of a home basement offer the chance to stain a mural of your favorite cartoon characters or create an image of a field to give the illusion that the basement is outdoors.
  
  

Walkways

• Pouring and staining a concrete walkway is cheaper than building a walkway from expensive marble or stone. You can create a uniform brick look by staining your concrete walkway a brick red and then drawing in the lines while the stain is still wet.