Perk Up Your Patio

What you need:

concrete stain in two or more colors (available at building and home supply stores )
foam stamps
gloves
brushes
masking tape

What to do:

Stamping Method

1. Make sure that concrete is dry and clean.
2. Paint concrete stain onto the patio with a roller. Let dry.
3. Apply a different concrete stain color to the stamp with a small foam paintbrush .
4. Stamp the image(s) onto the concrete. You can decorate just one area of the patio (leaf stamps "growing" up a crack, for instance), randomly scatter stamps about or create a pattern. Let dry.

Masking Tape Method

1. Make sure that concrete is dry and clean.
2. Use masking tape to make a pattern. A simple grid pattern can be taped right onto a bare patio, leaving the grey concrete color to become "grout." (You can also start with a base of concrete stain. Let dry, then tape your pattern. The base coat will become your "grout."
3. Roll out concrete paint on top of the taped pattern. Or use a brush to paint different parts of your pattern different colors.
4. Remove the tape as soon as you're finished painting (don't let the paint dry ). Pull the tape from one end with an upward motion. Touch up as needed. Let dry.
5. For a more elaborate design, you can stamp inside of the pattern created by your masking tape.

From the May/June 1998 issue of HGTV Ideas magazine.