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Concrete Driveway Stain Ideas: Colors & Looks

Justin Richardson

One of the best ways to boost curb appeal — and property value — is to give a worn, cracked, or faded driveway a stained makeover. Stain can mimic marble, stone, tile, or even wood, at a fraction of the price of replacement. Here are real driveway looks from Direct Colors customers, grouped by color and technique, with the products behind each.

Stained concrete driveway design

A 15-year-old paver driveway made over with Aztec Brown Portico™ and Goldenrod EasyTint™ — it barely looks like the same pavers.

Shop Driveway Stains →

Warm browns & earth tones

Neutral browns are the most popular driveway colors — they read like natural stone and work with almost any home exterior.

Faded concrete driveway
Before — a tired 15-year-old paver driveway.
Stained concrete driveway design
After — Aztec Brown Portico™ with a Goldenrod EasyTint™ field.

Aztec Brown Portico Stain Accent Detail

A contrasting circle accent in Aztec Brown Portico™ defines the design.

A faded, lackluster paver driveway in need of a color refresh
Before — plain driveway pavers.
Multicolored paver driveway with Aztec Brown, Driftwood, Khaki, Yukon Gold and Terracotta concrete stains
After — four Portico™ colors blended (Aztec Brown, Driftwood, Khaki, Terracotta & Yukon Gold).
Before photo of a plain concrete driveway
Before — plain broomed concrete.
Buff stained broomed finish concrete driveway
After — a subtle, warm refresh in Buff EasyTint™.
Unstained concrete driveway extension
Before — an unstained driveway extension.
The finished driveway, showcasing the blend of Malayan Buff and Coffee Brown stains, sealed and dried
After — Malayan Buff with Coffee Brown accents, EverStain™.

Reds & crimson

Warm reds bring out the texture in pavers and read beautifully against brick and stone.

Faded Driveway Concrete Pavers
Before — drab brick pavers.
Crimson Portico Stain on Driveway Concrete Pavers
After — Crimson Portico™, sealed.

Grays & charcoal

Whether charcoal or silver, gray gives a driveway a clean, finished look — and it’s a great tool for hiding discoloration.

Stamped Concrete Driveway

Charcoal Antiquing™ on a textured driveway.

Circular paver design stained with gloss EasyTint black
A Black EasyTint™ circular paver driveway.
Driveway Brushed Concrete - EasyTint Silver Gray
A covered driveway revived with Silver Gray EasyTint™.
Faded Concrete Paver Driveway
Before — uneven gray pavers.
Stained Concrete Paver Driveway
After — evened out with Light Charcoal Portico™.

Eco-friendly & bold color

ColorWave® is a water-based, eco-friendly stain — and it doesn’t have to be subtle.

Faded Driveway Concrete Pavers
Faded Driveway Concrete Pavers.
Restored Stamped Concrete Paver Driveway
Restored Stamped Concrete Paver Driveway.
Discolored concrete driveway
Discolored concrete driveway.
ColorWave Driveway Tangerine During
ColorWave Driveway Tangerine During.

Clean lines with concrete dye

For a more solid, graphic color, Vibrance™ concrete dye lets you lay down crisp two-tone designs.

Concrete Dye Patio Design
Concrete Dye Patio Design.
Concrete Dye Patio Design - Light Slate, Stormy Gray and Black Concrete Dye sealed with High Gloss, Solvent-based Acrylic Sealer mixed with Anti-Slip Additive
Concrete Dye Patio Design - Light Slate, Stormy Gray and Black Concrete Dye sealed with High Gloss, Solvent-based Acrylic Sealer mixed with Anti-Slip Additive.
Concrete Dye Patio Design
Concrete Dye Patio Design.

Acid-stain artistry

Acid stain reacts into the slab for one-of-a-kind, permanent results — from faux wood grain to custom bordered designs.

Acid Stained Concrete Driveway
Acid-stained driveway art.
Faux Wood Stamped Concrete Driveway
A faux wood-grain finish.
Concrete driveway stained with Yukon Gold Antiquing Stain and Black EasyTint
A Yukon Gold field with a black-tinted sealed border.
Before Staining Concrete Floor - Brushed Concrete Driveway
Before — plain brushed concrete.
Driveway Brushed Concrete - EverStain Malayan Buff, Coffee Brown Acid Stains-
After — Malayan Buff and Coffee Brown EverStain™, this veteran’s driveway even features an eagle-and-flag design.

See the full step-by-step on that project in Staining a Brushed Concrete Driveway.

Driveway Colors: FAQs

Neutral browns and earth tones — they read like natural stone and work with almost any home exterior. Warm reds bring out texture in pavers and sit well against brick.

What color hides discoloration best?

Gray. Charcoal or silver gives a driveway a clean, finished look and is a genuinely useful tool for hiding uneven color.

Can I get crisp, graphic color rather than a mottled look?

Yes — Vibrance™ dye lays down solid two-tone designs with clean lines. ColorWave® is the water-based option and does not have to be subtle. Acid stain is the opposite end: reactive, one-of-a-kind and permanent.

What’s Next

  1. Real before & afters → Stained Concrete Driveway: Before & After
  2. How to stain, step by step → Concrete Stain How-To Guide
  3. Broom-finish acid staining → Staining a Brushed Concrete Driveway
  4. Shop → Portico™ · EasyTint™ · Trial Kits

Direct Colors. Shawnee, OK. Manufacturing the full decorative concrete system since 1997.

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Tags: DIY Driveways Ideas Pavers Stained Concrete

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Before You Checkout

EasyTint™ and OxiGrip™ are not compatible when used together directly. For slip resistance, use EasyTint™ as the color layer and apply OxiGrip™ only with a clear solvent based sealer as the topcoat.

Before You Checkout

AcquaTint™ and OxiGrip™ are not compatible when used together directly. If you need added slip resistance, apply AcquaTint™ as your color layer first, then use OxiGrip™ in a clear topcoat with AcquaSeal™ or HydroCryl™.