---
title: "Cement Your Place in DIY History with These 9 Easy Concrete Projects"
description: "Satisfy your craving for modern industrial design with some cool—and affordable—concrete creations, complete with instructions."
date: "2013-07-09"
modified: "2015-08-18"
authors:
  - name: "Marisa Villarreal"
    job_title: "Contributing Writer & Editor"
    link: "https://www.bobvila.com/authors/marisa-villarreal/"
url: "https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/cement-your-place-in-diy-history-with-these-9-easy-concrete-projects-44683/"
categories:
  - "DIY"
  - "Easy DIY Projects"
tags:
  - "cement"
  - "concrete"
  - "DIY"
---

# Cement Your Place in DIY History with These 9 Easy Concrete Projects

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Cement_Your_Place_in_DIY_History_with_These_9_Easy_Concrete_Projects_home-modern.jpg>)

### iPad Stand

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/ipad_stand.jpg>)
*instructables.com*

Instead of buying an iPad stand, try your hand at creating one for a fraction of the cost. The example [shown here](<https://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-CONCRETE-Concrete-iPad-Stand/>) was made using a movie theater popcorn box as the mold and a glass tile for the ledge, but you could make a one-of-a-kind stand using any appropriately shaped container and a wood, tile, or metal ledge.

### Quikrete Walkway

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/WalkmakerForm-Lowes.jpg>)
*lowes.com*

For an easy and inexpensive alternative to traditional brick or stone [walkways](<https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/the-right-path-15-wonderful-walkway-designs-44301/>), you can build a durable concrete path using a WalkMaker form and some Quikrete. You'll find a step-by-step [here](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-make-a-concrete-walkway/>), as well as special techniques for making curves, adding a custom finish, or coloring the concrete to suit your design.

### Bowls

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/bowl.jpg>)
*adailysomething.com*

Pour yourself an endless supply of bowls—in any size you can shape—by following the [instructions](<https://www.adailysomething.com/2012/07/diy-concrete-bowl.html>) provided on *A Daily Something*. Keep it smooth for an industrial, polished look, or imprint your container with a doily to give it a little subtle softness.

### Pendant Lamps

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/lamps_slideshow.jpg>)
*brit.co*

Are you having trouble finding the perfect light fixture for your kitchen or bedroom? It's time to make your own! The four [pendant lamps](<https://www.brit.co/concrete-lamps/>) shown here were each made using two different-sized plastic bottles for molds. Get creative choosing containers for an assortment of [lamp styles.](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-online-lighting-stores/>)

### Bucket Stool

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/stool.jpg>)
*homemade-modern.com*

Ben Uyeda at HomeMade Modern created simple and attractive [stools](<https://homemade-modern.com/ep08-5-bucket-stool/>) using just wooden dowels, concrete, and a bucket that also served as a form for the seat. The concrete takes 20 hours to dry, but the $5 price tag on this DIY seating makes it well worth the wait! Uyeda [revisited](<https://homemade-modern.com/ep8-2-revisit-bucket-stool/>) the project using other molds and legs; check out the results for more ideas.

### Votive Holders

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/votive.jpg>)
*mrs-hardy.com*

Mrs. Hardy, of Norwegian blog fame, came up with the clever idea of making [votive holders](<https://www.mrs-hardy.com/2011/11/lrdagsgodt-telysholder-av-betong-sds.html>) from plastic cups. Although the edges and indents of the cups give detail to the holders, we're guessing that other small containers could achieve [a similar effect.](<https://theselflife.com/2011/08/pinterest-challenge-diy-concrete-planters/>)

### Trough-Style Planter

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/trough_planter.jpg>)
*homemade-modern.com*

Ben Uyeda salvaged a kitchen cabinet to serve as the mold for [this planter](<https://homemade-modern.com/ep16-concrete-planter/>). Although the project requires a little heavy lifting, the payoff is its low cost and versatility—with casters and a spigot, the planter could also be used as an industrial-style drinks cooler.

### Landscape Edging/Garden Borders

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/pouredborders-quikrete-04.jpg>)
*quikrete.com*

Poured-in-place concrete borders are perfect for lawn and garden edging, tree surrounds, and driveway curbs. They can be designed to match any landscape contour—and they will last for years! [This project](<https://www.quikrete.com/AtHome/PouredBorders.asp>) shows you all the basic steps for using Quikrete concrete to make a landscape border of any length.

### Coffee Table

![](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/coffee_table.jpg>)
*homemade-modern.com*

For a mere $50 and a Saturday's worth of work, you can have this modern [coffee table](<https://homemade-modern.com/ep15-concrete-wood-coffee-table/>). Although the wood base looks intricate, it requires just a few cross cuts with a circular saw. At 100 pounds, this table is no featherweight, so line up a few helping hands when it's time to place your masterpiece in the center of the room.

## Author
Marisa Villarreal is a landscape architect trained at [Harvard University Graduate School of Design](<https://www.gsd.harvard.edu>), where she was co-chair of Women in Design, the program's largest student-run organization. Ms. Villarreal also served as the editor of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design Student Guide. As a media professional, her career has included roles at BobVila.com, [Food52.com](<https://www.food52.com>), and [20x200](<https://20x200.com/>).

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/marisapaloma/>)