I can't see a driveway painted navy. How about a medium gray? That would go with your color scheme yet not draw negative attention.

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If you live in a very hot climate, a dark color will be awful hot to walk and put a car on. If you have children, they may want to play on the driveway. Even if you live where there are seasons, a hot summer will be difficult with such a hot dark color driveway. I wouldn't go with any darker than a medium shade. If you live in a very cold climate, go ahead with the dark driveway.

So whatever you decide to do can only go as far as the sidewalk correct?

@houssaon I was thinking a medium gray but I thought it might be more of the same washed out scheme. Looking at @beverlyfladeziner posted image it isn’t bad. @beverly you are correct I can only go as far as the sidewalk. @patricia the previous owners painted it a color similar to the house and that’s why it looks the way it does now. It’s mostly peeled off. I was looking at a concrete epoxy, maybe paint was the wrong choice of word.

I don't think a concrete dye would work, since you have so many colors already on the driveway. You would only get a mottled look. And I agree with another comment that says don't paint the driveway. I would suggest doing a thin new concrete overlay, and make it a light grey. An important point: your driveway should not be what adds color to an otherwise washed out vista!

Some options to make your house have "curb appeal":

-- Paint the house a color other than white, such as a light beige (but then you'll also need to paint the blue (or is it grey?) trim some other color, such as white). I see that you have an arch over the entrance to a small porch. This is a very nice feature, but doesn't even show up. The problem is that the arch is painted the same color as the house, making it hardly visible. So here's an idea: as mentioned, paint the house a beige. Then paint that arch - including the little accents that are currently painted a grey -- a white. And paint the other little arches plus accents that are over the windows also white.

-- Add some lovely landscaping. This goes a looonnng way to enhancing the front of a house. I think you should do this no matter what else you do.

Please post an image showing more of the house, plus the front yard.

Now we know the driveway was already apinted always best when posting to give as much info as possible. Of course you can’t dye it now I agree a thin coat of new colored concrete is probably the way to go.

I'm a designer, including doing graphic art. I've done a mock-up of what you could do so the driveway looks better, and the overall look is not washed out..

I made the house a beige, and the trim white. This way the trim stands out.

Also, as you can see I've added some blue and white Spanish tiles on the area that leads up to your navy front door. I think this could add some fun and some color, and would work well with the navy door.

The driveway is grey to simulate having it re-covered.

I know you were originally only asking what to do with the driveway. But you also did say you don't like the washed out look of the house. My other suggestions are for helping with that. If you're not in a position to do all of these things, then maybe do part of it. For example, if you can do the tiles yourself, this could be an inexpensive project.

What do you think?

Something else that could be done to the driveway: You could use a paint remover to dissolve the remaining grey paint, and then do another pressure wash. I suggest using a natural product, and there are some very effective non-toxic paint removers that are citrus based. It will take some work, but you should be able to get all the paint off the driveway.

Before I decided on anything, I would try and remove the flaking paint that is on there. You may be able to get the driveway looking decent once paint is removed, with just a power wash.

Hi cat_ky, yes, glad there's a second to what I just said. It will take some work but would be the cheapest solution to getting the driveway itself looking better.

flaka, you can stain it, but all that paint coating has to come off. the pressure washer won't remove it? you might need someone to come and try and grind the rest of it off, otherwise, you'll have to use that epoxy again, and it just doesn't look all that great.

try a paint remover stripper. SoyGel is one safe alternative, but there are stronger ones w/chemicals.

they make a semi transparent stain that you spray on (using one of those large canister sprayers) and then back roll it w/a roller brush. (you'll need two people) I've done it to my driveway. You will need to prep the concrete by using a primer-etching solution first. then you use the stain. if you want a more solid color, go w/the solid stains.

Home Depot has the items and I believe you can get the solution tinted to a variety of colors.

a concrete finisher can come out and etch and acid wash it for you, but you're looking at more than a grand for that.

Beth, could you post a pic of your driveway after staining? With what you describe, the stain is not an acid itself, so it is a 2-step process? I've seen some concrete staining that comes out very blotchy, so it would be great to know if HD sells a product that comes out more even in color.

lina, I don't think I have any pictures of it (we did it over 15 years ago) It lasted a good 6-10 years or so and then it started wearing off. we recently pressure washed the driveway of any remnants and were going to redo it w/a charcoal color stain to match the new house colors. (just haven't gotten around to it yet. needs to be prepped again, and applied. it's been hot and or windy, and we have 3 cars to park elsewhere, so it just hasn't gotten done yet!)

however, it looked very similar to this picture (we had spanish style colors )

I also did my parents patio slab, but again, was 15 years ago, never took a pic, and we no longer have that house. I did that one with a forest green stain. it was very pretty.

The key is the sprayer (one of those large canisters you get for spraying bug spray) even spraying, and have someone back rolling (with a nappy roller ) while you spray.

that's how you keep it from getting blotchy.

We used the Home Depot concrete stain. (and the prep primer/etching stuff)

I believe it was this

and they carry a solid stain option. I didn't want a solid coverage.

but now I see they also carry the acid etching. I have dabbled w/this stuff on a smaller scale. (and had a pro do one of my bedroom floors)