Staining my concrete floor was 1 of my first option but I discard the idea right away after these cons:

-costed min. $4/sf to do it right
-cold to the touch - would liked a floor I can walk on barefeet
-stained concrete is well... concrete. Still need something on top liked a throw on rug or so.
-IMO NOT suitable for children

Bumping up an old post as I am researching stained concrete.

As the previous poster mentioned "cold to the touch"....I am considering radiant heating for stained concrete. I recently saw a relatives floor that were done this way and they were TO DIE FOR!

Yes, they would call for a few throw rugs here and there. Personally, I like that for a decorative touch. Also much easier to wash a throw rug or discard rather than the wall to wall carpeting I've been dealing with.

In his/her opinion: not suitable for children. Tee hee, I am almost an empty nester. TG I don't have to make every decision around children anymore! My own kids grew up in a house with a cement basement and they turned out fine.