We need to replace our old patio that is a concrete slab with not-anchored wooden square pieces placed above the cement. Besides getting rid of the wood the cement slab has to go.
The area is 6x6 or 8x8, not exactly sure. I haven’t precisely measured it.
What do you suggest: concrete? Stained concrete? Pavers? Alternative composite like Trex?
The plan is to move within two years so we want to enjoy a new patio for a short timeframe and don’t want to spend a lot but boost the patio look.
Why does the cement slab need to be removed? Is it horribly damaged?
If it could be salvaged, then building a thin wooden deck pad over it would be cheap and nice. I’m thinking 1" x 6" boards (actual size 3/4" x 5-1/2") over a thin wooden substrate. This would be very easy to construct and could provide good drainage.
What is your climate and what types of surfaces do you like?
Personally I’m not a fan of concrete, pavers or Trex. My favorite patio/deck material is a South American hardwood called “ipe” and pronounced “ee-pay”, which is very strong, dense, beautiful, and weathers well with no need for sealers or maintenance.
I would focus on plants, furniture and accessories to make it a patio you can enjoy now. There are nice outdoor rugs that make patios look like outdoor rooms. I’m also a fan of patio umbrellas.
“Why does the cement slab need to be removed? Is it horribly damaged?”
I have the same question. Can you simply seal the concrete and use decking pavers on the top (Appian or such?).
Ipe is a PIA to install. It costs a huge fortune in labor as every screw hole needs to be pre-drilled. How do I know that? Hmmmm… 
We will be redoing our deck, and I think about going with BamDeck. I have two samples weathering on the deck to test how slippery they will get. So far, so good.
@BunsenBurner - LOL. One person’s PIA is another’s afternoon (or weekend) project. You’re right about needing to pre-drill every hole, and there’s also the fact that the wood is so dense that you burn through saw blades. But the OP is only talking about a 6 x 6 or 8 x 8 deck, or 36-64 square feet. I believe I could build that with my Home Depot power tools in 4 hours.
I don’t want to understate the amount of effort required but I don’t want to overstate it either. Ideally you’d want to have three cordless drills and or impact drivers at hand: one to drill the hole, the second to countersink for the screw head, and the third to drive in the stainless steel screw.
Labor intensive? Yes, but well worth it. In fact, DW and I have gone a little crazy with ipe, First it was just our decks, then we built an 80 foot long fence out of ipe boards and stainless steel tubes, which inspired us to build an ipe and steel retaining wall, the scraps from which DW utilized for the floor of our greenhouse…
And then when I built a fire pit overlooking the sound, I felt compelled to design and build a couple ipe benches to place around the fire.
Maybe I have too much time on my hands.
I am having a patio put in off my deck. I am leaning towards bluestone but haven’t made my mind up yet.
We live in the Northeast, four seasons.
I won’t be doing any of this on my own. I will be hiring someone.
A wooden “patio” could be built over the cement.
Here’s a link to a prefabricated wooden decking product that comes in 2’ x 2’ squares that could be easily laid out over your concrete pad. https://www.homedepot.com/p/DeckWise-WiseTile-2-ft-x-2-ft-Solid-Hardwood-Deck-Tile-in-Exotic-Ipe-DECK-TILE-IPE-SMO-24x24/206466347?cm_mmc=Shopping%7cTHD%7cG%7c0%7cG-BASE-PLA-D21-Decking%7c&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIj9nO2eyo2gIVD4ezCh3ZIACQEAYYBCABEgKWNPD_BwE&dclid=CODGkN_sqNoCFc1rfgodiGMGwg
My mother had flagstone installed right on top of her slab. It looked super fantastic! Not sure it is advisable but it lasted many years/decades.
Here’s an option from IKEA:
https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/90234226/
DH an I considered ipe when we built our deck five years ago. It was hugely expensive so we went with whatever regular pressure-treated wood is customary. We’ve since had it sealed with Nu-Deck, and it seems to be OK.
Add my voice to chorus on ipe. Our contractor said he’d never install again. Took LOTS longer than a “normal” deck and they were going thru saw blades like crazy. While it still looks nice, not sure I would do it again…
Sherpa - we built our own deck. 
OP says they want to spend as little as possible and will be hiring someone. I would not put ipe in prep for a sale as it costs a bunch to install both in materials and labor. What we learned is that an average buyer has zero idea what ipe is (thinking it is wood that would rot soon) but they certainly know Trex, and the latter is superior in many people’s view.
We had an ipe landing and stairs installed off of our kitchen and screened in porch two houses ago. The wood and the installation cost a fortune (and the carpenter sure swore a lot!), but it was really beautiful and never discolored or warped the way the previous wood did. I’d love to go back to that house now and see how it is holding up.
What about stamped concrete? They have beautiful patterns.
I’ve heard that Trex is durable but that it gets extraordinarily hot in the sun.
Trex and hot sunlight don’t mix well.
6 ft x 6 ft is not even big enough for a small table seating four people. I’d be surprised if the patio is that small. I have a small weird slab of cement next to our garage that I plan to put slate on top of. I do think a grade level wood deck can be quite nice too. I love ipe, but I think that the OP would be fine with a nice stain on pressure treated wood. As far as heat is concerned, this is from the Trex site: “On a hot day with a blazing sun, nearly any surface will get uncomfortably hot. Lighter colored boards tend to be slightly cooler than darker composite boards. In extensive studies, it has been found that the color of the decking board, regardless if it’s made of wood-plastic composite or wood is the most significant factor in the “heat retention” of the board. In these studies, pressure-treated wood stained the same color as Trex was actually hotter than Trex in the same test conditions.”
Stamped concrete is somewhat outdated in my area. I think a nice trex deck built over the slab would do the trick. Buyers like no maintenance trex decks. They have some nice cape cod grey colors. Even more desirable in our area is a covered deck which makes the area more cozy and liveable
What part of the country are you in @coralbrook ? Stamped concrete is definitely in style here in the Midwest. But wevarent the cutting edge of much.