How do I choose the best rug for my patio?
Outdoor rugs are a great way to liven up your deck or patio or extend the style of your home outside its walls. That being said, there are some special considerations you'll want to make when choosing an outdoor area rug as opposed to an indoor rug.
Outdoor Rug Materials
Outdoors, rugs and furniture contend with harsh conditions all year round. When choosing an outdoor rug, it is essential to find one that will stand up to these conditions.
Synthetic materials like acrylic and polypropylene are well known for their durability. Typically treated to be fade- and mold-resistant, they are perfect for outdoor spaces. They're easy to clean, too! If a synthetic outdoor rug does get dirty, rinsing it off with a garden hose is usually enough.
Natural Outdoor Rugs
Natural fibers like sisal and jute are also extremely popular materials for outdoor rugs. The coarse texture and neutral colors give natural rugs a beautiful, earthy feeling inside and outside the home. However, when buying a natural rug to use outside, you should expect a little more maintenance. If you do choose to put a natural rug outside, we strongly recommend having it in a covered area and roll it up when it rains.
Styling Outdoor Rugs
Outdoor rugs extend your home's style onto your patio or deck. By choosing colors and patterns that complement the style of the adjoining room, you create a seamless transition between your indoor and outdoor spaces. This is especially nice during warmer months when you want to open your patio doors wide and let the breeze in. Alternately, you might lean into the outdoor setting by choosing a more botanical style, as you'd find in Rugs.com's Outdoor Botanical collection. Trellises, vines, and floral patterns in earthy colors like browns and greens can emphasize the soothing quality of your garden.
No matter which you choose, you should consider choosing a flatweave rug as opposed to a rug with pile. Flatweave rugs tend to be very durable, show less wear, and are easy to clean—all important features for outdoor rugs.
Outdoor Rug Sizing and Placement
>The normal rules around rug sizing and placement outside will be a little different than inside. Don't worry about filling a room. Instead, plan your rugs around your furniture, using them to define separate spaces on your patio or deck. An outdoor area rug creates visual boundaries you would usually get from walls and helps ground the layout and design. Within these spaces, you should place your rugs like you would in a room. For example, sitting and dining areas can be arranged like you would in an indoor space.
