Everything You Need To Know About Outdoor Rugs
As the weather grows warmer and you’re lucky enough to have an outdoor space, you can expand your living area outside. For a few months out of the year, you can have another place to entertain family and friends. But how can you give your deck or patio a more functional and cozier feel to imitate the interior of your home?
Luckily, you have tons of ways to make your outdoor space more comfortable! With the right furniture and accessories, you can make any space more welcoming, and outdoor rugs are an essential part of that.
An outdoor rug can add character and comfort to your outdoor space; you can find them in various styles, sizes, and materials, so you can easily find the right one that suits your décor and endures the harsh weather elements.
In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about outdoor rugs!
Outdoor Rug Materials
You might be wondering what separates an indoor rug from an outdoor rug. Primarily, the difference is the material. While indoor rugs consist of more delicate fabrics like silk or cotton, outdoor rugs need to be more durable to withstand sun exposure, moisture, and mud. For these reasons, you shouldn’t take your indoor rugs outside.
Outdoor rugs boast reliable materials; typically, you’ll find them available in synthetic materials as well as plant fibers. Thanks to their durability, jute, sisal, and hemp are common choices for outdoor rugs.
Usually, this also means they are low maintenance and cost effective. But be aware that jute is sensitive to mold and mildew. If you choose jute as an outdoor rug, it works well in covered areas like porches.
Synthetic materials like nylon, polyester, and polypropylene are also excellent choices for an outdoor rug. Some advantages of synthetic fibers include:
- The fibers won’t fade in the sun, unlike plant-based rugs.
- You can dye them in vibrant colors.
- They’re highly durable and can withstand heavy foot traffic.
How To Find an Outdoor Rug
When you’re deciding on an outdoor rug, you should consider a few factors. Make sure you keep the size and material in mind.
- When you’re choosing a rug for your deck or porch, be sure to find a style that suits the existing décor.
- You can use a rug pad for your outdoor rug to give it more padding and make it skid-resistant. More on that below!
- Think about the size of the outdoor rug in correlation to your deck or terrace. It should be large enough that your deck furniture can sit on top—at the very least, the front legs of the chairs should fit on it.
- Leave at least six inches of space between the rug and the railings or walls of your deck or porch. Leaving some room will keep your deck from looking too crowded.
- Are you trying to fit a rug into a small outdoor space? Consider using an outdoor runner rug for more narrow spaces or a round outdoor rug to give the illusion of a larger area.
- Never bring an indoor rug outside! The material can't withstand the elements, and you’ll ruin it.
- Measure the space before shopping for an outdoor rug—you don't want to purchase one that's too big or small.
Before browsing local stores, check out styles online to get an idea of cost. You can find exterior porch rugs in all kinds of different shapes and sizes!
Outdoor Rug Care
Even though outdoor rugs require less maintenance than indoor rugs, they still need some attention to make them last. Like any furniture or accessory in your home, they need some care to last.
- Rug Pads — Did you know that outdoor rugs can benefit from rug pads? Rug pads for indoor and outdoor rugs help prolong their lifespan by acting as a barrier between the rug and flooring. The pad protects both the rug and flooring by allowing air to circulate; this minimizes the moisture that can accumulate.
Rug pads are functional, and they can add quite a bit of cushion under your feet.
- Vacuum — Vacuuming is another way to give your outdoor rug some care. Regularly vacuuming your rug will help remove dirt and debris that footsteps could grind into your rug fibers. Even shaking and sweeping it can help to remove any loose dirt and lengthen its lifespan.
- Spills — Even though your rug lives outside, it’s best to clean up spills when they happen. Allowing them to sit too long can lead to permanent stains. Luckily, many outdoor rugs are washable—throw them in a washing machine or rinse them off with a hose and you’re all set.
- Winter Storage — Despite the durability of outdoor rugs, when winter returns with below-freezing temperatures, it’s best to roll up your rug and store it safely inside until springtime.
Outdoor Rugs for Inside
You can bring outdoor rugs inside! Using an outdoor rug in high-traffic areas, like an entryway or playroom, can be a great solution for keeping those rooms cleaner, thanks to the rugs’ durability and low maintenance care.
If you’re a pet owner, outdoor rugs can be an excellent choice for cleaning up wet or muddy paw prints. Outdoor rugs also work very well in basements and other mildew-prone areas; they’re highly resistant to moisture and can combat mildew better than some indoor rugs.
Don’t be discouraged from lounging on outdoor rugs; even though the fibers are durable, they’re more comfortable than you might expect.
But if you’d still like more comfort, you can find highly durable indoor rugs, too. Wool is very resilient and works well in high-traffic areas. Plus, they have the longest lifespan of any rug fiber.
Nylon rugs can be excellent for adding color to certain areas of your home. Unlike some other materials, nylon readily absorbs vibrant hues and can offer pops of color throughout your home.
Now you know everything you need to know about outdoor rugs! If you’d like help in finding the right outdoor or indoor rug for your home, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Boutique Rugs!
