Home Outdoor Decorating How to Choose an Outdoor Rug

How to Choose an Outdoor Rug

by Debbie Correale
how to choose a rug

A fantastic way to add a fresh look to your outdoor deck or patio is to add a rug. As it does in your home, an outdoor rug ties an area together, adds comfort, and can be a beautiful way to add a fresh color combination. The questions are what type should you purchase and are all outdoor rugs the same? There are two categories of rugs that you may choose from:  synthetic and natural fibers. Be sure to check the label or the product description, so you know what you are buying. Let’s review the types and benefits:

Synthetic Materials:

All of these materials have the benefits of great colors, durability, resistance to fading, mildew, mold, and can be easily cleaned.

  • Polypropylene or Olefin – This material is often UV-treated to prevent fading and even has an eco-benefit of being sometimes being made from recycled plastic bottles.
  • Nylon – can become hot in direct sunlight.
  • Polyester- is susceptible to oil-based stains, can shed, and mat down in high traffic areas.
  • Acrylic – most similar to natural fibers, soft finish, prone to crushing and pilling.

Natural Materials:

All of these rugs will fade in direct sunlight, they are less durable than synthetic materials, and are likely to absorb water; therefore, more apt to have mold or mildew issues.

  • Bamboo
  • Sisal
  • Hemp
  • Jute
  • Seagrass

Consider these questions before you buy a rug to determine what type would fit in best with your lifestyle:

  1. How much wear and tear will your rug receive?
  2. How much sun will the rug receive?
  3. Do you plan to take care of it, clean it often, and store it in bad weather months?

Click here to see some lovely outdoor rug selections from Houzz. (Email me if you are interested in receiving a 5% discount from the Houzz Marketplace.) To keep your outdoor rugs looking nice, click here to review cleaning tips from Overstock.

Do you need help choosing a color combination for your home décor, or would like to have a summer refresh before your guests arrive?Redesign Right, LLC Give me a call, 610.955.8202 or email to set up your consultation.

By Debbie Correale, founder and owner of Redesign Right, LLC. You can learn more about her at RedesignRight.com. Find her on Facebook.com/RedesignRight, Twitter @RedesignRight, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Houzz, Google+ and Instagram. Feature photo from Pixabay.

You may also like