The Dos and Don’ts of Choosing Outdoor Rugs

Rugs work wonders when it comes to tying together a room’s décor and making it feel cohesive. If you’re in the process of redoing your patio or sunroom, an outdoor rug is an excellent choice to pull the room together. Here are the dos and don’ts of choosing an outdoor rug that you should know.

Do Work With Your Existing Décor

Your rug should coordinate with your other furniture and décor. For this reason, it’s usually best to choose your large furniture items and staple pieces first. It’s just like how you wouldn’t choose your throw pillows before buying your couch.

Instead, choose a rug that coordinates with your other décor without overpowering it. Neutrals are the safe option here, but patterned rugs can look fantastic too. So don’t be afraid to be creative!

Don’t Use an Indoor Rug

Outdoor rugs hold up to the wear and tear of the elements better. For this reason, it’s a bad idea to bring one of your indoor rugs outside. The sun will bleach the colors out of the rug, and any moisture can cause mold to form in it.

Instead, choose an outdoor rug for your porch or patio. These rugs are highly durable. Therefore, they hold up to the elements and do well in high-traffic areas. They often have sturdy materials, such as synthetic or plant fibers.

“Fade-resistant” or “weatherproof” are good indicators to look for when selecting an outdoor rug. While no rug is entirely immune to sun damage, some manufacturers use UV-treated polypropylene yarns in their outdoor rugs. This material is resistant to sun bleaching, making it a great choice if your dream rug is a bright and colorful option.

Do Use a Rug Mat

Just like you’d use a rug pad for indoor area rugs, it’s a good idea to do the same for outdoor rugs. Rug mats prevent your rugs from sliding and shifting as people walk over them. They help extend their life and add extra cushion underfoot.

Don’t Buy Without Measuring

Even if you’re an interior design savant, you shouldn’t purchase your rug without measuring your room at least twice. The old sewing adage, “measure twice, cut once,” exists for a reason. It’s harder to make a mistake if you double-check yourself before making any permanent decisions.

High-quality rugs, especially large ones, are expensive. Since you’re investing in this piece to hopefully have it for a few years, you want to ensure you buy the correct size. Your rug should be large enough to cover the open floor and sit a few inches past your furniture.

Placing your furniture’s front legs two or three inches onto the rug will make the room feel cohesive and comfortable. If your rug stops before your furniture, it’ll look too small for the room, making the space feel disjointed.

For the best look, measure two or three inches past your furniture pieces on each side. Be sure not to overestimate; a rug bunched against a wall looks just as tacky as an insufficiently sized rug. You’re looking for Goldilocks here—the rug should fit just right.

Do Consider Your Material Options

There’s plenty of variety with outdoor rug materials. When it comes to synthetic materials, polypropylene is a great choice, especially if you want to place your rug in a sunny spot. This material is plastic and is fade resistant, moisture wicking, and breathable. This means you won’t need to worry about airing out your rug as often as you would with less ideal materials.

Other synthetic options include acrylic, polyester, and nylon. These tend to hold up better than completely natural fibers for outdoor use, but you’ll need to watch them for mildew. This is because some synthetic fibers still contain natural fibers like cotton, which are more susceptible to bacteria and mold. You’ll know you need to replace your rug if you see dark stains on the underside or smell strong odors.

Rugs that have natural materials look beautiful in outdoor spaces but often need more care to stay in the best condition. Jute, sisal, and seagrass are a few examples of aesthetic, natural fibers that can tie together any outdoor space.

The natural fibers themselves get plenty of airflow, but the rugs often have fabric borders or rubber backings. These trap moisture in, making such rugs prone to mold development. To prevent this, you’ll need to regularly hang them in the sun to dry.

Don’t Forget About Your Budget

Rugs of any kind can get expensive quickly, but this is especially true of large floor rugs. A standard eight-by-ten-foot rug can cost anywhere from $150 to over $1,000. This sharp jump in price is due to the cost of labor. Traditional, hand-knotted textiles take much more time to make. Synthetic rugs are less expensive and labor-intensive to manufacture, so they cost much less.

Bear in mind that any outdoor rug will need replacing after a while. While regular maintenance and care can extend its life, constant exposure to rain, wind, and sun will eventually wear down the rug’s fibers. Don’t spend more on a rug than you’re comfortable with after considering this.

Do Keep Up With Rug Maintenance

Keeping up with rug maintenance will dramatically extend your rug’s life. Just like you would with an indoor rug, clean up any spills as soon as they occur to prevent staining. A mild solution of water and dish soap will usually tidy up any spills.

Hang your rugs up to dry anytime they get wet, whether because of a wash or a rainstorm. Allowing your rugs to dry flat on the ground will trap moisture underneath them, which can enable mold to grow. Instead, allow them to breathe and get plenty of air by hanging them to dry.

If your rug is full of dirt or debris, shake it out or drape it over a railing and smack it. There’s a reason that carpet beaters used to be so commonplace! Alternatively, leaf blowers can be good for blowing away any dust.

Now you know the dos and don’ts of selecting an outdoor rug. When choosing your new outdoor porch rugs, be sure to purchase from a company that produces high-quality products. Koeckritz Rugs provides well-made, durable, custom rugs to our satisfied customers.