Outdoor Rugs: Buyer's Ultimate Guide

It's almost time for summer which means it's already time to think about how you want to decorate your outdoor living space. When it comes to your outdoor space, whether it be a patio, deck, or even balcony, you will want to ensure that this is comfortable, chic, and weather resistant. Rugs are one of the features that can completely transform a space, and the same can be said about outdoor living areas. 

They help bring colour, give a more refined appearance, and add that much-needed softness to a hard space. When it comes to these garden rugs, there needs to be an emphasis on the that it's an outdoor waterproof rugs above all else. Even though you can't control Mother Nature, there are fortunately some helpful outdoor rugs for patios that were designed to be utterly durable throughout the unpredictable summer weather that is thrown at you. 

When you begin shopping for an outside rug, you will want to know your options. So this guide is going to help you out!

Material Matters for Outdoor Rugs

While you don't necessarily need to put too much thought into selecting materials for an indoor rug (as indoor rugs are heavily based on aesthetics), it's not entirely the same for outdoor areas. Therefore, the materials need to be firmly taken into consideration. In addition, not all rugs were meant to go outside, so you'll need to choose wisely.

Durability is most certainly the key to selecting the suitable material for the rugs since outdoor rugs were explicitly designed to be weather-resistant. There are two different types of rugs, rugs that are made with natural materials and rugs that are made with synthetic materials.

Natural

Natural material rugs are pretty luxurious, and their feeling is simply divine! Natural fibre rugs are eco-friendly, as they are made with sustainable materials. Plus, these rugs help in keeping the nature-like appearance of the outdoor living area. You'll find that the more common materials for natural outdoor rugs can include hemp, jute, sisal, seagrass, and bamboo. It's also essential to remember that these aren't always water-resistant and can potentially mold if you're not careful.

Synthetic

Polypropylene outdoor rugs are one of the more common types of outdoor rugs out there. However, while polypropylene outdoor rug is quite common, you'll find other synthetic materials such as acrylic and polyester. All three of these materials are usually waterproof and stain-resistant. Plus, they're relatively easy to clean as well.

The Polypropylene material for rugs can be an excellent choice for an outdoor rug as it doesn't absorb any liquid. Some other benefits can include mould and mildew-resistant, stain-resistant, and less liking to fade from UV rays. However, polyester and acrylic can also provide some benefits to outdoor rugs. This can include providing bright and vibrant colours. However, these aren't precisely stain-proof or waterproof, unlike the polypropylene material.

Sizing of the Outdoor Rug

Just like the interior of your home, there will also be some need for proportions for your outdoor living space. So, when you plan to buy an outdoor rug, you'll need to consider whether you want a small, medium, or large outdoor rug. First, the size of your outdoor rug will depend on the size of your outdoor space. However, it would help if you also kept in mind that functionality also needs to be considered.

If you want something small, you'll ideally want this small rug close to a door or a small piece of furniture. But if your space is more significant, you could be better off picking something larger. Large outdoor rugs are a favourite, and these outdoor area rugs look lovely underneath large living furniture such as an outdoor coffee table or the seating area. It just adds that lovely softness to combat the hard flooring.

Colours and Designs

Who wouldn't want a chic but elegant space right in their garden? The colouring and the rugs' designs can help achieve a well-put-together look. Natural and synthetic fibres come in various styles, colours, and patterns. So whether you're interested in achieving a more novelty appearance, something funky, tropical, or maybe even bold, you can find it all in our Summer Collection!

When it comes to outdoor rugs, you'll need to keep the colourfastness in mind. The UV rays can cause a lot of discolouration in textiles, so you'll need to choose wisely. You can count on woven patterns to be the best way to keep colour and durability within your rugs. Usually, these will be labelled as "solution-dyed, " meaning that colours were added while creating the fibre. Solution-dyed rugs resist fading, whether under the sun or constantly being walked on. Plus, these hold up much better while cleaning than other rugs dyeing, such as yarn-dyeing.

Construction Options of the Rug

Both indoor and outdoor rugs can be constructed in a variety of ways. It's always helpful to understand some of the terminologies before you go out and buy yourself a rug for the space. Here are the most common construction options for an outdoor rug.

Machine-made

These are manufactured quickly in factories and created with very powerful looms. This type of construction is usually considered the most affordable for customers. On the other hand, the machine-made rugs usually contain significantly less detailing, and the materials themselves for the rug are pretty basic too.

Hand-hooked rugs

Hand-hooked rugs are gorgeous and can come in many elaborate designs. Unfortunately, these are usually more expensive considering the time that goes into manufacturing these rugs; plus, the materials that are used need to be high quality. Unlike machine-made, you can count on hand-hooked rugs to be handmade.

Flatweave rugs

This can include kilim-style rugs, flat-braided, corded-and-stitched, and several other styles. These outdoor rugs are usually made with polypropylene yarn and tend to be relatively flat.

Being a savvy shopper is essential; now, you should know just what to look for when sprucing up your outdoor living space with a lovely outdoor rug. We hope our guide provided you with everything you needed to know about getting the most suitable and durable rug for your garden or patio.