Outdoor Rugs are IN

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Spring has finally arrived! Now is the perfect time to transform your patio, porch, deck or gazebo into an attractive space for entertaining or relaxing. And the best way to do this is with a durable, easy-care outdoor area rug.

Here are some tips and suggestions to help make the process of finding the ideal outdoor rug a little easier:

First of all, don’t be confused by the difference between an outdoor area rug and a door mat. The latter is designed primarily as a place for people to wipe their dirty feet before entering the house. A typical door mat sacrifices style for function. It may have the world “Welcome” embedded (or printed) on the front – or perhaps the name of your favorite sports team – but “attractive” is not a word many people would use to describe door mats. They are also typically rather small – on the order of 3’ x 2’ – because they are designed to sit in front of a door and nothing more.

Also, many people still think of outdoor “carpeting” when they think about outdoor rugs. Remember AstroTurf? Fake grass? It’s no longer popular because, quite frankly, it’s awfully ugly. Whatever you do, don’t cover your patio with bright green artificial grass!

An outdoor area rug, on the other hand, is designed to add color and style to outdoor activity areas. As such, you need to pay attention to a number of factors including the colors, patterns and size. So as you begin shopping for an outdoor area rug, what are the major considerations?

Appearance
Size – start by determining if you want a large rug to cover most of your outdoor space, or several smaller ones to define seating or activity areas. Many people make the mistake of buying a rug that is too small and are disappointed when it doesn’t transform the space in the way they intended. Make a simple block diagram and try a number of different combinations until you find an arrangement you like.

Colors – of course this is a matter of personal taste, but keep in mind that an outdoor rug is subjected to dirt and weather in a way most indoor rugs will never experience. Bright colors may fade if exposed to harsh sunlight constantly and there is very little you can do about it. Dirt will show less on earth colors. So if browns, deep reds, oranges and greens fit with your décor, you might give them greater consideration.

Patterns – this is where you choice can truly add to the visual excitement of your outdoor space. Don’t lock yourself into buying a solid color outdoor rug! There are so many beautiful patterns and styles available that you owe it to yourself to explore them all.

Texture – this is closely tied to the fabric and material used to make the rug. Most outdoor rugs don’t have as thick a pile as many indoor-only rugs because this increases the maintenance necessary to keep them looking new. However, you still have many choices, including some fine braided rugs that, in addition to having prominent texture, are also reversible.

Durability
An outdoor rugs is subjected to just about every kind of abuse imaginable. Kids, pets, wind, rain – even wild animals. So it’s important to choose a fabric that is strong, durable and easy to clean. Most outdoor rugs are made of weather-resistant polypropylene, which is also known as olefin. Although this is a petroleum-derived plastic product, many manufacturers are now using 100% recycled materials to make their outdoor rugs. It is woven in the same way as typical indoor rugs and can have the same intricate patterns as the most expensive Oriental rugs. It makes good sense to try and buy an eco-friendly outdoor area rug if at all possible. Polypropylene extracted from discarded milk jugs makes this practical.

One American manufacturer, Colonial Mills (CMI), has begun making a line of braided outdoor rugs that are only available at Rugs Direct. Called the Championship™ collection, they are made from 100% polypropylene and are designed for use on outdoor porches and patios, as well as indoor casual settings. They are unaffected by water, moisture, or mildew and, because they are reversible, they offer twice the life of a single-sided rug.

CMI has developed what they call the C-Lock™ braid-joining system, which offers several features and advantages:

• Incredibly strong Sew Soft-Sew Klear™ stitching thread
• More than two inches per inch
• Extra-tight braids for long wear and joint strength
  
• More yarn ends for stronger bonds and increased durability
  
• Easy maintenance – vacuum regularly with hard-surface attachment
  
• Easy cleaning – spray with hose and hang to dry

One note: CMI strongly recommends the use of a pad underneath their outdoor area rugs to both minimize wear and prevent slippage. Rugs pads designed specifically for outdoor use are now available. Click here for more information.

Price
Compared to hand-knotted Oriental rugs, most outdoor area rugs are an incredible bargain. You can easily find a large, top-quality outdoor rug for well under $300. Most smaller, space-defining outdoor rugs are under $100. The best advice is to shop around and compare. A good place to start is Rugs Direct. Click here.

Gone are the days when you had almost infinite choices for decorating indoors with area rugs but only a few limited ones for outside. In fact, most of the rugs you now see described as “outdoor” are more accurately labeled “indoor/outdoor” because they are attractive enough to use in just about any casual room in the house. In fact, one designer of an outstanding collection of area rugs, Liora Manné, calls her new Spello Collection “EveryWear” rugs. It’s a perfect play on words that describes this new generation of outdoor area rugs perfectly!

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For more information…here are some of the top manufacturers of outdoor area rugs, with links to their collections on the Rugs Direct website:

Couristan – Recife
Colonial Mills – Championship
Trans Ocean – Terrace
Casual For Life – Four Seasons (exclusive to Rugs Direct)
Liora Manné – Spello and Patio
Sphinx – Lanai