Now that you’re sprucing up your outdoor space in readiness for barbecue season, you’ll no doubt be thinking about an outdoor rug. If not, why not? Just as you pull everything together in your indoor rooms with well chosen accessories, an outdoor rug can pull together your outside room too. They are usually made of tough synthetic materials that can withstand the elements whatever is thrown at them. They can improve the underfoot experience no end (I’m thinking of bare feet on uneven paving stones and splinters from decking), they can provide a slip-proof surface around wet areas, and they look great.
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Take a Look
Doesn’t this look idyllic? Okay, so I know few of us are blessed with a pool like this, but an outdoor rug can be quite practical when the kids are running around the paddling pool too. This is the Woven Shade outdoor rug by Nani Marquina and it compliments the colours of the pool and tiles perfectly. It would look equally stunning with green cushions and terracotta pots in any garden.
Looking equally stunning in this shady outdoor dining area, is the Outdoor Salvadore Stripe Rug from Carpetright. And it’s so inexpensive you could easily afford to layer a few. A well placed rug under the table or under a group of armchairs looks cosy and inviting. And just, well, complete.
And here, the Weaver Green Provence Collection Rug from John Lewis perfectly illustrates my point about layering rugs and creating a comfortable and inviting seating area that you’ll be drawn to.
This one is from GAN’s series of outdoor rugs and lounge accessories (available at Chaplins) and was devised following a trip to India. Designer Patricia Urquiola became enamored by the ease of which people lived outdoors. From terracotta courtyards through to sunset rooftops, the people she met revelled in the evening sun, using mattresses and pillows to cushion their clothes from the baked earth buildings. Making my point again.
The Fab Hab Brooklyn Outdoor Rug from Cuckooland is made from recycled plastic so you can satisfy your green requirements while you make your outdoor space more colourful. It’s resistant to mildew, mold and UV rays so can actually be left outside all year round.
But if it’s bright colours and patterns you want there are no shortage of these either in most ranges. I’ve chosen to show another Woven rug because it’s just so beautiful. It’s the Oaxaca Outdoor Rug, again by Nani Marquina. Not the cheapest, but stunning.
Practicalities
Personally, I think an outdoor rug is for occasional use only. I’d probably put one down for the brief summer months, then put it away. They are easy to clean with soapy water and a stiff brush if they are the synthetic type (don’t forget to do both sides), and will come out again next year looking as good as new. Some rugs may also fade when exposed to UV rays for long periods so this is also something to bear in mind.
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