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 from Rug Outlet of Cumming and Roswell,Georgia 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”
An outdoor area rug, 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.
