Outdoor Area Rugs
What to consider when buying an outdoor area rug
Size, shape, color, woven, plastic, plain or patterned, expensive or cheap disposable are all questions should ask yourself before you decide which outdoor area rug you are going to purchase.
Size and Shape
Measure the area where you want to place the area rug with all of the furniture in position. Consider how close the edges will be to all furniture legs as well as the traffic pattern where the rug will go. An area rug that is placed too close to the furniture can make even an outdoor room appear small and cramped. And if it is being placed in a heavy traffic area you will need to consider the durability of the rug material and how well it will stay in position.
Also if you have an outdoor kitchen or a grill, leave enough buffer space between the rug and the cooking area to prevent the area rug from being repeatedly soiled from food preparation and cooking.
An oval or round area rug that is approximately the same size as a rectangular or square rug will appear to be smaller and may be a much better fit and suite the area much better. And the round edges will also help to soften the appearance of the entire outdoor room.
Color and Pattern
Choosing the correct color and pattern for your outdoor area rug is just as important as matching the color schemes of an indoor room. If the outdoor furniture is already in place or you are purchasing the furniture at the same time as your rug, you will want to coordinate the colors of the furniture cushions along with the outdoor throw pillows and lamp shades on any outdoor lighting you may purchase.
Also consider the amount of foot and pet traffic the area rug may receive and what color and pattern will be the best at camouflaging soiling.
Woven or Plastic
Outdoor area rugs are manufactured of a very wide and varied range of materials. Plastic is normally not the first material that comes to mind when you are considering an indoor rug but for many situations plastic is the perfect choice for any outdoor area rug.
New manufacturing methods allow the plastic area rugs to be very soft and subtle even when walking on them barefoot and the diversity and intensity of the colors can provide just the pop you need for some decorating styles.
Woven or power loomed rugs can produce a flat weave area rug for a cabana beach house look or one with a low to medium pile will give a softer more elegant appearance.
Expensive or Cheap Disposable
There will always be a correlation between how much or little you pay and the quality of the outdoor area rug you take home. But in some instances an inexpensive rug may be the smarter choice because of the situation it which it will be placed.
If you need to have an area rug around an outdoor kitchen or hot tub or a heavy traffic area that will frequently feature dirty shoes it is probably better to go with a less expensive area rug and replace it more often. Spend the most money on the area rug that will be the centerpiece of your outdoor room.
Care and Maintenance
Almost all outdoor woven or fabricated area rugs are manufactured of made of some type of man made fibers. They are extremely durable, very stain resistant, can easily be spot cleaned or cleaned with a brush and hose. After a heavy shower you may need to turn back the edges to speed up the drying process, but that’s about all the care they will normally need.
Consider these suggestions before you buy your outdoor area rug, and you will have a much better chance of being satisfied with your purchase.
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