10 Tricks to Cosy Up the Outdoors With Rugs
You can define seating areas, add softness and inject a splash of colour with this often-overlooked outdoor accessories
Rolling out an outdoor rug can be one of the easiest ways to update your outdoor seating or dining area. Not only do rugs add softness underfoot, they can also help define use areas, make a bold statement with colour or pattern and add that finishing touch to an outdoor room. Let’s take a look at 10 ways to use outdoor rugs to boost outdoor style on decks, balconies, patios and porches.
2. Make porches feel more inviting
Laying down a soft outdoor rug can help make porches feel as welcoming as a room inside the house – or even more so. The designers of this front porch of a restored 1770s estate home used a warm beige and light brown rug to encourage the homeowners to treat the covered porch as an extension of the living room. A pair of couches, potted plants and a hanging swing chair make the space all the more appealing.
Laying down a soft outdoor rug can help make porches feel as welcoming as a room inside the house – or even more so. The designers of this front porch of a restored 1770s estate home used a warm beige and light brown rug to encourage the homeowners to treat the covered porch as an extension of the living room. A pair of couches, potted plants and a hanging swing chair make the space all the more appealing.
3. Go bold with colour and pattern
Use an outdoor rug with bright colours, patterns or both to energise a deck and make it party-ready. Bright colours can work well in darker spaces, such as shaded patios or covered porches, where the saturated hues really stand out. Many outdoor rugs made of engineered materials, like this one made of recycled polypropylene, are reversible, providing an easy way to change up the look of your patio.
Use an outdoor rug with bright colours, patterns or both to energise a deck and make it party-ready. Bright colours can work well in darker spaces, such as shaded patios or covered porches, where the saturated hues really stand out. Many outdoor rugs made of engineered materials, like this one made of recycled polypropylene, are reversible, providing an easy way to change up the look of your patio.
4. Up the cozy factor in a small space
It’s more appealing to step out onto a balcony covered in an outdoor rug than put your bare feet on deck boards. Thanks to a soft floor, this balcony, complete with pillow-topped wicker chairs and potted citrus, looks like the ideal cozy spot to curl up with a good read.
Take a look at these 15 balconies that will instantly relax you
It’s more appealing to step out onto a balcony covered in an outdoor rug than put your bare feet on deck boards. Thanks to a soft floor, this balcony, complete with pillow-topped wicker chairs and potted citrus, looks like the ideal cozy spot to curl up with a good read.
Take a look at these 15 balconies that will instantly relax you
5. Repeat a theme
An outdoor rug offers the opportunity to establish a colour or pattern theme in an outdoor room. Here, the designer used a white and pumpkin orange rug to set a look for the covered porch outside this home. Throw pillows, curtains, a bistro chair and even the orange candles on the coffee table all coordinate with the rug, creating a successful matchy-matchy look.
An outdoor rug offers the opportunity to establish a colour or pattern theme in an outdoor room. Here, the designer used a white and pumpkin orange rug to set a look for the covered porch outside this home. Throw pillows, curtains, a bistro chair and even the orange candles on the coffee table all coordinate with the rug, creating a successful matchy-matchy look.
6. Embrace neutrals
Outdoor rugs with more subtle colours or patterns can be used to add texture to outdoor spaces. For example, covering the poured concrete patio with a softly patterned outdoor rug adds more richness to this space and continues the home’s decorating style to the backyard.
Outdoor rugs with more subtle colours or patterns can be used to add texture to outdoor spaces. For example, covering the poured concrete patio with a softly patterned outdoor rug adds more richness to this space and continues the home’s decorating style to the backyard.
7. Add warmth to walkways
A pair of outdoor rugs placed down the length of this covered walkway makes a functional passageway feel warm and inviting and breaks up the corridor effect. The same strategy could be used with a pair of rugs on a long, skinny breezeway or narrow side yard patio.
A pair of outdoor rugs placed down the length of this covered walkway makes a functional passageway feel warm and inviting and breaks up the corridor effect. The same strategy could be used with a pair of rugs on a long, skinny breezeway or narrow side yard patio.
8. Define a smaller area on a large patio or deck
For wide-open outdoor spaces with little structure, outdoor furniture can feel a bit like it’s floating. Adding an outdoor rug can act like an anchor to a seating area, turning a group of outdoor chairs or sofa into a more inviting gathering spot.
Check out these 8 outdoor seating spaces for ideas
For wide-open outdoor spaces with little structure, outdoor furniture can feel a bit like it’s floating. Adding an outdoor rug can act like an anchor to a seating area, turning a group of outdoor chairs or sofa into a more inviting gathering spot.
Check out these 8 outdoor seating spaces for ideas
9. Get creative
Think beyond what may be marketed as an outdoor rug and expand your options to other weather-resistant materials. For example, this terrace uses squares of artificial turf to act as an outdoor rug and playfully suggest a carpet of lawn on the urban balcony.
Think beyond what may be marketed as an outdoor rug and expand your options to other weather-resistant materials. For example, this terrace uses squares of artificial turf to act as an outdoor rug and playfully suggest a carpet of lawn on the urban balcony.
10. Go faux
Conversely, create the look of an outdoor rug – and take advantage of a boost of colour and visual appeal of defining a seating area – by painting a rectangular area of your deck in a rug-like pattern. The owner of this Dallas home used paint and a stencil to create this white and cobalt blue faux rug on the back deck.
Conversely, create the look of an outdoor rug – and take advantage of a boost of colour and visual appeal of defining a seating area – by painting a rectangular area of your deck in a rug-like pattern. The owner of this Dallas home used paint and a stencil to create this white and cobalt blue faux rug on the back deck.
Other considerations
In addition to determining the size of your outdoor rug and the colour, pattern and style that would work with your space, you’ll also want to consider the rug material.
Outdoor rugs made of engineered materials such as nylon, polyester and polypropylene (often from recycled sources) are particularly durable. Often water resistant and treated to resist fading from exposure to sun, rugs made of such materials can be used anywhere outdoors and easily hosed down for a quick cleanup.
Rugs made of bamboo, jute and other natural fibres are less weather-resistant and best used seasonally or under covered patios.
Additionally, if you live in a wet climate, outdoor rugs placed on wooden decks can lead to mildew. In these situations, it’s best to choose a rug of engineered materials (they dry out more quickly) or roll them out on a per-use basis.
Read more:
How to Turn Your Outdoor Space Into a Super Comfy Lounge
Tell us:
Have you used a rug in your outdoor section? Share images and your thoughts in the Comments below.
In addition to determining the size of your outdoor rug and the colour, pattern and style that would work with your space, you’ll also want to consider the rug material.
Outdoor rugs made of engineered materials such as nylon, polyester and polypropylene (often from recycled sources) are particularly durable. Often water resistant and treated to resist fading from exposure to sun, rugs made of such materials can be used anywhere outdoors and easily hosed down for a quick cleanup.
Rugs made of bamboo, jute and other natural fibres are less weather-resistant and best used seasonally or under covered patios.
Additionally, if you live in a wet climate, outdoor rugs placed on wooden decks can lead to mildew. In these situations, it’s best to choose a rug of engineered materials (they dry out more quickly) or roll them out on a per-use basis.
Read more:
How to Turn Your Outdoor Space Into a Super Comfy Lounge
Tell us:
Have you used a rug in your outdoor section? Share images and your thoughts in the Comments below.
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You can use rugs to visually separate areas outside your house, just as you do inside. Since decks and patios are basically open floor plans, outdoor rugs are particularly helpful in defining spaces. For example, a neutral rug on this veranda helps define the seating area to the left of the dining table, making it feel separate but related to the outdoor eating area.
Browse through images of outdoor rugs