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Area rugs are one of the most essential features of your outdoor patio space. Many designers even start with the rug and decorate around it. It’s the highlight, the focal point of your outdoor arrangement. Much care and attention must be placed on selecting the perfect outdoor area rug for your patio.
Today I’m going to show you how to pick the right size for your area rug, teach you a thing or two about outdoor furniture arrangements, and lend some insight on the best materials for outdoor area rugs. This is the first time I’ve covered this topic so all these ideas are fresh. Ready? Let’s decorate!
2 Rules of Thumb for Picking the Size of Your Outdoor Rug
18 Inches of Space – Make sure that you allow an open space border of 18 inches around your outdoor area rug. This will allow you to place the spotlight on your beautiful area rug. For small spaces, you can reduce this distance to 8 inches. This rule of thumb should be applied to sofa sectional seating areas.
24 Inches Around a Table – Give yourself 24 inches of padding surrounding outdoor dining tables. This way, you’ll be able to slide in and out of your chair without having the feet of your chair fall off the edge of the rug. It will also protect the finish on your wood deck.
A Quick Guide to Buying an Outdoor Area Rug
1) Outdoor Area Rug Materials
Synthetic fibers are the most common material used to make outdoor rugs. This is because they are mold an mildew resistant, which is mandatory for any outdoor furnishing. Chances are, you will find an outdoor rug made from what’s called olefin, a polypropylene fiber.
Olefin is very resistant to fading which will be necessary while it spends all those days out there on the patio during the Summer. It’s also kid and pet-friendly, offering stain resistance to let any mother sleep well. What about the price? Well, it’s actually very affordable!
For more detailed information on outdoor rug materials, you can visit Cheryl Simmons at RugsAndCarpets.About.com.
2) Size and Shape
Probably one of the most important decisions you’ll have to make about your outdoor area rug is what size to choose. Time to break out the measuring tape! As a general rule, you want dining rugs to be large enough that the feet of your dining chairs stay on the carpet when pulled back from the table.
For sectionals, love seats, and club chairs, you want your rug to be large enough to place at least the front legs on the rug. Placing all 4 legs on the rug is optional but you’ll have to play around with it on a case by case basis. Here’s a quick idea of when to use each method:
- 2 Front Legs on the Rug – Helps bring your outdoor space together while expanding the space at the same time.
- All 4 Legs on the Rug – Brings the room together tightly. Can be used to create conversational seating arrangements.
Some on Some Off – Place some chairs all the way on the rug and others with just the front two feet on. This style works well for eclectic outdoor spaces. You can vary seated grouping to create a contemporary and chic asymmetrical layout.
3) Pattern Options
Don’t be afraid to use bright colors! Chances are you’ll enjoy your outdoor area rug in the Summer or spring. Choose Summer colors like bright red, orange, yellow, and blue. These colors will add livelihood to your area. You can use your area rug to add a splash of color or try to accent your rug with one of these colorful chairs.
Coordinating with your Patio Furniture
Don’t forget to remember the materials, texture, and color of your patio furniture. Try to coordinate your outdoor rug with your patio furniture. You can browse for ideas or even place an order online here at Patio Productions.com. Choose from a range of high-quality outdoor collections from some of the best names in the business.
More Outdoor Decor Ideas:
- 8 Keys to the Perfect Patio Furniture Arrangement
- Connecting the Interior of Your Home with the Exterior
- 10 Things You Must Know Before Planning an Outdoor Kitchen
About the Author
Cheryl Khan is able to lend insight on this topic after spending years in the design field. She has learned that all outdoor furniture and is a regular contributing author to the Patio Productions Blog.
Cheryl is an award-winning landscape design consultant in San Diego, CA. She has over a decade of experience in the design world, working on both interior and exterior projects. She received her certification in design in 2010 and has contributed to the design of 7 separate furniture collections. Cheryl began lending her expertise to Patio Productions’ blog in 2012. When she’s not living in the furniture and design world, she’s busy playing with her dogs at home, or curling up with a cup of black coffee and a beautiful book on modern design. Her favorite patio furniture are her Acapulco Chairs in lightning blue.
Thanks for this. I’ve been trying to decide between paint, stain, or an area rug for my concrete patio. .This really helps
This is great information. I have a 140 square foot deck with a loveseat and 2 chairs on one side and a dining table that seats 4 on the other side. Where should I place my area rug? Should I have two or is one enough?
Thank for sharing this. Tips are very helpful, you have a well-written article. Great job.
I have two cracker barrel rocking chairs and was going to put rug new in fr o t of them? There is a small and table betwee them. Will tn iu s be ok?
This is the second year for my polypropylene patio carpet which I washed off at the end of the Sumer and stored in the garage. This year, when it gets wet the lighter parts of the rug are going a reddish colour but more so at the damper end of the patio. Any ideas on how to counter this, the carpet is grey, white and black and sits on Black Indian limestone which was too hard to maintain the shiny colour
Hello and thank you for your comment. Unfortunately none of us have come across a situation like this so there isn’t anything we can say to help based on personal experience. Hope you are able to find a solution to your problem.
I love the rug shown in this picture. Can you please share where it is from? Thank you.
Thank you for your comment. Unfortunately we are not able to track down the manufacturer of that particular piece. If you would like to see what we currently have available, take a look at our Outdoor Rugs category.