1. No longer Astroturf on a patio, outdoor rugs play a vital part in your entire outdoor decor scheme. The variety available is astounding. Consider your overall style and personality when shopping for outdoor rugs.
2. The most popular size for outdoor rugs is 8 x 10 feet. In addition, however, you'll find all shapes and sizes, and in materials that look as beautiful as those found in your living room.
3. Measure the overall outdoor space where you'll place your rug. Make sure to allow a large enough outdoor rug so that the furniture grouping won't look cramped. Also make sure not to place the outdoor rug too close to your grill, for cleanliness and safety reasons.
4. Polypropylene, made from synthetic fibers, is a popular outdoor rug material. It is extremely durable, extremely easy to clean with your garden hose, and will withstand the elements.
5. Make sure you look for rugs specifically crafted for outdoor use. You'll be amazed at the mix of man-made and natural materials used today, all of which culminate in fresh and aesthetically pleasing designs.
6. Due to the unique nature of weaving and crafting, outdoor rugs often vary slightly in size. Basically, outdoor rug weaving is not an exact science. To effectively describe rug sizes, we generally round them to the nearest whole size. It's safest to allow 2 to 6 inches of leeway between a rug's stated size and its actual size. Thus, a 9 x 12-foot outdoor rug could be estimated at 8.5 x 11.5.
