What to look out for when buying an outdoor rug
Spruce up your patio or lapa this summer by choosing a stylish outdoor rug to suit your lifestyle.
Creating an outdoor living room is a must when living in South Africa. One of the essential items needed to really bring the “room” together, is an outdoor rug. Before you rush out to buy one, consider these three tips:
- Measure up
Getting the size of the rug right is an important step and will have a major impact on the final look of your outdoor space. Start by measuring the area and think about the size of the furniture. If the rug is too big, it could make the space look smaller than it is and make cleaning a nightmare. Go too small and the rug will not look unbalanced, especially if you have chunky furniture.
- Choose the right material
The material choice of the outdoor rug will play a major role in its longevity. Think about how much sun and possibly even rain the rug will be exposed to. For a high traffic area that could get wet or just damp, a good choice is a synthetic fibre rug. These waterproof rugs are quite hardy and easy to clean. If your patio is well-protected from the weather, a bamboo or sisal rug is a great option and has a softer feel compared to a synthetic fibre rug.
- Practical over pretty
Will your outdoor rug have to deal with muddy paws, kids crayons and red wine stains? If yes, you want to be practical about the colour and fabric choice to make sure the rug will be able to handle your lifestyle. While a crisp white and cobalt blue geometric shaped outdoor rug is stunning in a magazine, it might not be the most practical choice for your patio. Go for a more forgiving option such as a natural, bamboo colour or a rug featuring a darker colour with a pattern to help hide potential, stubborn stains.
