Help Me Choose an Outdoor Rug (or Have I Gone Too Far?) - Gardenista
You can install outdoor lighting and heaters and sofas and dining tables on a patio—in fact, I am considering all of the above—but there comes a time... Photographs by Michelle Slatalla. ...when you have to ask: what’s the point of turning the outdoors into a copycat extension of indoor space? Which side are you on, rug or no rug? On Julie’s brick patio is her outdoor furniture, collected over the years. She bought the mid-century metal chair and coffee table from a secondhand store in San Diego 15 years ago. 2: A Savanna Cane Rug woven of weather-resistant UV-protected polypropylene comes in six sizes (shown above is a 6-by-9-foot rug); prices range from $24.95 to $399 from Crate & Barrel. Do you like the solid neutral color or is it a distraction that pulls your eye away from the garden? A close-up view of the Savanna Cane rug; although made of what is essentially plastic, it looks as if it could be woven from a natural fiber and feels nice under bare feet. 3: A Tonal Flatweave Rug, hand loomed of yarn-dyed cotton, is recommended for indoor-outdoor use; available in four sizes (shown above in a 6-by-9-foot size), it is available for from $49 to $499 from Williams-Sonoma. And don’t even get me started on picnics, with fancy china plates and linen napkins and insulated cooler bags to keep the food at a kitchen-worthy level of refrigeration. A close-up view of the Tonal Flatweave Rug; the colors are rich and the wide stripes establish a dominant color palette for the patio. This rug requires dry cleaning and its use should be limited to a covered outdoor space or sunroom. 4: A Quil Diamond Indoor/Outdoor Rug from Pottery Barn is available in five sizes (shown above is a 5-by-8-foot rug) and is available at prices ranging from $49 to $349. A close-up view of the Quil Diamond Indoor/Outdoor Rug, with a pattern based on an early 20th-century African rug. The pattern is subtle; the background shade is a light beige color. 5: A Tierra Outdoor Dhurrie, available in five sizes (and shown above in a 5-by-8-foot size) is waterproof and handmade in India from yarns made of recycled plastic bottles; available at prices ranging from $49 to $749 from West Elm. A close-up view of the Tierra Outdoor Dhurrie, which looks and feels very much like cotton. And yet it can be cleaned with an outdoor hose and mild soap; to prevent mold or mildew, avoid leaving it in standing water for extended periods.