Why treat your patio any differently than any other room in your home?

Beautiful furnishings, themed decor and traditional decorating accents can make your outdoor space a welcoming room that your family and guests will enjoy spending time in. In fact, a patio and backyard can often be more than one room, with different areas clearly defined by the furnishings, décor and patio rugs.

The traditional decorating tips for making the most of large spaces apply as well to the outdoors and your patio as they do to any large room in your home.

One of the most common decorating tricks to help set off an area of a room is to use an area rug to define the space. While the idea of using an area rug outdoors may seem strange at first, there are many designs and styles of patio rugs that are durable and weather-resistant. What sort of fabric should you look for when choosing an outdoor patio rug to brighten up your outdoor living space?

Wool Rugs

Avoid wool rugs for outdoor patio areas. The natural moisture outdoors can collect in the fibers, encouraging mold and rot, and contributing to a musty smell. In addition, the UV rays from the sun will break the material down and fade colors quickly.

Sisal, Jute and Sea Grass
 
Sisal, jute and sea-grass may seem like good natural alternatives. After all, the plants grow outside! Unfortunately, the woven fibers don’t withstand weather very well. Even if your patio is completely enclosed, the likelihood of high traffic makes natural materials like sisal and jute a poor choice for a patio rug.
 
Cotton

If you want to use natural materials, cotton is one of your best choices. If the rug is small enough, you can toss it into the washer, or have it professionally cleaned, and if the day is sunny and the rug is light enough, you can dry it outdoors on the patio. The best choices for cotton patio rugs are those that have no pile, or that are tightly woven and flat, like a dhurrie rug with a colorfast design. The sun and weather will fade the colors rather quickly, though, so these are best on a covered patio or porch.
 
Polypropylene/Olefin

By far, the best material for an outdoor are rug is the synthetic polypropylene. First developed in the late 1940s and used for furniture upholstery, polypropylene has grown up to be one of the most versatile carpeting materials available. It dyes well, allowing bright and subtle patterns for accent, and modern manufacturing techniques have created versions of polypropylene that mimic many natural materials, including jute and sisal.
 
Patio rugs made of polypropylene are resistant to fading from the UV rays of the sun, which make acrylic rugs a poor choice for outdoors. It dries quickly, as the individual fibers are not absorbent. The same quality makes it easy to clean a polypropylene patio rug. You can simply hose it down with a garden hose and allow it to dry. Sturdy and attractive, polypropylene patio rugs are your best choice for a high traffic outdoor area.

For quality and style choose a Persian carpet

If you are thinking about purchasing Persian carpets for your home, you should first stop and make a plan. These beautiful rugs are similar to pieces of art, and you will want to insure that the Persian carpet that you select will best fit into your home’s décor.

After all, an area rug—especially one like a Persian carpet—will be the base and focal point of your entire room’s design, so you will want to make sure that you begin your work with a good foundation. If done correctly, a Persian carpet can pull together all of the elements of your room’s design, creating a well-thought out look that complements the rest of your home.

You’ll first want to determine what sized Persian carpet you need. You will be faced with many options when purchasing a Persian rug, so it’s best to pull out your tape measure and get an idea of the perfect size before shopping. You can purchase a smaller carpet to act in a small space, such as under a grouping of chairs, or under a coffee table. If you want to cover most of the room’s space, look for a larger rug that will do the trick.

In addition to using rugs as a base, you can use a Persian carpet to accent a space as well. For example, use a rug runner for stairs or to cover a well-worn or high traffic area. You can also use smaller Persian carpets to connect spaces, such as short hallways that connect a room with a sitting area.

Next, you’ll want to consider the best color for your Persian carpet. Because the very essence of Persian rugs is the rich designs that are woven into them, you’ll need to look for just that perfect combination of color and design. Today’s Persian carpets are available in so many colors and patterns that you’ll likely be faced with some tough decisions!

After you have determined the best size and colors for your Persian carpet, it’s time to go shopping!

Imagine that it is first century B.C. in Persia and an old frail weaver sits and spins his magic, producing a silk Persian rug that will be used in his family’s home in order to keep at bay the dust and the harsh winter cold.  In his design, he tells the story of the family’s past and future; secrets that no one knows and only his family can read by looking closely at the special design in the Persian rug.

Such is the past of Persian rugs, and perhaps that is why so many people desire to use them in their homes today. Persian rugs are generally made of rich, warm colors, such as deep reds, greens and blues. A quality Persian carpet is made from silk, wool or cotton, with cotton or silk backings.

Long ago, Iran was the main producer of Persian rugs, but was banned from exporting their rugs to the United States until the year 2000. In that time, India emerged as the premier Persian rug maker, delighting people with the warm colors and eye-catching designs.

Although the patterns usually don’t have secret meanings anymore, they are beautiful in design. Some have geometrical shapes, while others showcase borders of flowers or fruit. The colors have, for the most part, stayed the same, although now it is possible to find pastels and other variations.

So, where can you use a Persian rug?

The carpets can go in just any room in your home. They look great in a living room, a dining room, or even a bedroom. The key is to use the rich colors to pull in the rest of the room’s design, and allow the magic of the rug to do the rest. A Persian rug can add an air of mystery to any room, and give it a feeling of warmth and stateliness. And if your home features hardware floors or carpet, a Persian rug will add a great dimension to your look.

For quality and style choose a Persian carpet

Persian rugs have long been known for their quality and style. Produced by hand, these oriental rugs have a beauty that can’t be beat. Completely unique, Persian rugs are a quality investment that will last for years.

Authentic Persian rugs are produced in Iran, (formerly known as Persia). Copies of these rugs are produced in other countries such as China and areas in the Middle East. Some consider the quality of these to be just as good.

Persian rugs have been produced for thousands of years but the industry really came into it’s own in the 16th century. The design or style of a particular oriental rug is unique to each region in Iran and has been passed on through the centuries.

When looking for a Persian carpet, the best quality are those with a greater number of knots per square inch. The more knots per square inch, the longer it has taken to create the rug. This of course is reflected in the price.

Other factors to consider when shopping for Persian carpets are the quality of the wool or silk used to weave the rug, the symmetry of the design and the complexity of the design.

Persian rugs are surprisingly affordable considering the amount of work and effort that has gone into making them. Purchasing a quality Persian rug will not only be a good investment but will also add greatly to the beauty of your home.

Traditional and contemporary braided rag rugs

Braided rag rugs are hand or machine manufactured from a variety of fabrics and woven to form beautiful designs to suit a wide variety of decors. Although they are particularly suited to a home with a country theme, braided rugs are versatile enough to use in any home and in any room of the house.

 Braided area rugs were traditionally hand woven in round or oval shapes however, the popularity of these rag rugs has resulted in a wide range of shapes including octagonal and square.

Outdoor rag rugs are becoming more and more popular. Suited to patios and pool areas these area rugs not only provide a stylish look to your outdoor area but also offer a soft surface to walk on. A round outdoor braided rug is particularly attractive under a patio setting.

Many braided rag rugs are machine or hand washable making them ideal for a children’s room or play area. Braided kids area rugs made from nylon or polypropylene are durable and are easy to keep clean and your kids will love the bright designs.

>>Shop for Round Area Rugs at Amazon

For a unique look, try a round rug

Have you ever admired round area rugs, but didn’t quite know how to use them in your home’s décor? You’re not alone—many people love the look of a round area rug, but can’t figure out where to put them in their home.

The great thing about round area rugs is that they come in a wonderful variety of colors and sizes. You can purchase a round area rug in just about any color that you can think of, such as the more common blues, greens and pastels, to the much-used deeper colors of today, such as burnt oranges, strong yellows, sunset reds and rich blue-greens. In addition, when shopping for a round area rug, you’ll have the option of varying sizes—from the smallest of rugs to a large one that will take up a great amount of your room’s space.

Okay, so where do you use these fantastic looking round area rugs?

If you have a small space, and are trying to pull together various items in it, a small round area rug may just do the trick. For example, let’s imagine that you had a small sitting area with two wicker chairs and a table in between them. The wicker chairs had red, solid colored cushions on them. That sounds like a nice setting, but a small round area rug with a pattern—either plaid, striped or even a floral—could make it much more exciting!

And you’re not limited to small spaces with round area rugs. If you have a round dining room table, a round rug looks much better than a rectangular or square one. In addition, a large living space, such as a den or living room can be made beautiful by using a round area rug instead of the expected rectangular one.

What about you?

Do you have a space—big or small—in your home that is calling out for something unexpected, like a round area rug? If so, why not check out the many resources available to you and starting for just the perfect one!