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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 a patio rug to brighten up your outdoor living space?
Material
Avoid wool rugs for outdoor patio rug 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 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 patio 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 patio 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 more
information on patio rugs
or to choose from a wide range of rugs and rug products select
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