There was a time when an indoor/outdoor rug was something to be considered ONLY for the outside. Not so anymore! There are lots of beautiful options that feel quite nice underfoot and work in many indoor spaces.
Why would you choose an “outdoor” rug for indoors? Most are made from poly acrylic or polypropylene, which are waterproof and stain resistant. To clean them you simply take them outdoors and hose them off.
If you have kids or pets, a rug like one of these might be a smart option for your home. No worries about spilled food or other unfortunate accidents. And the best part? They are less expensive than most other typical rugs their size – most 5×8 rugs cost between $150 and $300.
This one from West Elm is waterproof, but feels like wool underfoot. Beautiful on a covered porch, but also a great option for under a kitchen table.
I must tell you: there aren’t as many options in indoor/outdoor rugs that work really well in traditional spaces, such as formal living and dining rooms. They tend to be less formal and more contemporary. However, here’s one from Ballard Designs that can work in more formal spaces:
Some of the retailers who offer indoor outdoor rug options include Ballard Designs, Home Decorators, West Elm, and Dash and Albert. Have you seriously considered an outdoor rug for your indoor setting?
These are all outdoor rugs? I need to get some asap! This is a great option for the bathroom. Love your unique posts Kristie! Fun stuff here 🙂
What a great idea! Never thought to use these for the bathroom, either!
Yep, did that when I brought in the bordered sisal rug from our front porch, and realized it would be perfect in the bedroom on the dark hardwood floor!!! It’s gorgeous, it was $60 from Lowes and it really adds to the room for very little money. Not like me to think too much outside the box…I’ll learn yet!!!
i would definitely get indoor/outdoor rugs. the ones i’ve found that i really like can sometimes be less expensive.
As you mentioned, they are priced at a great price. There are so many different patterns and styles today compared to a few years ago!
KB — The Dash & Albert you suggested for my boys’ room has been PERFECT. Perfect price, perfect pattern, perfect maintenance level for where two boys live! Is that last rug pictured grey and cream? It even looks kind of soft!
Yes-being the Mom of a multiple pet household-I have used indoor/outdoor rugs for a few years now. My latest addition is from Ballard Design-the grey/sand chevron stripe-bought especially for my Christmas time decor theme-Rustic Luxe. Come spring-I will switch out to another. I also have a indoor/outdoor runner in my kitchen-very practical! I encourage all to give them a try!
After I moved into my new house, I bought a gorgeous white faux sheepskin rug for my bedroom. It was fabulous. The dog loved it, too. Then spring came and the dog started tracking burrs in from the yard. In less than a week, my beautiful rug was a giant tangled burr-covered wreck. I sat there for hours combing burrs out with a slicker brush, but every day there were more. I gave up. I bought an outdoor rug from Home Decorators (Manor Area Rug in Natural/Green, 5’3″ x 7’6″ for $79 bucks) and it’s perfect! The day after I put it down, the dog unceremoniously barfed on it. Yay. I took it outside, hosed it off, let it dry in the sun, and it was good as new. It looks more expensive than it was, feels great under bare feet, and burrs don’t stick to it. Best purchase I ever made. In the meantime, I had put several other indoor rugs around the house, like a small mat in front of the kitchen sink, and those all turned out to be burr magnets, too. So I’m going to switch to outdoor rugs through the entire house. They’re amazing.
Good blog. I am in a plan to renovate my home and I came up with this doubt. Should we concentrate any color range while selecting rugs for living room? Please share your opinions in this.
Thank you for sharing your tips on how to choose an outdoor rug, they were very helpful. I like the look of these rugs but I felt nervous about buying one online as you never know what you will get or how true the color is in real life.
I have found some really great patio rugs on this site which I have bought for my new outdoor room which I am really excited about using this coming summer. The rugs are just gorgeous in lovely colors. http://indooroutdoorrugs.net They arrived very quickly and I am so pleased with my purchases. and thanks again for your inspirational tips!!