Outdoor furnishings face a different set of challenges than their indoor counterparts. Rain, insects, and in some places snow put far more wear and tear on outdoor décor than the controlled environment inside a house. With the demands put on them, outdoor rugs have to be extra resilient, as well as attractive enough to be one of the first things visitors will see. These stylish outdoor rug options for your patio fit the bill nicely.

Synthetic Fibers Beat Natural

Synthetic fibers are almost always stronger and last longer than natural for outdoor rugs. Indoors, soft natural fibers such as cotton and wool look great and can last a long time. Outdoors, natural fibers suffer from exposure and predation by bugs.

Outdoor rugs are most often made from nylon, polypropylene, or polyester. Not only are these very durable materials, they are almost always made for efficient power looms. This lowers the cost of production and potentially makes outdoor rugs more affordable than similar-sized indoor rugs.

Pile Height

A rug's pile is how high the fibers rise above the backing. Rugs with tufts of 0.25 inches or fewer are usually called low pile. Rugs with more than 0.75 inch tufts are generally called high pile. The range between 0.25 to 0.75 inches is in the medium range.

There isn't a single best height for all rugs, but outdoor rugs should generally be low pile. Lower piles can feel stiff and rough, which is less of a concern outdoors, but they're easy to clean and to maintain. Longer-pile rugs trap dirt and other debris very easily, making them comparatively harder to keep up.

Seasonal Colors

Outdoor rugs are meant to be seen, located as they are on porches, patios, and other places visible from outside the house. This puts extra pressure on buyers to choose attractive and welcoming colors. Patterns and other decorative elements should also be pleasant to look at, especially from the porch-to-street distance they may be viewed from.

Bold geometric patterns work really well for outdoor rugs. Style can be continuously updated by switching outdoor rugs with the seasons. Bright, cheery colors are ideal for spring and early summer, while earth tones and muted designs are more appropriate for the late summer to fall seasons. From Halloween to New Year's Day, rugs with specific holiday motifs and seasons' greetings are a great choice.