5 of the best outdoor rugs

What with the proliferation of botanical prints and rekindled love for house plants, you’ve no doubt thought about bringing the outdoors in recently, but taking the indoors out? Now that’s a garden trend worth taking notice of and perfect for anyone who wants a living-room level of comfort outside. The best outdoor rugs can bring a real tactile touch, as well as visual interest, to a deck or patio, and there are some wonderful decorative options in the shops right now, as you’re about to find out.

When you've found the perfect outdoor rug for your garden, check out our sourcebook of top garden suppliers for all your garden shopping needs. 

What is the best outdoor rug?

Geometric patterned rugs are still a huge trend in the world of interiors, and that goes for exteriors too. Kilim rugs, diamond patterns and chevrons abound in lists of the best rugs, including this one, and first place goes to the bang on-trend and future-facing (it’s made of recycled plastic straws, don’t you know) Fab Hab Copenhagen Rug. 

It’s far from the only option though – from hand-woven jute rugs to ones made from born-again plastic bottles, summery brights to elegant neutrals, there’s something to suit all.

There’s been a lot of hubbub around disposable plastic straws recently, but we have good news if you want to do your bit to stop the man-made nuisances making their way into the oceans: these rugs from eco-conscious company Fab Hab are chock full of them. 

Woven from strands made from recycled plastic straws, this outdoor rug both does good for the planet and looks good on your patio, with its distinctive kilim pattern and elegant palette, while that plastic construction means it’s mildew-resistant and lightweight. Best of all, it’s reversible, so if you’re feeling a little more colourful, you can change your grey rug for a blue rug with just a quick flip. 

Shop more outdoor rugs at Cuckooland

Concentric diamond rugs are a big deal for interiors, and if you’re looking to capture a little of the trend for your outdoor space, you need look no further than Dash & Albert at Wayfair. Their indoor-outdoor area rug has a trend-led white diamond pattern on a choice of solid colours, from pared-back neutrals to springy salmon and bright green, so whatever the particular aesthetic of your outdoor space, there’s sure to be an option to suit. While this is our best pick for colour choices, it’s more than just a pretty face, with a fade-resistant polypropylene construction to combat the (fingers crossed) bright sunshine. 

Shop more outdoor rugs at Wayfair

Not unlike Fab Hab’s Copenhagen rug, this one from Weaver Green at John Lewis has a healthy dose of eco-kudos to its name. It’s woven completely from fibres made from recycled plastic bottles, resulting in an effect that looks like wool but is waterproof, mould-resistant, hard-wearing in the face of foot traffic, and completely washable. That sounds like a win-win to us. It’s also a shining example of responsible manufacturing, made by skilled artisans in weaving houses inspected by the impartial Good Weave. On the design front, its flat-woven style and geometric pattern give it an ‘oh, this? We picked this up on holiday’ look, and it’s reversible for good measure. 

Shop more outdoor rugs at John Lewis

If you’re looking for a more soft-edged option than a rectangular rug can provide, a circular outdoor rug is a great unexpected option. This hand-woven rug by Wildon Home is lovingly made from eco-friendly and extremely durable jute (the same stuff your Bag for Life is likely made of), and is second-to-none in terms of providing a gorgeous natural texture to your outdoor dining or lounging area. The natural fibres have a very attractive sheen, as well as having a short pile that’s easy to keep looking neat and tidy, even in the face of determined dirt-treaders. 

Shop more jute outdoor rugs at Amazon

When it comes to outdoor rugs that look just as at home indoors, Dunelm have got it just right. This Grey Psychedelia rug, with on-trend chevron pattern and even more on-trend grey and white colourway, is an eye-catching option for contemporary patios, and the neutral palette opens up the option for easy pattern-clashing. Again, it’s made from recycled plastic straws, so you can feel pretty smug while sipping your choice of sundowner out on the deck, and it’s water-resistant and UV-protected to outdo the best efforts of the elements. 

Shop more outdoor rugs at Dunelm

 Read more:

•  Sit out in style with our pick of the best garden chairs 
•  Grab some shade on your newly decorated deck with one of our best patio umbrellas 
•  And top it all off with one of the best outdoor dining sets out there