Whether you’re styling a brand-new outdoor living area from scratch or your existing outdoor space is looking a little bare, adding functionality, warmth, and sophistication with indoor/outdoor carpet is a foolproof way to elevate your space.
To help you select the best options for your needs, we’ve compiled this guide packed with information on the benefits of indoor/outdoor carpet, plus some extra styling tips to have your space looking its best in no time.
What Is Indoor/Outdoor Carpet?
Indoor/outdoor carpet is exactly what it sounds like — it’s carpet (or a rug) that’s soft enough to feel like it belongs indoors but tough enough to withstand the challenges of living outdoors.
Unlike carpet and rugs that are designed strictly for indoor use, indoor/outdoor carpet is created using materials tried and tested for durability. They typically feature either plant fibers (like seagrass or hemp) or a man-made material such as plastic.
While indoor rugs can’t go outside, outdoor (or indoor/outdoor) rugs are easy to incorporate throughout your home whether it’s inside or out. They’re the perfect choice for families looking for outdoor tough combined with indoor comfort.
Let’s take a look at the benefits of indoor/outdoor carpet so you can decide if it’s right for your space.
What Are The Benefits Of Indoor/Outdoor Carpet?
Warmth And Sophistication
At Outer, we’re all about bringing the comforts of indoors outside. Along with our range of outdoor sofas, sectionals, and armchairs, our 1188 Eco-Friendly Outdoor Rugs are what help build a solid foundation for a cozy outdoor living area.
One clear benefit of adding indoor/outdoor carpet to your outdoor space is that it instantly transforms your backyard seating area into a warm and inviting place to spend time. From casual drinks with friends to making memories with family, you’ll never want to head indoors.
As well as being physically warmer on your guests’ feet, the perfect outdoor rug helps to anchor your space and tie it together, creating a professionally styled look and feel.
Whether you’re wanting to create a safe, comfortable place for your little ones to play or you’re looking to make your outdoor space cozier, outdoor rugs are the way to go.
Years Of Use
As we mentioned earlier, throwing indoor carpet into your outdoor space and hoping it’ll hold up against the elements of the great outdoors is not the best idea! You’ll wind up with mold, mildew, stains, and fading faster than you purchased it.
Instead, choose indoor/outdoor carpet and rugs that are specially designed to live outdoors. That way, you know they’re made of durable, long-lasting materials that won’t break down at the first sign of sun or rain.
Like our outdoor furniture, our outdoor rugs are designed using lifeproof materials. They’re resistant to all weather conditions, from harsh UV rays to a downpour of water; plus, they’re naturally stain-repelling.
Not all indoor/outdoor carpet is sustainably made, so we’re proud to be able to say our rugs are recycled and recyclable.
We use 100% recycled PET (or polyethylene terephthalate, if you want to get technical) plastic to create our rugs, which is the same plastic used in plastic water bottles.
In fact, the “1188” in the name of our 1188 Eco-Friendly Rugs is the number of bottles used to make each rug. This is the equivalent of 12 years worth of plastic waste that could have otherwise been in the environment!
The plastic we use is made from premium-grade resins approved by the FDA, so our rugs are quite literally safe enough to eat off of.
And once your rug has lived out its long, happy life in your outdoor space, it can be fully recycled to live on as another product. Pretty neat, if you ask us!
Modern Style
These days, outdoor rugs are stylish, come in a variety of colors, and are made from newer materials that help them look and feel fresh for much longer. They’re no longer the dull, boring carpet options from back in the day (thank goodness!).
Our range of outdoor rugs has been purposefully designed in neutral tones, so they pair seamlessly with just about any color or style of outdoor furniture. Between Pebble Gray, Seashell Gray, and Sand Dune Beige, you can easily find a color palette to suit your needs.
Plus, each rug comes in three different sizing options to perfectly fit your space. Choose from 5’ x 8’, 8’ x 10’, or 9’ x 12’ to ensure you get the right shape for your outdoor area.
Pair your outdoor rug with a sleek coffee table, like our Teak Outdoor Coffee Table With Tapered Leg, to complete your space and add even more functionality.
Easy Maintenance
One potential downside of indoor/outdoor carpet? The cleaning. We can understand why you’d want to avoid adding extra chores to your to-do list, so the idea of bringing in an outdoor rug might sound like more hassle than it’s worth.
Thankfully, Outer rugs are specially designed to be incredibly easy to clean and maintain, so you can spend less time scrubbing and more time enjoying your outdoor space.
A simple vacuum to get rid of crumbs, a spot clean with water and detergent here and there, and easy air drying is all the Outer rug needs to look as good as new. And thanks to our stain-resistant materials, reasons for cleaning are few and far between.
Our rugs are also created using a dithering effect made up of multiple colors plus a herringbone pattern in our weave. These features help to disguise dirt so your outdoor rug doesn’t require constant upkeep to ensure it looks fresh.
How To Style Indoor/Outdoor Carpet
When it comes to styling your outdoor space, it’s helpful to start by thinking of your outdoor seating area as an extension of your indoor living space. What are the comforts of indoors that you’d like to bring outdoors?
Start with your indoor/outdoor carpet to set the stage for your outdoor area, and then work your way from the ground up.
Select your outdoor rug color and size based on your style preferences and any existing outdoor furniture you might have. The neutral, earthy tones of our range of outdoor rugs make selecting the right color super easy — they really match with just about everything!
If you’re styling your outdoor area from scratch, try pairing your rug with one of our outdoor sofas.
For a sleek, industrial look, our 5-Seater Aluminum Outdoor Corner Sectional is the one for you. If golden honey tones are more your style, our 4-Seater Teak Outdoor Loveseat with Armless Chairs will fit the bill. And for a timeless option, our Wicker range has you covered.
Add in some soft furnishings, like a bug-resistant throw blanket or two, plus plenty of outdoor throw pillows to keep your guests comfortable all year round.
Consider bringing in some fun accessories, like flowers or greenery, soft lighting, and a fire table or fire pit as a statement piece for your outdoor space.
After that, you’ll be well and truly equipped for whatever events your outdoor living area will host — from backyard camping and movie nights to family get-togethers and everything in-between!
We know styling isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but we believe everyone deserves to have an outdoor space they love to spend time in. So our design experts are on hand to help with space planning, exterior design, and product questions through our Virtual Design Consultations.
Simply get in touch, tell us about your project, and we’ll hook you up with one of our outdoor living experts to create your dream backyard living space.
Bring Indoor Style Outdoors With Outer
Now that you know all about indoor/outdoor carpet, it’s easy to see why every outdoor space could benefit from adding a little warmth and sophistication with an outdoor rug.
Outer Outdoor rugs are not only stylish, but they’re also a durable, low-maintenance furnishing option for families looking for outdoor durability combined with indoor comfort. Adding a rug is a simple, effective way to define your space and bring life back outdoors with ease.
Simply choose your favorite timeless, neutral color from our range of eco-friendly rugs — Pebble Gray, Seashell Gray, or Sand Dune Beige — and select the perfect size option to suit your outdoor area.