C LO S E TO H O M E
A Soft Place to Land
Patio rugs improve landscape, climate and comfort By Shelley Sakala A backyard transformation is quite different than an interior makeover. When it comes to the outdoors, you’re doing more than just decorating. You’re taking an area that is harsh, rough and uncomfortable and turning it into someplace beautiful and inviting. You can achieve this a number of ways: • Control the landscape by replacing dirt with grass, trees, rock or hardscaping. • Control the climate by adding a pool, a hot tub, fans, fireplaces or shade. • Control the comfort by adding tables, chairs and couches. But there’s one item often overlooked that helps improve landscape, climate and comfort: a patio rug. A quality rug feels fantastic. Compared to outdoor stone or tile, a rug is always warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Whether you’re dripping wet from the pool or bundled up and sipping coffee, a rug turns a hard patio into a cushiony and inviting gathering point. It’s like furniture for your feet.
Outdoor rugs can add that extra pop of color. Outdoor rugs begin at around $50 and go up past $4,000. (Submitted photos)
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There’s a wonderful What makes a rug an RESIST freedom that comes with outdoor rug is the maLook for rugs that decorating for the patio. terials and construction “resist”—stains, moisture, You can do things in your used to create it. Outdoor mold, mildew and UV. backyard you’d never do rugs are crafted from synThey’re all perfect features in your family room. A thetic fibers designed to for an outdoor rug. Caribbean blue rug? Abwithstand the elements: solutely. Bright orange? Go for it. Bold colors moisture, sunlight, heavy winds and the occasional haboob. Some rugs can even be hosed and patterns look fantastic beneath a blue off after a big spill, a party or a dust storm sky, a shade umbrella or a few outdoor throw (don’t try this with that Persian rug in your pillows. Contrast or coordinate your rug with your patio furniture and create the setting for living room). While it’s possible to put an indoor rug the perfect pool party. When it comes to price, you can spend outside, it’s not recommended. Outdoor rugs are typically made from polypropylene, about as little or as much as you’d like. Smaller which repels water and stains and resists fad- rugs begin at $50, while high-end outdoor rugs can easily set you ing. If you’d like to go with GET A GRIP back $4,000 or more. With something a little more Rug pads are a smart plenty of quality options in eco-friendly and exotic, try (and cheap) way to keep the $100 to $200 range, you bamboo, hemp or sea grass. your rug from slipping, may not need to invest in a While they lack some of the especially on smooth four-figure patio rug. But durability of polypropylene, concrete or tile. The you do you. they look great and give smaller the rug, the greater you something interesting Shelley Sakala is a local Realtor with the hazard. And don’t The Sakala Group, and an 85085 to brag on when your frenforget the door mats! resident. emies come to visit.
