Outdoor Rug

Shopping for an Outdoor Rug for Your Deck

Originally Published on January 24, 2020. Last Updated on April 1, 2022.

You finally purchased a new outdoor dining table and a stylish deep-seating set to adorn your home’s deck. Your deck will be a hub where you and your loved ones will make memories that last a lifetime. Take your outdoor décor to the next level by adding greenery and cozy accessories like an outdoor rug. An area rug on your deck will transform this space into an outdoor haven.


Benefits of an Outdoor Rug

Outdoor rugs offer not only fashionable flair but are also functional. There are many benefits of an outdoor area rug, including:

  • Dividing Your Space into Separate “Rooms” — An outdoor rug on your deck creates a stimulating focal point, drawing the eye toward the patio furniture that surrounds it. Visually, it splits your deck into designated areas, separating the lounge area from the dining space. 
  • Added Style Personality — Functionality aside, an outdoor rug adds a fun personal touch to the design of your space. Available in an array of colors, patterns, and sizes, outdoor area rugs are often paired to suit any style preference. 
  • Protects the Deck — If you plan to enjoy meals alfresco, you’ll pull chairs out from underneath the dining table often. Adding a large outdoor rug beneath your dining set could prevent sliding chairs from leaving harsh marks on your deck. Luckily, decks built with HDPE lumber are not prone to scratches or chipping.

Recommended Material for Outdoor Rugs

You’ve carefully chosen HDPE lumber for your deck and outdoor furniture for its low maintenance, weather-resistant properties. Your outdoor rug should have the same durable traits as it anchors together all the elements of your space. Before you make a purchase, review the rug fabric we recommend to complete the look of your space.

Close up of outdoor rug

Natural Fibers

Bamboo, sisal, hemp, and seagrass are just a few eco-friendly materials used to make natural fiber outdoor rugs. These sustainable rugs are ideal for those who love soaking up the sun with bare feet because it feels soft to the touch. Although these rugs offer a luxurious ambiance to outdoor space, they are susceptible to fading and mildew.


How to Style an Outdoor Rug 

Rugs can make your deck appear larger than it is. Because an outdoor rug should be the anchor of your outdoor space, center it in the middle of your living area. Make sure that the outdoor rug is placed at least 12 inches from the railing of your deck to create an open, airy feeling. 

If your deck is lacking a pop of color, a vibrant outdoor rug beneath your dining set can seamlessly brighten the space. Let the colors of your home’s interior flow out to the exterior by choosing a rug in a similar palette. The matching colors will tie in all the elements of your home, creating one cohesive look.

Trex-Furniture-Blog-Rug-Sizing-Guide

Whether you’re looking for a patterned tapestry to make a statement or a subtle way to expand your open-air living room, an outdoor area rug is a perfect way to add comfort and color to any Trex® Outdoor Furniture set.

14 thoughts on “Shopping for an Outdoor Rug for Your Deck

  1. You have fantastic design skills. I bought a perfect carpet for my round dining table with four chairs. The idea is useful to highlight the area around the table. It looks perfect in my sunroom. The carpets are good to divide the different sections and enhance the beauty of floors.

  2. Can you address whether the rubber backing on some of these rugs is a problem for trex decking? I’ve read that it can stain the boards but want to use a rug that won’t slip and is light weight so it’s easy to clean (“ruggable rugs”).

    Thanks so much!

    1. Hi Sarah!

      Thank you for your question! Since we are specifically the manufacturer for the Trex Outdoor Furniture, Trex Decking would be able to assist with your question regarding the effect of rubber backing on Trex Decking. They can be reached at trex.com.

      Thank you!

  3. For 2 years have been wanting a rug for our Trex Deck. A lot of conflicting information on the web. Even contacting Trex after we installed it I was told they don’t really recommend rugs, but now see that some are ok.
    What about OLEFIN? I see many made of that as well. I have had poor experiences with the higher end rugs that are looped, as they mildewed and had to be thrown away after 1 year and they were very expensive. I dont want to make that mistake again.
    Sincerely
    Candy White

    1. Hi Candy!

      Thank you for reaching out to us! For this particular question we do recommend reaching out to Trex Decking for their recommendation on which rug that they recommend to provide you with the longevity that you’re looking for. I have provided the link to their contact information below.

      https://www.trex.com/footer/contact-us/

      I hope you have a wonderful day!

  4. We have a composite deck with stairs going to a landing, which is also made of composite material. I want to put mat at the bottom of the steps to distinguish where the steps end and the landing begins, hoping to prevent falls. However, I do not want the landing to be discolored by the mat. Do you have any suggestions as to the type of mat I should purchase?
    Thank you,
    Rich

    1. Hello Rich, that is a great question. Since we are strictly the furniture manufacturer for Trex we do not handle the decking and therefore would not be able to provide an accurate recommendation. We suggest that you contact Trex decking for the best recommendation.

  5. Can you recommend a rug PAD to be used with TREX decking and a polypropylene outdoor rug? I understand from a TREX rep that rubber backing can take the color out of the TREX decking.

    1. Hi Dan,

      Thanks for asking!

      We would recommend you follow up with Trex Corporate regarding this since we can only speak to the Trex Furniture line. You can contact Trex Corporate by phone at 1-800-BUY-TREX (1-800-289-8739) or by live chat on the trex.com website.

      Have a great day!

  6. Respectfully, you are a representative and affiliate of Trex so the article should reflect the recommendations from Trex. If rubber or other materials are not recommended, this information should be included and not deferred.

    1. Hi Jennifer,

      Thanks for reaching out!

      We can only speak to the Trex Furniture line and provide recommendations for those items. Rather than provide inaccurate information, we do have to defer all Trex decking questions to that segment to ensure customers receive the correct answers.

      Have a wonderful day!

  7. Hello,
    I have been looking for the red rug above, for months. Can you find out anything about the rug, where I can buy it, etc? I would be most appreciative. It’s like finding a needle in a haystack.

    Thanks,

    Kelly Ford

    1. Hi Kelly,

      Thanks for asking!

      The team couldn’t recall where they purchased this exact rug, but did let us know that they often find items on Overstock.com.

      Have a great day!

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