Choosing the Perfect Outdoor Rugs

When it comes to the world of outdoor living in UAE, alfresco entertainment is in demand year-round. One accessory that performs consistently when it comes to transforming bland outdoor spaces into refined, personalised sanctuaries is the outdoor rug.

Terrace or gazebos, garden or cabanas – a well selected outdoor luxury rug brings with it all the necessary elements needed to enhance the ambience of a space: texture, character, colour, design, layering and cohesion.                         

With so many luxury rugs out there, selecting one that enhances your sanctuary without deteriorating under the UAE sun serves as quite a challenge, and with this comprehensive guide, we aim to help you tackle this challenge with ease.

What can make a stunningly furnished terrace feel more like a cosy outdoor room? An exceptional outdoor rug.

In all our experience curating spaces that transcend the bounds of basic, we have observed that an appropriately scaled luxury rug can greatly impact how a space is perceived and interacted with.

Let’s take into consideration the stark realities of hosting an outdoor gathering in the UAE: scorching tiles that make the barefoot experience impossible to explore, the harsh visuals of unadorned expanses of concrete or stone, or the challenge of marking out intimate zones within vast expanses of the outdoors. Outdoor rugs resolve all these issues while also providing a layer of relaxed sophistication. 

Enhancing your outdoor space might seem frivolous for some, but it provides a space for priceless memories. When your guests enjoy the wonderful textures of your floors, when children run around the terrace with ease, when your space feels cohesive and complete in terms of spatial balance – these seemingly simple enhancements can greatly improve your quality of life. 

We often witness clients who begin relishing their once-abandoned outdoor spaces, simply after the addition of a humble outdoor rug. 

Many tend to overlook the importance of the outdoors, but it contributes just as much to your home’s overall impression and aesthetics as the indoors. A well-chosen outdoor rug will visually bridge the gap between both realms, and create a smoother flow by bringing your interior’s warmth and texture to the outdoors. 

What differentiates an exceptional outdoor rug from a substandard counterpart lies deep within its fibres: the material. Different materials react varyingly to environmental factors such as intense UV rays, dust-storms, high humidity levels, and even the occasional storm.

Polypropylene is the powerhouse when it comes to the varying materials used for outdoor rugs. It offers unmatched levels of resilience and durability that can serve well through years of high usage.

Key Advantages:

• High fade resistance— a vital requirement for coping with UAE’s year-round sunlight

• Moisture resistant properties making it ideal for coastal residences and placement near pools or tubs.
• High durability levels ideal for surviving years even in high foot-traffic 

Considerations: 

• Synthetic texture lacks the luxurious tactical appeal of its natural counterparts
• A discerning eye can distinguish its synthetic nature despite quality manufacturing and design
• It’s better suited for clients who value durability and easy maintenance over luxurious finishing

The luxurious refinement offered by natural fibres is undeniable. They don’t have the resilience that can be offered by synthetic options, but we have successfully specified natural fibre based rugs for many projects with partially covered outdoor terraces and gazebos.

Different fibres come with their varying advantages. An outdoor jute rug adds organic textures and creates visual warmth. Woollen rugs have a luxurious tactile appeal for an optimum barefoot experience. Coir has a strong textural profile that complements contemporary settings. These natural fibres have an organic, textural appeal that allows them to make your outdoor spaces feel more livable, while maintaining a close touch with nature.

Natural fibres are more prone to damage through excessive usage, mildew, and high sunlight exposure. Their deterioration can be controlled by placing them in partially covered areas, doing seasonal rotations, and keeping up with regular maintenance.

As environmental accountability has been gaining more attention in recent years, recycled materials are often sought out by clients who wish to adorn their outdoors with minimum environmental costs.

Recycled plastic fibres sourced from plastics found in the ocean, have been thoroughly researched and experimented with over the last decades to achieve quality results that are aesthetic, functional and sustainable.

One option that feels like it bridges the gap between natural aesthetics and outdoor resilience is treated cotton blends. When finished with the appropriate treatments, these natural fibres have a higher weather resistance and last longer – though not quite as long as synthetic alternatives.

A notable impact of weather-resistant treatments is a slight compromise on the tactile, natural hand-feel of the fibres – a practical compromise, if you ask us.

The selection of your outdoor rug’s material will directly impact the level and type of maintenance required. Where polypropylene usually needs an occasional hose-down and an annual deep cleanse, natural fibres will require regular upkeep, immediate dealing with any stains, and professional rug cleaning services to maintain a fresh appearance.

Outdoor rugs have come a long way in terms of design. Geometric patterns to abstract textures, oriental designs to bold artworks – today’s luxury outdoor rugs let you explore the creative vision you have for your outdoor sanctuary with ease.

The expansive nature of outdoor spaces in most luxury properties across UAE requires levels of proportions that typically exceed those of the interiors. For instance, a pattern that may have served you well indoors may look miniscule when placed in a grand garden or vast terrace. 

For outdoor areas with large dimensions, choose large-scale geometric patterns that add visual interest, character and depth to ensure your space does not feel dull. Similarly, when it comes to intimate balconies or indoor-outdoor spaces, Persian or Turkish outdoor rugs with their intricate, detailed patterns maintain a nice visual balance that will not overwhelm your space.

When it comes to colour selection for outdoor rugs, muted greys and neutrals have an unmatched popularity as their subtle elegance wonderfully complements luxurious outdoor furniture collections. Yet you do not need to shy off colour completely. 

Many of our projects have featured bold, strikingly coloured rugs that enliven minimalist spaces, and last longer due to their saturated nature despite the colour fading effect created by strong sun exposure.

The beauty of a luxury rug lies in how it has a unique, grounding impact on our interiors. Often, a well-placed rug can anchor your belongings and prevent your curated furniture from having that awkward, floating effect – especially in spacious areas.

Outdoor rugs can be used to define zones within your outdoor spaces. For instance, a large outdoor rug around your seatings can help create a visual boundary. You can also zone out areas for meditation, reading, lounging, dining, or grilling – all with a thoughtful rug placement.

When placing a rug outdoors, the existing hardscaping elements such as stone, tile, concrete, and wooden surfaces should be factored in. Each material holds a distinct visual weight and texture, so when placing your rug, it’s highly important to maintain a balanced visual weight.

When designing any space, form and function must go hand-in-hand and this applies quite heavily when it comes to selecting your outdoor floor covering. Consider these essential and practical factors:

• What is the specific UV rating for this climate zone? 
• What are the rug’s water absorption rates and drying characteristics? 
• Which cleaning products and methods are recommended for its maintenance? 
• What warranty coverage is provided for fade resistance and structural integrity?

Your rug’s placement can help greatly enhance its longevity when done right. Even with synthetic and durable rugs, extra protection can never hurt – especially during more extreme weather events.

Placement Considerations: 

• Use architectural features that provide coverage such as pergolas and overhangs to your advantage. 
• Maintain proper water drainage systems to prevent water from pooling which can result in mould or mildew.
• Seasonally rotating your rugs can greatly prolong their life cycle and keep your outdoors from  feeling dull.

Knowing about a few errors before making your selection can help you avoid them, avoiding any costly do-overs in the future:

• Prioritising interior aesthetics over outdoor performance:
  Natural fibre rugs that may perform stunningly in your indoors might deteriorate rapidly when exposed to completely different environmental conditions outdoors.
• Undersizing for outdoor proportions:
  For expansive spaces, it’s easy to accidentally go undersized when going on intuition. Instead, measure your outdoor space for more accurate decisions and it’s always better to oversize than the other way around.

• Trying budget-friendly solutions that come with a price:
Many cheaper synthetic outdoor rugs come without the proper UV and water resistance found in quality synthetic solutions. 

The delicate balance between visual appeal and practical performance helps achieve a similar balance between immediate joy and long-lasting satisfaction when it comes to your outdoor rug purchase.

Remember, the selection for an outdoor rug is based on completely different requirements when compared to an indoor rug. The environment and usage are completely different, and when factored in, will serve results that enhance your space from one that is pleasant to one that is preferred.

Shaggy or jute, round or square, synthetic or natural: at FCI UAE, we have a wide variety of luxury outdoor rugs and an experienced team of design consultants who know all there is to know about selecting the perfect rug that will truly elevate your outdoors.