I’ve been looking for a way to give my terrace some love and inject a bit of colour but without spending a fortune on garden furniture. Outdoor rugs keep popping up on my social media feeds as a low-effort fix, and while I love the idea, some of the price tags I’ve seen have put me off.
Then I came across this reversible blue and white, Moroccan-tile style outdoor rug on Amazon. It’s just £18.99 for a 160cm by 230cm (5ft x 7.5ft) size and claims to be waterproof, foldable and easy to clean. This exact rug is also available from Tesco but they’re charging an extra £1 for the same size, and Debenhams is selling it at £20.99. Amazon’s price can’t be beaten.
At 160cm wide, it’s big enough to sit under a table or bench, and at 230cm in length it will cover a decent sized area. It would also help protect my dog’s paws when the tiles get too hot in the sun. If that’s too big, there are other sizes, including an 80cm by 150cm (2.6ft x 4.9ft) option at £6.99, a 120cm by 170cm (3.9ft x 5.5ft) model priced at £10.99, and a round 170cm (5.5ft) diameter version at £10.99.
It’s made from waterproof polypropylene, so it should be able to handle spills, rain, and even my pooch lounging on it without issue. According to the description it is easy to clean, stating that if it does get dirty you can hose it down or spot clean with soapy water to keep it looking fresh.
Although the mat claims to be “anti-slip” it’s probably still worth investing in a rug gripper as not only will it help keep your mat in place and stop the edges curling, but they can also increase its durability and lifespan because it will reduce friction and wear if it’s not being moved so much.
One reviewer, who said she’d purchased it for her mum, wrote: “It’s a quality rug and really enhanced her outdoor space. Really good value too.” Another praised the colour options: “Chose the mainly blue side to tie in with my blue and white bistro seat pads and red cushions. Really brightens up my lower patio area.”
Customers were divided on its weight, however. One shopper wrote: “Looks great on the patio. Good quality. Lightweight and easy to use/flip/rearrange.” Another was less effusive, commenting: “…quite lightweight and blows up with the wind on edges”.
If you’re after something heavier or in more neutral tone, I spotted this ombre outdoor rug from Wayfair that came with glowing reviews. Also made from polypropylene, it has a shag-pile finish giving it a thick (5cm height), heavy feel underneath your feet. It claims to be fade, stain and water resistant but states that if you do leave it outside you’ll need to cover it up to protect from rain. Prices start from £17.99 for the 60cm (1.9ft) by 110cm (3.6ft) mat, and goes up to £117.99 for the 200cm (6.5ft) by 290cm (9.5ft) size. It’s also available in the same measurements as the Amazon rug (160cm x 230cm) for £81.99.
Dunelm also has a huge number of outdoor rugs available. I love the look of this POP Outdoors Rug from the store, which is available in four colours — rose, red, dark green and blue. Again made from polypropylene, it comes in two sizes, 120cm x 170cm (4ft x 5.5ft) for £55, and 160cm by 230cm (5ft x 7.5ft) for £95. Reviewed with a strong 4.7 stars out of five, customers noted it was good quality, the colours were “strong” and it is “heavy enough to stay down if windy”.