by Alison Johnston of Johnston Home Interior Design
It’s finally warm! We’ve had a cold spring out West and I am more than ready to spend time outside. When planning outdoor space, I always like to add a rug to an outdoor seating group. It helps create a sense of a room in a space with no walls! I’ve paired each of these rugs with a pot and planting so you can see how it all comes together. See my HOT TIP at the end for cleaning outdoor rugs.
1. Let’s start with this striped beauty from Anthropologie!
I would pair it with this structured sea foam colored planter filled with lavender.
2. This rug is a piece of POW for your yard. But because it sits horizontally you will only sense it when sitting down. Don’t be afraid to add this graphic pattern from West Elm to your outdoor grouping!!
Since this is so graphic, let’s keep the pots a bit more quiet. A plain white pot filled with a simple fern works best. Did you know there is a fern that likes the sun? If your seating group is in full sun then the Cinnamon Fern is for you!
3. Neutral rugs add a softer feeling to an outdoor grouping. This rug from Lulu and Georgia is perfect if you enjoy layering textures.
A classic terracotta planter will enhance the natural textures. Let’s add a tree to this planter! This beautiful maple for fall color? Or maybe a small lemon tree… perfect for summer cocktails!
4. Let’s go for a classic blue and white for this round. Annie Selke is the queen of the indoor outdoor rug. And just to liven it up, I’m going to go with a brightly colored ceramic planter! I tend to treat navy as a neutral – any color can be paired with it!
Fill this planter with some lovely pink-orange lantana and a taller evergreen in the middle.
5. Need a custom size? Ernesta Rugs has you covered! (sorry … flooring joke.) But seriously sometimes an 8×10 won’t work. Isn’t this herringbone pattern elegant?
This rug can go contemporary or classic. I like the idea of elevated planters as it brings plants up to a higher level. Not all the plants need to be down at the ground.
This concrete planter is a remake of a famous mid-century design by Willy Guhl. Go for sculptural greenery like a philodendron or a monstera.
6. I have obsessed over this rattan pedestal planter for years. If you have a covered patio, then pop one of these in the corner to fill the space. Just gorgeous! The original from Mainly Baskets is quite pricey. But I’d be happy with this version from Etsy!
HOT TIP: How to clean outdoor rugs. Pull it out into an open area away from your furniture. Hose it down to get it wet. Yes a hose! Bring out a bucket of warm soapy water, dish soap is fine. Scrub down the rug with a brush. If you have any discolored areas, you can actually bleach it! Hose it back down to rinse and let dry in the sun.
Outdoor rugs are made from solution dyed acrylic. This means that the acrylic is colored in the vat before they are spun into yarn. This makes the color integral to the material … and can be bleached without affecting the color.