Ground Rules — 12 Outdoor Rugs That Redefine the Alfresco Living Room

Proof that everything, even your patio, looks better with something soft underfoot

The best outdoor rugs of 22025, including floral, ombre, and checkered styles, pictured against a colorful background.
(Image credit: Ruggable; Anthropologie; QVC; Lulu and Georgia; Walmart; Rugs USA; Ernesta)

The phrase “outdoor rug” might sound like an oxymoron. Fiber and weather? Softness and soil? It feels instinctively wrong. But the category has come a long way. Today’s best options are engineered to endure the elements while delivering the warmth, texture, and polish we associate with indoor spaces.

“Rugs are a great addition outdoors,” says Johanna Constantinou, interior trends expert at Tapi Carpets & Floors, noting that they help define a space and “create contrast with the surrounding environment.” And this year, with backyard ideas continuing to evolve into extensions of our interiors, the demand is clear: we want form and function. Comfort without compromise. Style with staying power. What we don’t want is that faded, palm-fronded monstrosity you bought at a big-box store back in 2011.

It’s 2025. Our standards are higher. Your outdoor living room deserves a finishing touch. You have garden parties to host, aperitivos to pour, casual dinners that will, inevitably, turn into late-night hangs. That means the rug can’t just work— it has to wow.

So I did the digging (quite a bit of it) to curate a lineup of the best rugs that would look just as at home inside as they do out. I trusted only the brands with proven staying power and combed through every last review. Because summer’s here, and the key to actually enjoying your outdoor furniture? A proper foundation.

Everything’s better with a fiber underfoot. So, without further ado: here's the 12 best outdoor rugs to shop in 2025.

FAQs

What is the best outdoor rug material?

According to designer Kit Kemp, it’s all about recycled plastic or PET (polyethylene terephthalate) fibers — not just smart, but circular. These repurposed materials, sourced from single-use plastics like bottles and food containers, keep waste out of landfills and give it a new (chicer) lease on life. Fewer microplastics in the ocean, more visual polish underfoot.

What is the best outdoor rug size?

As interior trends expert Johanna Constantinou puts it, rug sizing is all about proportion. “A rug that is too small can look disproportionate and make the space feel cramped, while a rug that is too large can overwhelm the space.” Her advice? Scale the rug to suit both your furniture and your layout. It's the same as working out how big your living room rug should be, just for outside.

Should I opt for a flatweave or tufted outdoor rug?

Consider this your choose-your-own-textile-adventure moment.

Flatweaves are sleek, streamlined, and refreshingly low-maintenance. Lightweight and low-profile, they’re easy to hose off and hard to trip over — ideal for patios, balcony decorating ideas, or under a dining set.

Tufted rugs are analogous to bedroom-level comfort, but outdoors. More plush, more pile, more luxury. Sure, you’ll sacrifice a bit of portability (and ease of cleaning), but if you’re creating a barefoot-worthy lounge zone, this is your winner.

The outdoor rug playbook this year reads exactly the same as the latest indoor rug trends. Translation: if you wouldn’t style it in your living room, don’t settle for it outside.

“Elevated” is the word — that means rich borders, sculptural abstracts, and organically-inspired designs. The days of defaulting to dated patterns are numbered.

What are the best outdoor rug brands?

Start with the standouts above. Ruggable wins for durability (plus those designer collabs with Justina Blakeney, Jonathan Adler, and Iris Apfel). Rugs USA follows closely behind with accessible, design-forward picks.

Want something a little extra? Ernesta and Lulu and Georgia deliver designer-grade craftsmanship that outperforms expectations — texture, weave, pattern, the works.

And as always, Anthropologie sits squarely in the middle. Its edit spans cult brands like Marimekko and its own one-off gems perfect for warmer weather. You can always expect the unexpected.


Still missing something to place on top? Browse our edit of the best outdoor sofas to complete the picture.

Julia Demer
Style Editor

Formerly covering fashion at L’Officiel USA, style maven Julia Demer brings her love of design to Livingetc’s world of interiors. As the title’s New York-based Style Editor, Julia's work reflects a sharp eye for detail and an innate passion for aesthetics. Her journey began with a strong foundation in design, honing her craft at renowned establishments like The Row and even establishing her own eponymous fashion brand. Julia’s design background is evident in the way she thoughtfully curates shopping edits, always maintaining a focus on emerging trends while preserving timeless sensibilities. For Julia, fashion and interiors go hand in hand, reflecting her lifelong commitment to perfecting the art of style.