9 best outdoor rugs to spruce up your garden, patio or campsite

This heavily patterned number is surprisingly soft and malleable for an outdoor rug. It’s made from 100 per cent polyester and features a Chinese-inspired digital print that, thanks to its three colours – dark blue, light blue and white – offers a visual depth that you don’t always get with a flatweave carpet of this ilk. It comes in two rectangular sizes, and even in the largest configuration, it won’t break the bank at £57. The rug is lightweight enough to move around the garden, ensuring you follow the sunshine, and, soft enough to sit on, it doubles as a durable picnic blanket – be sure to bring out your best blue and white China to match.

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We love Ruggable for the brand’s unique washable carpets. They’re all designed with a thick rug pad and a detachable top layer that fits nicely in the washing machine, making them a godsend for discerning homemakers with kids or pets. The indoor/outdoor rug works in exactly the same way, with a hefty separate underlay that sits firmly on the patio while the cover can be easily removed and cleaned. This one is made to mimic natural jute but is in fact crafted from a mix of recycled and virgin polyester, making it water-resistant, stain resistant, and perfect for outdoor use. The design is inspired by the harlequin floors of Italy’s most impressive buildings, the diamond repeat pattern brings elegance and a touch of whimsy to the garden.

Our most luxurious pick is also our most environmentally friendly – and that’s something to celebrate. Incredibly, this round outdoor rug is crafted from recycled plastic bottles, and yet it is perfectly soft and supple underfoot. It comes in a selection of nature-inspired hues including the instantly calming green mix, and in its circular form, brings a pleasing curve to the patio space, especially when teamed with contemporary boxy furniture pieces for an arresting contrast. Unlike most rectangular outdoor rugs that fit neatly onto rectangular terraces, this one demands some space. The 3m configuration is particularly sprawling. Spread out in style.

While most outdoor rugs are designed to accommodate a garden dining table, whether rectangular or round, it would be easy to overlook an outdoor runner. This Orla Kiely design is ideal for brightening up the balcony, and it hits all the right notes. Its instantly recognisable giant linear stem motif runs along the length of the rug, while the ends are accented with a bold contrasting stripe. Crafted from 100 per cent polypropylene, the rug is made for outdoor conditions, although you wouldn’t know it thanks to its relatively deep pile. This one’s playfully mid-century in design, and surprisingly plush.

This is a flat woven rug crafted from manmade polypropylene but, mimicking sisal, it looks and feels every bit natural. Palpably hard-wearing and durable, it is ideal for use on the patio or terrace with minimal maintenance needed to keep it looking its best. Its geometric star-like pattern borrows from traditional Moroccan tiling, which brings a charming feel to any outside space, while in natural ecru and black, it is both understated and chic. On the practical side, the garden rug features fade-resistant dyes and is anti dust mite. It’s fashionable and affordable.

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Maze’s offering is a flatweave indoor/outdoor rug made from polypropylene, and although it is 100 per cent manmade, it boasts the same tonal variations that you’d find in an all-natural jute carpet, giving it visual depth. Thanks to its decorative weave, it also has the look of a handmade knotted rug, which awards the patio space a laid-back, artisanal feel. But this is, in fact, one hard-wearing rug with weather-resistant properties, including resistance to UV rays. The oatmeal rug looks the part whether you style it with similarly natural (manmade or otherwise) rattan furniture, or something a little more stark, industrial and contemporary for an unexpected contrast.

In its blue slate colourway, this durable outdoor rug brings a fresh, nautical aesthetic to the decking. Impressively, it’s made from recycled plastic, making it an eco-friendly choice. It features an arresting geometric design that successfully mimics a chunky weave, yet it is smooth and clean-lined with a sharp, neat finish. We found the Tribal Geo rug works well with a six-seater rectangular dining table, bringing a vibrant splash to outdoor eating, while on the practical side, it is stain- and odour-resistant and it doesn’t retain water, which is handy to know, given the odd inevitable spill at the dinner table.   

This affordable circular rug is a homely addition to the patio space and proves ideal for smaller bistro sets made for two. Scoring points for sustainability, it is crafted from recycled materials and boasts a reversible design, effectively doubling its lifespan. That said, the rug is perfectly durable and hardwearing in the first place and unlike some of the plusher indoor/outdoor rugs in our roundup, it will forgive the odd shower. It’s woven in an arresting Aztec-inspired design and in black and white, offers a stylish statement underfoot – especially when teamed with contemporary grey or charcoal outdoor furniture pieces.

If you’re after a quick fix patio refresh that goes easy on the bank balance, Studio’s reversible leaves rug more than does the job. Despite its nature-inspired design, the outdoor rug is pleasingly lightweight, mould and mildew resistant, and even waterproof – which is good news for unpredictable barbecue weather. It features a traditional jacquard weave, it is fully reversible (flip it for green on white or white on green) and features an eye-catching pattern of interlocking – and totally tropical – palm leaves.