How to Choose The Best Outdoor Mat For Your Deck or Patio?

Your indoor style does not need to stop at your balcony door. With a touch of personal magic and flare, your patio or deck can be become so much more and evolve into an outdoor extension of your living space. And while you may already have some furniture on your deck, a single thing that can bring them all together and paint a better picture are floor decorations. Comfort and elegance for and around your feet are now available in just about any shape, color, and size that your creative mind can imagine. Your indoor rug can extend to your deck with its outdoor version. Also, decorating your deck extends and makes the most use of your living space while bringing up your property value. 

Too many options can easily overwhelm anyone, so we suggest going with a step-by-step guide, such as this one. So lay back on your patio, get yourself a nice beverage of choice, and get started. 

Selecting your tone

Say, for example, that you have a house that is painted white. So, a white rug or mat nicely compliments the tone, only it doesn’t stand out. You alone know what you like to see and you should lead with that. Do you want your outdoor rug to be the same or similar to your indoor one? Does that break the flow when you go from your room to the deck? Maybe you would like to emphasize and make your deck stand out with bold patterns and bright colors? Do you want to contrast your outdoor furniture with a mat below them? Or do you prefer something that is complimenting and non-distracting? Whatever your choice is, you are only limited by your imagination. A print with the color of your preference is surely available and is patiently waiting for you somewhere out there. Let your creative juices flow as you take a look at your deck, home, and backyard and decide the best option for you.  

One size doesn’t fit all

Just like picking clothes, you want to feel comfortable on your outdoor mat. It needs to be very adhesive and provide stability once you walk on it. When you sit and stand or move anything, it must not get in the way or get stuck on chair legs. These things usually happen if the mat is too short or in the wrong shape. The outdoor mat should be long and wide enough so that at least the first legs of your outdoor sofa are on it and that the mat is halfway underneath it. Or you can opt for several, smaller outdoor mats. Tables and chairs should fully remain on it with some breathing room to spare. To make this simpler, again, you know your area the best. Measure your outdoor deck area where the furniture is and add about 30% to that. Now you know the right size for your future outdoor mat. In any case, always opt for buying a bigger option that you can easily adjust to the size of your deck. Getting a smaller one can cause all of the previously mentioned problems and even be a potential tripping hazard.  

Clean and sweep

The key to a lasting relationship is maintenance. And the relationship between you and your outdoor mat or rug is no different. Keeping the mat or rug nice and clean is very easy and practical. You only need to improvise, adapt and overcome. To improvise, you can use your deck fence and railing to dry it up and let the sunshine do its magic on it. While it is drying up, you can sweep anything that was beneath it. Adapting to the weather keeps your rug dry, as frequent rains can cause mold. Overcoming and cleaning out any dirt or debris can be simple as any diluted detergent or soap can do the trick in cleaning it up. You can prompt the rug over your deck railing so you can scrub it thoroughly and then use your garden hose to wash down anything that remains. After that, leave it out to dry in the sun as you lay back in your comfy chair and enjoy the clean smell of your honest work. 

4.Synthetic or Natural?

As for the materials, there are several to choose from, but for starters, it is informative to know that there are two groups. 

The first one is synthetic fiber rugs, while the second one is natural fiber rugs. Generally speaking, synthetic ones are cheaper, easier to clean and maintain. Among them, the polypyrene mats come in an extreme variety of chape and sizes, their colors are resistant to UV and direct sunlight, and they are stain-resistant. Look for a sign that says “solution-dyed.”

Simply said, thismeans that the production process was different which results in colors that will remain steadfast against anything that you or Mother Nature may spill or throw at the mat. 

The rest of the synthetic ones include Polyester and Nylon, which come with some drawbacks. Polyester mats are almost the same as Polypyrene ones, but any oil-based stain can be a real pain to clean up, so it is best not to use them in any dining area. 

Nylon is light, durable, easy to clean but, exposing it to direct sunlight or heat for a prolonged period can heat it to scorching levels pretty fast. And the sensation of walking on burning charcoal should be best left for monks and not someone who wants to enjoy a lazy afternoon. But if you have lots of shade on your outdoor deck then this could be the right choice.

And at the end, we have the mats made from natural fiber. The feeling of natural materials which are usually hand-woven, cannot be replicated by synthetic ones and is the lead benefit of this option. The downside can be much more frequent maintenance, as natural fiber mats get soaked and retain water, which results in mold.

But there is a solution for this if you are willing to look around for a bit. Some types of natural mats and rugs get treated against such things during their production process. Those will always be marked with a specific label so keep an eye out for that.

As for stains, they are much harder to get out when compared to the Polypyrene option. Also, they are usually a bit more expensive as the price reflects the natural material and personal handcraft inwoven in them. 

On the other hand, natural mats bring a certain rustic and personal touch to any area, so in the end, it remains up to you to weigh the pros and cons of such options. 

Maintaining your beloved outdoor mat

So, let’s say that you have chosen your favorite outdoor mat and you both had a wonderful time together on your deck. As the hot summer season slowly ends, you realize that the upcoming weather won’t allow for so much deck time. And so, your mat has to be put to a safer place as most of them can be used frequently and for multiple seasons. Before you store him away, give him the last wash down and cleaning, after which you can leave him to dry out and enjoy the sunshine, as it won’t have a chance for something that for a long time. After that, you can roll up your outdoor mat and store it in your garage or attic. The important thing to note here is to put your mat in a dry space to prevent mold. Mold can damage, degrade and prevent you from using the mat over and over for years to come. As time flies, summer and warm days will come again, which means that your favorite mat will be at your feet before you know it.

Congratulations, you are now more knowledgeable about outdoor mats than ever before. Now, nobody can pull the rug under your feet. All that remains now is to head out and find the outdoor mat which you already have pictured in your mind. 

This pictured outdoor mat will surely and perfectly fulfill your needs, wishes, and design demands.

It will be something that will compliment your deck and provide comfort for you as you indulge yourself in your favorite spot for years to come.