Best outdoor rugs to jazz up your patio, tried and tested

We were so impressed by the finish of this rug, we thought it would cost triple its actual price. The modern, monochrome graphic print made a dazzling difference to our garden – yet, despite the white, it didn’t seem to attract too many muddy footprints. It certainly doesn’t have the spring of some of the other rugs we tested, but it does look about as close to an indoor rug as you could hope. In other words, it’s not plastic-y at all, yet it’s made from 100 per cent polypropylene and is totally weatherproof and UV-protected. We also found it dried quickly after downpours, meaning we could pad outside in our socks without getting them wet. If black and white isn’t your jam, there are other colourways available, too.

Lightweight and durable, this rug is great for busy garden areas. It’s also pleasingly inexpensive, meaning the stakes are fairly low – and the coverage is huge for the price. We found that this rug was easy to keep clean, as it’s made from polypropylene, which simply wipes clean. Our kids split ice cream all over it, and we were able to hose it down – it’s stain-resistant, too.

Because it’s plastic, it doesn’t suck up water, so, it was dry straight away after the inevitable downpours. We found that this rug fell down on comfort, though – it’s quite sticky under hot bare feet. However, it rolls up neatly and is lightweight enough to chuck under our garden sofa when not in use.

This modest-sized rug is fantastic if you want to keep a natural look in your outdoor space. It’s designed to look like jute but is actually 100 per cent synthetic. This means it can weather a storm or two. The feel underfoot is fine – it feels slightly rough without being scratchy, and our kids happily sat on it to play. It’s the perfect rug for placing under a low table, or in a small courtyard space. It won’t dominate your space, but it will add some texture. It rolls up very small, so you can stick in the shed easily over winter.

Wow – we loved the bright, tropical colours of this run, which didn’t fade. Mould-resistant, the rug has also been designed to be machine washed but it’s big, so you’ll need to be sure of your washing machine’s capacity.

This rug also comes with a rug pad, which makes it incredibly comfortable (almost bouncy) and non-slip. It’s made with the same material as many yoga mats, and that’s the kind of feel it has. We found it stayed put very well, even with kids running over it and playing on it constantly. There’s no denying this rug is pricey, but we were impressed with the quality and how easy it is to care for.

A classic design that is meant to look like traditional tiles, this rug actually made our outdoor space feel very modern. It’s made from vinyl, so it is very hard-wearing and wipes clean. We were able to wipe off any mud with ease, so it’s going to look great for many seasons to come. You won’t want to power wash this rug, though – it’s sponge-clean only. It felt really comfy underfoot – it’s pleasingly quite spongy itself.

Next has designed this rug to be used indoors and outdoors – it has a non-slip underside if you’re using it on paving slabs, tiles or hardwood floors.

While it’s made from 875 recycled bottles, this outdoor rug feels anything but plastic-y. Visitors noted how soft (and even strokable) it was – they couldn’t believe it was an outdoor rug. We were delighted with how it transformed a slightly dull courtyard into a smart, modern oasis, and our children sat and played on it all afternoon without complaint.

Although it’s PET polyester, Designers Guild advises the rug should be dried out if it gets soaked, and taken inside during extreme weather. We found it took quite a long time to dry after a spell of wet weather. It’s big and heavy (we tested the 160cm x 260cm size), so make sure you’ve got enough storage for it when summer is over.

For a transformative injection of fun, this Dunelm lobster rug hits just the right note. We loved the strong coral pop of colour, and the white background bounced light around our garden well. This rug is made out of recycled materials but feels really soft underfoot. We were impressed with the quality, and the price of the rug was definitely more than fair. One slight drawback is it absorbs water, so it took a while to dry in the sunshine. The rug is UV resistant, so it should stay bright all summer long, although, bringing it in for winter is advised.