As a child I spent many hours playing outside on my grandmother’s outdoor area rug. My grandparents lived on a farm with large gardens not too far from my childhood home and on a warm summers day my mother would take my brother and I out to play there. Always my grandmother would lay a rug out in front of the house, complete with an assortment of strange and wonderful toys from my father’s youth. It always seemed strange to me that she thought we would need a rug to sit on – surely that’s what grass is for, I thought. But then grass can cause stubborn stains on clothing. Of course some people are not so lucky as to have a plush lawn like my grandmother’s and may have to contend with dust and dirt on a dry day. It wasn’t until some years later that I discovered a nest of fire ants only yards away in the orchard (a very painful discovery as I remember) and realized the main reason for my grandmother’s insistence upon the rug.

Of course there are other reasons to use a rug outdoors, and it needn’t only be for the benefit of children. A rug can greatly enhance your enjoyment of sitting outside on a summers day, bringing a little bit of civilization and comfort to the great outdoors. What can be more relaxing than sitting in the sunshine with a glass of cool lemonade and your feet on a nice cozy rug?

Today, there are many rugs that are specially designed to be used both indoors and outdoors (when my grandmother’s rug was not being used outside it belonged in the kitchen, although whether it was specially designed for outdoor use I cannot say). If you are to use a rug outdoors it is highly recommended that you use a specially designed outdoor rug, any other rug might be so hardwearing and could be damaged by weather conditions. Outdoor rugs are weatherproof and resistant to mildew.

There are a surprising variety of rugs available for use outdoors, and most can function as an indoor outdoor rug. From bamboo rugs and mats to stunningly designed outdoor patio rugs and area rugs in both classic and contemporary styles. The world of indoor outdoor area rugs also includes outdoor doormats, which are available in equal variety of size, shape and design.

Throw rugs have been a part of American home design since time immemorial. They can add a touch of interest or a splash of color, even a touch of class or a hint of taste to any room in which they are placed. They also help to keep our feet warm and our floors clean. Their incredible popularity and their long history has bred an unbelievable variety of rugs throughout the years. This variety of styles, shapes and sizes means that there is a rug for every area of every home, from bedrooms to bathrooms and dining rooms to dens, and a rug to suit every style of home décor, from classic to contemporary and tribal to traditional.

A well chosen and well placed throw rug will not only help toad interest and aesthetic appeal to your home by looking good in its own right, but it will also enhance the existing décor of a room – this means that rugs can have a double aesthetic function.

But of course rugs are about more than just aesthetics, they also have several practical functions. Let’s take a look at some of the many advantages offered by throw rugs now.

Easy to Clean
One of the best things about rugs is that they are easy to clean, they can be vacuumed and washed just like a larger carpet. Some can even be machine washed. The advantage of throw rugs here is that they are usually much smaller than area rugs and so can be easily taken outside and shaken or beaten. This will remove excess dust and dirt.

In the Bathroom
Rugs can be used in the bathroom, by the side of the bath, shower or underneath a sink. This will help to collect any water that you might spill, absorbing it rather than allowing it to damage your floors. Kitchen throw rugs can also be used near the sink to catch any stray drips from washing dishes or the like. Nearly all bathroom and kitchen rugs are washable throw rugs because of their size and rubberized backing.

High Traffic Areas
Some areas of our home are used more than others, in particular hallways and corridors that provide access to other rooms. These are known as ‘high traffic’ areas. Carpeting in these areas can quickly become worn from overuse. It often makes sense to cover high traffic areas with rugs so as to extend the life o your carpet.

Protecting your Carpets and Floors
In addition to protecting your carpets from wear and tear, employing a rug will have the effect of protecting your floor from accidental spills and stains.

Say Goodbye to Cold Feet
The main reason for the incredible popularity of rugs is their propensity to keep our feet warm. Whether a rug is by your sofa, in front of your fireplace, on a cold kitchen floor or by the side of your bed, it will add an extra dimension of comfort and warmth. There is nothing worse than climbing out of bed on a morning and having cold feet!