ALDI is earning itself a reputation for garden accessories that offer serious style as well as super value for money, and its latest drop of outdoor rugs are simply fabulous. As patio ideas go, an outdoor rug is such a fast, affordable garden upgrade for your deck or paving. This small addition will have a huge impact, bringing outdoor living vibes to your backyard in seconds.

Adding an outdoor area rug does far more than disguising past-its-best decking or revitalizing tired patio paving. It anchors your garden furniture, creating a centrepoint around which seating can be arranged, for a cozy feel. The material is soft underfoot, for barefoot summers. A patio rug also brings a splash of color, whether that’s a dopamine dose of bright shades that reflect your planting palette or a calming neutral hue that speaks of effortless elegance. Either way, an outdoor rug is the accent your backyard has been waiting for this spring, bringing backyard style on a budget.

So you’ll understand why I’m so excited by ALDI’s new outdoor rugs, part of their well-priced garden range. Measuring a generous six by nine feet in four striking designs, they’re a steal at $24.99. What’s more, they’re reversible so you get two colorways for the price of one.

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Golden Geometrics

I use rugs to switch up my garden style for each season, because they’re such a cheap way to change the mood of my outdoor living space and can easily be rolled up and stored in the garage when not in use.

In spring, I want strong citrus tones to match all the bright bulbs and in summer, romantic pinks and blues to suit my cottagecore borders; fall is all about fiery colors for a cozy-round-the-firepit vibe; in winter, I have a small round jute rug that’s easy to throw on the patio on sunny days, and it brings out all the golden hues of the surrounding ornamental grass flowerheads a treat.

Opulent Medallions

Almost all outdoor rugs are water resistant, so most will cope with light rain showers, though there's a huge variance in how weatherproof they are, depending on what material they're made from. While no outdoor rug will appreciate sitting soggy in torrential rain or long periods of wet weather, some will cope better than others.

Outdoor area rugs made from synthetic polypropylene are pretty weatherproof, and most can even be washed with a hosepipe then hung on a fence or railing to dry. This material is durable so these rugs are suitable for high-traffic areas.

Rugs made from polyester typically have a plusher pile that's super-soft underfoot and many are also hosepipe-washable, some even machine-washable, though the trade-off for that skin-friendly feel is that this material isn't as weather-proof. These rugs are better for sheltered, covered areas unless you're prepared to move the mat inside when rain is forecast. However, they're generally well suited for use indoors as well as out, so these make great rugs for a room near the back door, that you can move outside on sunny days you're spending in the garden.

Some outdoor rugs are woven from fibers made from recycled plastic, called PET (polyethylene terephthalate) or rPET, so are a sustainable choice. Plastic bottles and containers are turned into a resin then spun into a soft yarn, so this material is soft to the touch yet very durable. PET rugs are typically water-resistant so can usually be hosed down and left out in light rain. The material is typically highly UV-resistant, too, so colors won't fade in the sun.

Outdoor rugs made from natural materials such as jute and sisal aren’t weatherproof, and these are best kept for sunny days or sheltered covered spots.

Mediterranean Tiles

To keep the first-day freshness of your outdoor rug, shake it regularly to remove dust and dirt. If you're leaving it out in rain showers, it's best to hang your rug over a fence or railing to thoroughly dry afterwards.

Do check the label or product description to see is your rug is washable and how best to wash it, and follow the instructions carefully. And do always patch-test first to be doubly sure. If your rug is machine washable, then use a gentle cycle that doesn't exceed a temperature of 85°F. Flat rugs made of synthetic materials can generally be safely spot-cleaned using a dilute solution of one part dish soap to four parts warm water, then rinse by pressing on absorbent kitchen towel soaked with clean water. If your rug can be hosed, then don't be afraid to turn the nozzle for a little water pressure, especially on a flat-woven polypropylene mat.

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