Rugs, carpeting designed to dress up outside living spaces

By Jack BulavskyYour Home

It was bound to happen. Indoor living is being extended outdoors as Americans across the country are spending more time outdoors no matter what the weather.

According to outdoor furniture industry research, the popularity of outdoor living has become more pronounced as homeowners face a slow housing market. The thinking goes like this: If a family is going to remain in their current home for several more years, then a well-designed outdoor space added to the home can expand the living and entertainment space while returning more than 100 percent of the cost upon resale.

That makes sense to Giovanni Marra, director of marketing at Nourison, a leader in the floor covering market. He said people are building out their backyards and building patio covers to achieve more outdoor living because it gives them added dining and living space.

"At first, we were only seeing this movement in California, Texas and Nevada," he said. "But over the past 10 years, I've seen major upticks across the country as families everywhere are taking more time to dress up their outdoor living spaces. You can forget about the green-turf carpets that were so popular in the 1970s. There is now a large selection of colors and textures in indoor-outdoor carpeting."

According to Marra, the carpets range in size from 5-by-7-feet to something larger, such as a 10-by-15-foot rug. They come in a variety of styles and colors and patterns made from synthetic material, meaning polyester or nylon. Most are UV-stabilized and easy to clean and maintain; just turn on the hose and clean them off.

Marra said outdoor carpeting coming indoors has become popular in Europe, where they are used in high traffic areas such as the front entrance or where there are animals or in kid's rooms. Not only are they durable, they are now more stylish and some even come from name designers. Also, companies are designing accessories such as pillows, tables and chairs to go with the outdoor carpeting.

"The lines between outdoor and indoor living have become blurred and that blurring has spawned a new way of approaching outdoor furnishings," he explained. "Materials that were used to build outdoor furniture now include sun-proof fabrics that don't bleach or fade, and the furniture is heavier to avoid being pushed around by wind. Designs are more similar to indoor furniture, and this helps maintain a consistent look as many outdoor courtyards are visible from inside the house."

Carlos Nava at HM Carpet said he works closely with landscape architects and interior designers.

"Newer homes have sliding glass doors or windows that open out to the backyard or patio and this becomes an opportunity to redesign this part of the home," Nava said. "That's where the landscapers and other designers come in. They suggest that outdoor carpet can begin in the house and carry itself outside, along with tile or stone or maybe even some synthetic grass. What you have now is the indoor part of the home becoming an entryway to the outside, or vice versa."

Nava suggests choosing carpet made from UV-resistant olefin fibers. Indoor-outdoor carpet is available in varying grades of quality, color, weave and thickness.

"The thicker the carpet feels, the higher the grade and durability," he explained. "And I usually advise customers to purchase the higher quality carpet that may cost a little more, but it will last longer. Now for areas prone to dampness or fully exposed to weather, the carpet should have an all-weather 'marine' backing for moisture resistance."

Nava said the revised design of the home is an opportunity to complement the home's indoor architectural style to the outdoors.

"Outdoor carpeting presents an opportunity for the backyard or patio to become a secondary family room," he said. "It becomes a seamless outside in and inside out making the backyard a secondary, if not primary, family room. And the product selection to do this is becoming greater all the time. I have seen so many products and accessories such as throw pillows, dishes, low cocktail tables, artificial flowers, heaters and umbrellas that can cover not just the table and chairs, but an entire area."

Marra reiterates that a lot has changed in the past 10 years, especially when it comes to product selection.

"It's much easier now than it was 10 years ago because improvements in weather-proofing and the art of design are converging to create more beautiful and practical outdoor carpet and furnishings," he said. "For instance, products destined for Las Vegas are made of cast aluminum as steel tends to break down and rust. Fabrics are solution-dyed which means the color goes completely through the material to slow the fading process. And outdoor furniture manufacturers are even extending their warranty from five to seven years."