ALDI's new outdoor rugs take a yard from boring to wonderful

ALDI is building a reputation for garden accessories that offer serious style as well as great value for money, and their latest drop of outdoor rugs are simply gorgeous. As patio ideas go, an outdoor rug is such a quick, affordable garden upgrade for your deck or paver. This small addition will make a huge impact, bringing outdoor vibes to your yard in seconds.

Adding an outdoor rug does much more than cover up the best decks of the past or freshen up tired patio pavers. It anchors your garden furniture, creating a focal point 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 it’s a dopamine hit of bright hues that mirror your planting palette or a soothing neutral hue that speaks of effortless elegance. Either way, an outdoor rug is the accent your yard has been waiting for this spring, bringing backyard style on a budget.

So you’ll understand why I’m so excited about ALDI’s new outdoor rugs, part of the garden range at good prices. Measuring a generous six by nine feet in four striking designs, they cost $24.99. Plus, they’re reversible, so you get two colorways for the price of one.

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Golden Geometry

Yellow Geometric Reversible Area Rug

George Oliver Elvie Turks & Caicos Indoor/Outdoor Rug

Unique Loom Napa Outdoor Collection Area Rug

Ebern Designs Irita Geometric Yellow Indoor/Outdoor Area Rug

I use rugs to change the style of my garden for each season because they are such an inexpensive way to change the mood of my outdoor living space and they can easily be rolled up and stored in the garage when not in use.

In the spring, I want bold citrus tones to match all the bright bulbs, and in the summer, romantic pinks and blues that fit my cottagecore edge. Autumn is all about fiery colors for a cozy atmosphere around the fireplace. In the winter, I have a small round jute rug that is easy to throw on the patio on sunny days and brings out all the golden hues of the surrounding decorative grass flowers.

Rich medals

Reversible area rug gray medals

Luul Home Medallion Washable Outdoor Rug

Camilson Modern Medallion Outdoor Rug

Safavieh Washable Courtyard Collection outdoor rug

Almost all outdoor rugs are water resistant, so most can handle light rain showers, although there is a huge difference in how weather resistant they are depending on the material they are made from. While no outdoor rug will appreciate sitting soaked in torrential rain or long periods of wet weather, some will cope better than others.

Polypropylene synthetic outdoor rugs are quite weather resistant and most can even be hose washed and then hung over a fence or railing to dry. This material is durable, so these rugs are suitable for areas with high traffic.

Polyester rugs usually have a plush pile that’s super soft underfoot, and many are also hose-washable, some even machine-washable, although the trade-off for this skin-friendly feel is that this material isn’t as weather-resistant. These mats are best for sheltered, covered areas, unless you are prepared to move the mat inside when rain is forecast. However, they are generally suitable for indoor and outdoor use, so they make great rugs for a room near the back door that you can move outside on sunny days in the garden.

Some outdoor rugs are woven from fibers made from recycled plastic, called PET (polyethylene terephthalate) or rPET, so they are a sustainable option. Plastic bottles and containers are turned into resin and then spun into a soft yarn, so this material is soft to the touch but very durable. PET mats are usually waterproof, so they can usually be hosed down and left outside in light rain. The material is usually very UV resistant, so the colors won’t fade in the sun.

Outdoor rugs made from natural materials such as jute and sisal are not weather resistant and are best kept for sunny days or sheltered covered areas.

Mediterranean Tiles

Reversible area rug with blue tiles

Patio Carpet with Mediterranean Tiles

To maintain the first-day freshness of your outdoor rug, shake it regularly to remove dust and dirt. If you leave it outside in the rain, it is best to hang your rug over a fence or railing to dry thoroughly afterwards.

Check the label or product description to see if your rug is washable and how best to wash it, and follow the instructions carefully. And always patch-test first to be doubly sure. If your rug is machine washable, use a gentle cycle that does not exceed 85°F. Synthetic rugs can generally be cleaned safely by using a diluted solution of one part dish soap to four parts warm water, then rinse by pressing on an absorbent kitchen towel soaked in clean water. If your carpet may be hosed, then don’t be afraid to turn the nozzle for a little water pressure, especially on a flat-weave polypropylene layer.