Animal Print Outdoor Rugs

How an Animal Print Outdoor Rug Can Highlight Your Room Decor

An animal print outdoor rug can highlight your other decor by fitting in with them thematically, following the same color scheme, and connecting to their style. When you look for simple connections between your rug and your pillows, poufs, and other accents, you can create a space that feels cohesive and purposefully designed. 

Decorating With an Animal Print Outdoor Rug

When you think of animal print rugs, maybe you’re thinking of the most popular choices like zebra stripes, tiger stripes, cheetah spots, or some other animal print. However, you can find plenty of animal print outdoor area rugs that go past that and include artwork of animals like birds, sea turtles, dogs, and other animals. You can go as bold or as subtle as you want because of how many interpretations there are of animal print rugs, so you can truly create your personal style with the rug you choose.

Choosing Which Animal Print Outdoor Rug is Right for You

Since there are so many choices out there, you may be wondering how to find the rug that’s just right for you. First, consider these key areas to narrow your search and help you determine what you need in a rug. 

Position: One of your earliest steps should be to look at your space and decide on the layout. Then, look at the space and see what area would benefit most from a rug. Outdoor area rugs can be used in indoor spaces as well, but this guide will focus on how to use one on your deck, patio, porch, or other outdoor area. 

Seating Area: To set an outdoor seating area apart from other spaces, center an animal print outdoor rug in the middle of those seats. You have options of placing the rug in front of the seats, under their front legs, much further under the seats, or even out past the back. The amount of layering will depend on the size of the furniture and your space.

Dining Area: The best way to set up a dining space is to center the rug beneath the table and choose a shape that mimics the table (round table with a round rug, rectangular table with a rectangular rug, etc). Leave about two-three feet of excess rug on each side and end of the rug so the seats can be comfortably pushed in and out on the rug. 

Pathway: If you want to establish a walkway, an animal print runner rug can do just that. This is handy for connecting your doorway to another spot like your dining areas or social spots. 

Small Accents: Since animal print outdoor rugs can be pretty bold in their style, you can add that style in a smaller way by using a 2x3 or 3x5 rug right by your doors. That will add the print without overwhelming the space and serve the practical function of tying your indoor space to your outdoor one. 

Size/Shape: Once the layout’s set, it’s time to finalize the size and shape of your rug. Some smaller sizes have been recommended, but for medium to large spaces, look at 5x7, 8x10, and 9x12 rugs. Also keep in mind how much you want to layer the furniture and rug and make sure the rug won’t be too large or too small in comparison to the furniture and space. As for shape, you have options with rectangular, round, runner, and even hide-shapes. Choose the shape that best fits your layout and conveys the proper tone. 

Pattern: It goes without saying that animal print outdoor area rugs tend to showcase some bold patterns. First, determine what animal print you want, whether that be a safari animal or a design that incorporates other animals. Then, make sure the design you choose fits in with the rest of the decor thematically and isn’t too busy for the space. 

Color: Color is instrumental in defining the rug’s tone and style. Of course, animal prints that mimic `fur are typically the colors of the animals themselves, but you still have variety within those general tones. Plus, if you’re looking for animal designs, you can choose colors that are neutral, muted, or loud. Overall, look at the rug’s color palette to see what tone it strikes and make sure it’s what you’re going for with the rug, furniture, and decor.

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