Bringing a rug outside is a wonderful way to create a stylish backyard living space. The key is that the rug in question needs to be easy to transport, withstand the elements, and look great. Many outdoor/indoor rugs are stylish and feel good on your feet at the start but don’t last well—quickly fading, getting stained, or falling apart. In this review, we take on the challenge of vetting the Waverly Contemporary Indoor/Outdoor Rug. Read on to find out how this rug performs inside and out.
Performance: Top-notch when kept dry
We tested this rug first in our living room, then on our covered porch (which has one short side open to the elements), and finally, in our backyard. The Waverly Contemporary Indoor/Outdoor Rug performed well in each of these locations and looked great in all three spots. Its pluses are that It is easy to roll up and move from location to location, and it feels soft and comfortable underfoot. This Waverly rug also lays flat and stays put when you walk over it. I especially love the design of this rug, which is both modern and geometric, as well as soothing, colorful, and figurative. The rug is well constructed, nice looking, durable, and spot cleans easily. Plus, it has a cheerful beachy feeling. I love that you can just hose it off to remove debris or spills. However, what I don’t like is that it holds water. It can get wet and will eventually dry, meanwhile, retaining its high-quality look. However, it takes at least several days to dry. This is not such a big issue with spot cleaning or a minor drizzle, but leaving it out in direct rain leaves you with a soggy carpet that takes days to dry. This product’s other pluses, particularly its pleasing design and nice feel, outweigh all that; we still recommend the Waverly rug. It’s best to use it in areas that won’t get direct rain, such as on a covered porch, under tree cover, or especially, inside. It can work well in just about an indoor room, such as in a bedroom, living room, or family room.
Design: Lovely
The Waverly Contemporary Indoor/Outdoor Rug comes in many different patterns and colors. We particularly liked the Bits and Pieces of Seaglass repeating leaf pattern, which had two color schemes. Both start with a background of cream with either blue and green or dark red and pale green geometric leaf shapes cascading across the rug. Both color combinations offer a nice pop of color. The leaf shape evokes a pleasing earthy vibe with a hint of the illusion of movement. The design is contemporary and stylish and will complement a wide range of indoor and outdoor décor. It can hold its own in an indoor living space. We chose the blue and green design, which looked like leaves, ripples on a rushing river, or a school of swimming fish. It features a relaxing nod to Mother Nature and contributes a cheerful pop of color wherever the rug is placed. This product is constructed with machine-made, 100 percent polyester-woven textile with a latex backing. It features a flat, medium pile, and both the feel and the look of the fabric are top-notch and offer a pleasant amount of cushion. The fabric’s tight weave resists dirt and stains. The red/green and blue/green options come in a variety of sizes from hallway runners to large area rugs measuring up to 10 feet x 13 feet. We choose the smaller size, which is 5 feet, 3 inches x 7 feet, 5 inches. This is a great size that fits perfectly in multiple areas of our home. This rug shape (and design) works particularly well as an accompaniment to a living space that has a sofa, chairs, and coffee table, effortlessly bringing the pieces together.
Ease of Cleaning: Simple but stays wet
This rug can be spot cleaned with water and mild detergent or hosed off to clean larger issues. Spills come right off, however, washing down the rug will leave it soggy for days. So, when cleaning, avoid using a lot of water, or else, be prepared to hang it dry and patiently wait a few days to use the rug again.
Price: Reasonable
Waverly’s Contemporary Indoor/Outdoor Rug is well priced for the high-quality rug it is. The Bits and Pieces of Seaglass blue/green pattern in the smaller size is a steal at $51. The same rug in red/green tones in the medium size is $104. Even the higher priced model is a reasonable cost as similar products start around $40 and go all the way up to $350 or more. This is a very solid, great-looking, durable rug as well so you are getting a lot of bang for your buck.
Waverly Contemporary Indoor/Outdoor Rug vs. Fab Hab Reversible Rug
Both of these rugs feature very attractive designs and can work well in a variety of spaces. The Waverly rug works best indoors or in semi-outdoor spaces and lends itself to indoor rooms (particularly living rooms) better than the Fab Habitat Reversible Rug. However, the Fab Habitat product really shines for outdoor use, ease of cleaning, portability, and it also comes in a huge array of colors, patterns, and shapes. The Fab Habitat product is pricier ($119 for the 6 feet by 9 feet rug and $94 for the 5 feet x 8 feet size) but, for my money, it is worth every penny. This is a great multi-purpose, attractive, durable rug. Do not place it somewhere that will get a lot of rain; it dries too slowly. If you are looking for an indoor rug, a rug in a semi-outdoor space, or something to use outside on sunny days, then this Waverly Contemporary Indoor/Outdoor Rug is a good buy, great looking, and soft to walk on.
