Everyday Ways to Secure an Outdoor Rug to Wooden Deck

Rugs are an excellent way of adding a pop of color to your outdoor deck. You can find many shapes and sizes with all sorts of designs.

However, if you live in a windy area, you may have trouble keeping the rug in place. Or, perhaps you’ve noticed the rug slipping from under your feet as you walk across it.

This may lead you to wonder how to secure an outdoor rug to a wooden deck.

There are a few simple solutions, like using furniture or objects to weigh down the rug. There are also more complex processes, like nailing the carpet in place or using glue.

Let’s take a closer look at securing your rug on a wooden deck.

Outdoor Rugs

Anyone with an eye for design will tell you how crucial rugs are in home decor. They add a certain coziness and can tie a whole room together.

The same applies to open spaces, like your backyard deck. Yet, not all mats will work on a wooden surface.

Since decks are smooth, a strong breeze can sometimes blow rugs straight off the surface. Or, even normal foot traffic can shift the rug out of place, potentially causing a trip hazard.

So, when placing a carpet outdoors, you have to take some factors into account.

Rug Weight

One of the best aspects of a rug is that it’s mobile. They’re designed to be easy to pick up and move anywhere around a space.

For this reason, mats tend to be relatively light. In addition, when you roll them out, you distribute that weight over a large surface area.

The weight of your rug will play a major role in how well it stays in place. You want a relatively heavy mat that won’t shift with wind changes, similar to how heavy furniture can better withstand the wind.

However, if the rug is too heavy, cleaning the deck will be challenging.

Rug Shape

Another crucial factor you should consider is the silhouette of the rug. Traditionally, most mats are rectangular, but that’s far from the only available shape.

Rugs with sharp lines are more likely to shift. This is because the corners can curl up and create an ideal point for lifting.

That’s why it’s best to choose rugs with curved edges for the outdoors. They’ll help you soften up the space and will stay in their position much better.

Rug Material

The final factor you should consider is the material of the rug. Most of us prefer the feel of soft, fluffy mats on our feet. 

We like them because they produce little friction with our toes and make walking easier. Still, this will also affect how well they lay on the deck.

With the decreased friction, soft rugs will have a hard time staying in place on a smooth wooden deck.

For that reason, it’s a good idea to go with a mat that has a slightly rougher texture. This should increase the traction and keep the rug in place.

On top of that, rougher textures don’t hold on to as much water. So, if you live in a rainy area, this may be the way to go.

Securing Outdoor Rugs to a Wooden Deck

There are several ways you can go about securing a rug into place on your deck. Let’s take a look at some of the methods you can try out.

Weigh Down Your Rug

The easiest way to secure a rug is to place an object on top of it. You can do this by placing a patio table in the center of the mat.

This should ensure that the rug doesn’t budge. However, it’ll block out most of the carpet’s design.

Additionally, try setting outdoor furniture on the outskirts of the rug. Use a chair or a potted plant to weigh down the rug.

When applying this method, ensure that you focus most of the weight on the corners. Doing so will stop the rug from peeling up and shifting.

Use Rug Pads

As we mentioned, most of the time, rugs move around because of a lack of friction. So, one way to keep them in place is to add a little more traction on the underside.

To do that, you can use rug pads. These are sheets made of rubber that you can attach to your mat.

Usually, the pads will have an adhesive layer for easy application. All you have to do is peel off the protective sticker and press it onto the rug.

Then, when you roll out the mat, the rubber will have a much easier time gripping the wooden deck.

On top of that, the rubber layer can help protect the deck from any scratches or dents that could result if the underside of the rug is rough.

Apply Velcro Strips

When you want to temporarily attach any two objects together, velcro strips are the way to go.

This method is quite simple. All you have to do is sew one part of the velcro strips to the rug and glue the other on the deck.

Then, you’re free to place or remove the mat as you like. Doing so will make sweeping the deck easier.

However, without the rug, the velcro on the deck may look slightly unappealing. To minimize that, try to use as little velcro as possible.

This means only attaching the mat to one or two small points. It’ll keep the rug in place and won’t be as visible.

Use Carpet Tape

Many of us use carpet tape indoors to secure rugs to stair landings. Yet, few of us know that the tape can work just as well outdoors.

The idea of carpet tape is similar to double-sided tape. It’s a stripe of adhesive paper with glue on both sides.

You attach one side to the carpet, and the other goes directly on the deck. This will only work on smooth surfaces, so the wooden deck should be in good condition if trying this.

While using carpet tape will secure the rug into position, it’ll make moving it later difficult. Removing the tape may prove to be a challenge, especially if you plan on doing it often.

Glue Your Rugs Down

All of the previous methods are temporary solutions to keeping your rug in place. Yet, if you don’t plan on moving it at all, you may want to glue it in place.

Start by sanding the smooth surface of the wood in the area you want to place the rug. Here we’re trying to create a rough surface to make it easier for the glue to stick.

Then, apply a nice even layer of fabric glue to the area, and wait until it becomes tacky. Now, carefully roll out the rug in place and weigh it down with furniture.

Finally, let the glue completely dry before you walk on the carpet. Depending on the type of glue you’re using, this can be anywhere from a couple of hours to a few days.

Nail Your Rugs in Place

If you live in a particularly windy area, or you move around a lot on your deck, the glue may not be sufficient.

In this case, try nailing your rugs into place. After rolling out your rug, use a few flathead nails to secure its position.

This method is simple and fast, and the mat won’t budge. Still, if you ever decide on removing the rug, you’ll have holes in the wood to deal with.

Final Takeaway

When wondering how to secure outdoor rugs to wooden decks, there are a few factors to consider. 

First off, you should look at the weight, shape, and material of the mat you want to display.

Once you figure that out, you can use one of more of these methods to secure the rug on the deck. The most common is simply weighing the rug down or applying carpet tape.

You can also use a rug pad or velcro strips. However, for a more permanent solution, try gluing the mat or nailing it down.

Happy Decorating!