Icebrat - we have wood floors and they are taking a beating in the breakfast nook with the chairs - even tho we put these non-scratch things on the bottom of the legs. And the kids with all the food that ends up on the floors - amazing anything ends up inside them.
I'd love a rug, but it's still much easier to clean everything off the wood floor. I like the idea of the outdoor rugs that can be hosed off. But we have a small space and I would need a square rug for it to fit. I guess I could get a round one, but I'm worried about how it would look.
Anywho, the family room area rug is cheap with a busy pattern on it - key for hiding stains. If you can't get an outdoor rug, make sure you get one that is either dark or has a busy pattern.