Kitchen Rugs

Market research has shown that kitchen and bathroom upgrades are the two home improvement projects that add the most value to your home. Whether you are renovating with the intention of selling immediately, or upgrading the space for you and your family to enjoy, you can be confident in getting a return on your investment. If your kitchen needs a facelift, but you don’t have a huge budget to work with, try a fresh coat of paint and a kitchen rug to cover worn flooring or just give the space a little added warmth. While a rug in the kitchen may seem counterintuitive because it is more difficult to clean than a bare floor, area and throw rugs are actually gaining popularity.

Kitchen Rug Placement

Depending on the size of your kitchen, you may find multiple areas that are suitable for a rug. Common placements include in front of a sink, bar, stove, or beneath stools in a breakfast nook or dining space. If you choose to put a rug beneath your table and chairs, keep in mind that it will be more difficult to access for cleaning. Area rugs that are small enough to carry outside to shake out actually make cleaning of anything dry like crumbs or bits of food and cereal much easier than sweeping or wet-mopping your floor. If you have an open floor plan, you may consider a rug at the entryway to the kitchen to help better delineate your floor space and keep any food-related dirt from being tracked into other areas of your home.

Rug Size & Style

Kitchen rugs come in a huge range of colors, textures, and shapes. You should pick something that complements the color scheme and décor of the kitchen. Avoid bright whites or solid blacks because they show dirt more easily. A cream, grey, or tan kitchen rug will require much less cleaning in order to keep your kitchen looking great. The texture should be understated if your décor follows a traditional style, but you can experiment with bolder textures or prints if you have a more contemporary kitchen. Try to avoid thick carpeting because food can get trapped down inside of it too easily.

The size of your kitchen and adjoining dining area will largely dictate the size of the rug you purchase. We recommend sticking with small area or throw rugs rather than something bulky that is custom cut to fit the floor layout. Small rugs are great for cold winter mornings when the wood or tile floors are still a little too cool to be comfortable with bare feet. By starting with a smaller rug, you can see how you like having parts of your kitchen floor covered, and you can always go bigger in the future.

Why Should I Use a Kitchen Rug?

In addition to serving as an outlet for interior decorating, kitchen rugs protect your flooring and keep it clean. No matter what the size of your family, every kitchen sees a lot of foot traffic on a daily basis. You may even notice worn patches in your floor where you do most of your food preparation and cooking. Strategic placement of area rugs can cut down on the wear and tear that your flooring sustains, extending its usable lifetime. Aside from the wear and tear, a rug will catch any spilled food and cooking grease that could stain your floors. Most area rugs can be shaken out and tossed in the washing machine for routine cleaning. In the extreme case of a permanent stain, wouldn’t you rather replace a small rug rather than go through the hassle of removing and reinstalling new flooring? For this reason, kitchen rugs are a smart investment.