Best Area Rugs For Kitchen
Some time ago, I had an accident in my kitchen. The tube from the dishwasher going to the drain broke and flooded the area in front of the sink.
Unfortunately, we were not home, and by the time we got back, the wood in my kitchen had soaked up some of the water, and it was ruined.
Needless to say, we had to change the floor along with the tube from the washer.
So now that I have a brand new wooden floor in my kitchen and it is a place where accidents happen the most, I have to do everything in my power to protect it.
The first step to achieving that is finding the perfect area rugs for the kitchen.
So, I rolled up my sleeves, and here is what I found out.
Why Do You Need A Kitchen Rug?
There are several reasons why you need to get one for your kitchen. Some are important, and others are more for our needs. However, the most important reason is the protection of our floor.
From personal experience, I can tell you that kitchen is the place where most accidents happen. Whether it is a spill while I cook, or while washing the dishes in the sink, or even bigger disasters, like a broken pipe, kitchen area rugs can help reduce the damage from spills to your floor, especially if it’s a wooden one.
It also protects the floor from scratches. Since the kitchen is a high-traffic area and, by walking, we bring in all kinds of dirt and dust from other parts of the house. With moving around while cooking, those particles scratch the floor more and more. So, having a rug helps because those particles stick to it.
While cooking, I spend a lot of time standing. And let’s face it, after a certain age, we all start to feel the strain. Having a kitchen rug provides a cushion for my feet and legs. Now, even after cooking a Sunday meal, I can still come back and sort dirty dishes right away and don’t have to get one of my boys to do it.
And having a kitchen rug simply makes my kitchen more pretty and homey. It gives certain warmth to it.
What To Look For In A Kitchen Area Rug?
There are certain things to pay attention to when choosing a kitchen rug for your kitchen:
Size – First thing you need to do is measure your free kitchen space and pay attention to the shape of your kitchen. Depending on that, you can focus on a particular type of rug that will fit perfect with your floor. My advice is to find some examples of how others did it and then adjust the principle to your taste and need.
Color & Pattern – Just like with size, the type and the color of your kitchen matter in choosing the same with rugs. Whether you have a traditional or maybe a modern one, or even if you want to combine something unique and new with the old, finding the color and patterns that will bring a that certain flair to your kitchen is important.
Material and cleaning – With how much we cook and walk in the kitchen, it is necessary to consider the material of the rug. Depending on that, you know how easy or hard it is to clean it in case an accident happens.
There are flatweave cotton rugs, for example, and they are most often used for kitchen space because they are machine-washable, durable, and practical.
There are some made of natural fibers such as jute, sisal, or bamboo. However, although they are renewable and typically free from chemical processing, they need to be hand-washed with soap and water.
Woolen floor rugs are very soft for our feet and sturdy and are also water and stain-resistant. But keep in mind that wool soaks up humidity from the air, and that can ruin it.
Some are synthetic, like viscose, nylon, polypropylene, and polyester. These types can mimic some of the properties of natural fibers. They are very easy to clean and durable, but they can give a low-quality feeling.
Some are made especially for people who have medical issues with their feet and have a problem with standing long, so a special gel-like substance is placed in the rug to provide needed comfort.
Price – Just like with other appliances and tools, you need to consider your budget before choosing a rug. Certain materials and the quality of the rugs determine how much it will cost, so make sure you find the right deal your wallet can handle.
More About Synthetic Fibers
Nowadays, synthetic fibers are more often replacing the natural ones in the production of area rugs and carpeting. Depending on the type and quality, I barely noticed the difference at first glance.
There are 3 most often used fibers for rugs:
Nylon
This is the most often used fiber in the rug industry since it is very strong and durable. It’s perfect for high-traffic areas, and it is also water-resistant and easy to dry.
On its own, it does not resist stains well, but with the addition of stain-blockers, there are hardly any problems with it. It might be slightly costly, though, but given the quality of the fiber and the longevity, it’s worth it.
Polyester
This is one of the most eco-friendly synthetic fibers used for rug making. Much of the polyester today is made of recycled PET that is derived from plastic bottles, which makes the rugs recyclable too.
It might not be as durable as nylon, but it is naturally water and stain-resistant because of the closed-cell fiber.
What is interesting is that the colors look more vibrant on polyester than with nylon or olefin, and even though less durable from nylon fibers, it is still popular in the rug-making industry.
Note: Even though most synthetic fibers are water and stain-resistant, they are not soil-resistant, meaning that they attract oils and are harder to clean because those oil stains attract particles of dirt and cause the discoloration that happens sometimes.
Polypropylene or Olefin
These are not as resilient as other synthetic fibers, so that is why it’s not recommended to use them in high-traffic areas. That means they are not as durable as well.
However, low pile and tightly looped styles offer great results for these fibers. These fibers are water and stain-resistant. And because of the fiber type, their melting point is low.
Do You Also Need A Rug Pad?
A rug pad is a thin layer made of either natural rubber or pelt that we place under our rugs. So, unless your rug already has a rubber backing, you might need something like this.
It provides extra protection to both the floor and the rug by giving an extra layer so it does not wear off, and it protects the floor from the rug scratching it while we are walking on it.
Another useful feature is that it prevents slips and falls because the pad will hold the rug in place. That means no accidental moving or tripping.
It also provides extra comfort for your feet while standing and makes walking more silent.
There are also some rug pads made of synthetic material. However, I don’t advise using those. They are prone to sticking to the floor and can cause yellowing as well.
See Also: Buy The Right Shoes For The Kitchen in 2022
Most Recommended Kitchen Area Rugs – 2022 Reviews
It was not easy to find rugs that could make a great addition to my renovated kitchen floor and keep it safe from future accidents.
So, I took in as many factors as I could, and I did it.
This is what my top 5 list of kitchen area rugs look like after all the information I could gather and read:
Ottohome Collection Chocolate Bordered Design With Non-Slip Layer – For A Neutral And Soft Feel In Your Kitchen
This runner rug is 100% nylon with a low pile. Its warm chocolate shades can fit in with most wood-colored kitchens. Despite low pile, it’s still soft under the feet, and with the non-slip rubber backing, it stays in place safely, so no accidental slips or tripping. The rubber also doesn’t leave any marks on the floor and doesn’t stick to it either.
Its dimensions are 2 x 7 feet, so that is smaller than the usual rugs of this type, but it is enough to place under the sink or stove because it’s stain-resistant, and it is also non-flammable.
This rug is made of synthetic material, so it won’t soak up any fluids, they will go through it. If an accident does happen, just use a paper towel to soak it up, don’t rub the spot.
It’s not machine-washable, so you need to do it by hand if you don’t want the rubber to separate or to have lumps and wrinkles.
Things I liked
- Low pile nylon rug
- Natural soft color
- Non-slip rubber backing
- Leaves no marks on the floor
- Stain and water-resistant
- Non-flammable
- 30-day return policy
Things I didn’t like
- Doesn’t soak fluids
- Does not provide relief for feet
- Rubber backing prone to separating
- Not machine-washable
DII 100% Cotton Reversible Chindi 36″ Multicolor Round Rag Rug – A One-Of-A-Kind Round Rug
This is a multi-colored 4-foot diameter round rug. But even though it says multicolored, the pinkish tones are slightly more noticeable. It gives a shabby chic and also a more rustic look.
It’s 100% cotton made by taking strips of recycled fabric and then lining them up repeatedly, so you get a unique rug. Being handmade means that there are no two rugs of exactly the same color. And because of the way it’s made, it is double-sided for a longer lifespan with a borderline to prevent the stripe from coming loose.
The rug soaks up fluids very well but because it is hand-dyed, the color might leak to the floor if it gets too wet. For the same reason when washing it, make sure to hang dry it. Be careful not to vacuum it, just shake it to get the crumbs and dust out, and when it gets too dirty, you can wash it in a machine, just do it on the hand-wash program in cold water.
Because it is double-sided, you will need an additional rubber rug pad for it if you don’t want it to slide too much. Also, because it’s highly flammable, it’s best to keep it away from a heat source.
Things I liked
- A multi-colored 4-foot round rug
- Gives a chic and rustic look
- Made of 100% recyclable cotton
- Handmade
- Double-sided
- Soaks fluids well
- Shake to get the dust-out
- Machine-washable
Things I didn’t like
- Color might leak
- Needs a rug pad
- Can’t use a vacuum cleaner
- Highly flammable
Iron Gate Handspun 100% Jute Area Rug 2×3 Hand Woven Thick-ribbed – A Perfect Rug For A Natural Foot Massage
A small 2 x 3-foot rug made of Jute fiber, dried to have a natural light brown color you can place in any kitchen and any floor. It’s a renewable and biodegradable material great for the environment but because it’s natural it’s prone to knots popping and even breaking.
Its construction is thick-ribbed with big knots that might cause tripping, but walking on it feels like a massage for your feet even with a slightly rough feel to it. It also makes it double-sided giving it durability and a longer lifespan. Unfortunately, bigger loops make it fun for pets to play with, so having this rug in a home with a cat or a dog is not advisable.
What you need to be careful of is to dry it really well after washing it because the rug can mold. So, wash with a detergent and water and then lay it out to dry.
Because it’s double-sided, a rug pad is necessary as well to prevent sliding.
Things I liked
- Affordable
- Natural light brown color
- Renewable and biodegradable
- Made of 100% Jute fiber
- Handmade
- Double-sided
- Thick ribbed
- Massages your feet
Things I didn’t like
- Small size
- Prone to knots popping and breaking
- It can mold if moist
- Doesn’t soak fluids
- Highly flammable
- Needs a rug pad
- Not pet-friendly
A2Z Cozy Shaggy 2×6-Feet Cherry Red Area Rug – A Soft Comfort For Your Feet
This machine-made rug is 100% Polypropylene with cotton backing. The size is 2×6 feet, and the deep and rich red color gives it a very attractive and modern look.
Its pile is thick, has a nice nap, and it’s around 1.5-inch high. It might not be as soft as it looks, but it is very comfortable, even with bare feet. Because it is a shaggy rug, the strands can get smashed down by daily walking, but a simple vacuuming makes it nice and fluffy again.
Because its fiber is synthetic, it is naturally stain-resistant, and it does not absorb fluids. It is durable, and it does not shed. It is also easy to clean, just vacuum it or hand-wash it in cold water with some detergent and dry by hanging it. These features also make it pet-friendly.
It needs a rug pad if you don’t want it to slide around all the time and if you do not like it, there is a 30-day return policy.
Things I liked
- Affordable
- 100% Polypropylene
- The thick 1.5-inch high shaggy pile
- Deep rich red color
- Cotton backing
- Doesn’t shed
- Stain and water-resistant
- Pet-friendly
- 30-day return policy
Things I didn’t like
- Needs a rug pad
- Not as soft as it looks
- Doesn’t soak fluids
- Not machine-washable
Well Woven Small Modern Calipso Green Lattice Trellis Rug – A Colorful Addition For Your Kitchen
This affordable and vibrant colored rug is made of olefin. It’s a low pile, only 1/4 inch, and it doesn’t have any backing, so you will need a rug pad for it if you don’t want it to slip. However, it does have 100% jute backing, so it is safe for wood floors and won’t scratch them while sliding.
It’s rather small in size, only 1.8 x 2.7 feet and the pattern of the rug is neutral and modern. There are 5 colors to choose from so you can just pick the one that would fit your kitchen the best.
The rug might be so thin that there is no cushy feeling under your feet, so it doesn’t provide that relief for your feet after standing longer, but it is still very soft to the touch.
It is also stain-resistant, so only mopping the fluids and washing it by hand with soap and water is enough to keep it clean. Just make sure you dry it properly.
Things I liked
- Affordable
- Low pile olefin rug
- Vibrant colors
- Jute backing
- Doesn’t leave scratches on the floor
- Stain and water-resistant
Things I didn’t like
- Needs a rug pad
- Small dimensions
- Doesn’t soak fluids
- Does not provide relief for feet
- Not machine-washable
The Kitchen Feels Mine Again…
What I learned after this research is that getting a rug cannot be determined by favoring one factor alone, be it the fabric or pattern, or size.
So, even though I liked all of these rugs, some I could not picture in my kitchen.
They did not fit me.
That is why I picked the DII 100% Cotton Reversible Chindi 36″ Multicolor Round Rag Rug.
I liked that it is round and, with a broad area I have in my kitchen, its colors brighten it and it fits in it very nicely.
Also, being made of cotton, it can soak up fluids, and I can wash it in a machine once it gets too dirty.
The good advice I can give you is to take into consideration all the features these rugs have to offer and simply pick a winner for yourself, for your feet, and your kitchen.
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