Traditionally we tend to think of kitchens as needing hard flooring, like tiles or wood — maybe with a doormat or anti-fatigue kitchen mat with some rubber backing. But adding a rug to your kitchen can add a degree of texture, color, and sophistication to your space that it may be wanting. Especially if you live in a rented house or apartment and your kitchen is frustratingly bland, a rug can be a great way to highlight and enliven your space without making any changes your landlord may not approve of.
But choosing a rug for your kitchen can actually feel more challenging than choosing an area rug for other spaces in your home. Where do you put it? How big should it be? And what do you need to keep in mind when it comes to choosing a kitchen rug?
Choosing the best rugs for a kitchen is a little more challenging than selecting a rug for other areas of the home. For one, natural kitchen floors tend to be made from tile or wood for the simple and obvious reason that you’re much more likely to spill food or drink onto the floor of your kitchen than anywhere else in your home. (Pro tip: our washable area rugs and washable runner rugs are great rugs for your kitchen for this exact purpose!) Here are other elements to consider when choosing a rug for your kitchen:
Size
When choosing the right rug for a kitchen, it’s important to choose the right rug size for the space. A kitchen rug that is too large will make the space feel cramped and cluttered while one that is too small will feel barren. Find the sweet spot of rug sizes by choosing a kitchen rug that perfectly fits in your space!
5x7 Rug Size
A 5x7 rug size is best suited for smaller kitchens or specific areas within a larger kitchen. Whether you have a galley kitchen, a cozy breakfast nook, or a compact kitchenette, a 5x7 rug size can bring warmth and character to the space!
3x5 Rug Size
A 3x5 rug size is an excellent choice for small kitchenettes, or for placing in front of any kitchen sink or stove. The 3x5 rug size offers a soft and comfortable surface while protecting your floors from spills and providing a cozy space for those long nights spent cooking.
Runner Rug
Runner rugs are an ideal addition to any narrow kitchen, and they are especially beneficial in making small spaces feel more expansive and vibrant. Whether you choose a 7-foot runner rug or 10-foot runner rug, both are ideal for compact kitchenettes with narrow floor layouts, or for sectioning off larger kitchens. If your large kitchen has a long row of cabinets or counter space, a washable runner rug is the perfect accent element to add a dynamic pop of style!
Color & Style
When choosing a rug for your kitchen, like any design element, you want to make sure the color of the rug is cohesive with the rest of the decor. Neutral rugs are great for kitchens that are already bursting with vibrant colors. Options like white and cream rugs or brown and black rugs have the ability to tone down and complement the rest of the colorful elements in the kitchen rather than competing with it. On the other hand, if your kitchen decor is minimalistic and neutral, a multicolored rug can be a great option to make the space more dynamic!
If you’re looking to design your kitchen specific to one design style, here’s are crash course on design styles & rug colors:
- Bohemian design style — Cream, tan, pink, red, and orange, green
- Minimalistic design style — cream, tan, white, gray
- Coastal design style — Blue, gray, white, tan
- Southwestern design style — Orange, red, terracotta, tan
You’ll also want to think about what style your kitchen is decorated in. Is your apartment boho in style, or are you more minimalist? Would a multicolor rug brighten up your space, or would your kitchen work better with something simple, maybe dark gray, or black and white?
While a shag rug may be out of the question, there are so many rugs to choose from, you can definitely find one to fit in with your decor. Even if you tend to prefer things in pale neutrals, our Tabor Rug in Natural/Ash would work in your kitchen — because it’s easy to clean and spillproof, so nothing is off-limits. Even white.
Functionality
Will Your Kitchen Rug Stain?
The answer to this question should obviously be no! Your kitchen sees a lot of action throughout the day, especially if you have a large family or like to entertain. This isn’t the place for an antique family heirloom, nor is it a great room to place the whitest rug you can find (unless it’s one of ours.)
Look for a rug that is spillproof, stain-resistant, and water-resistant. Tumble rugs are coated with a water-based solution that helps to separate oils, stains, and liquids from the fabric of your rug. This cuts down on absorption and makes it much easier to spot clean your rug. So if you send a pot of spaghetti sauce flying, you don’t have to panic.
Tumble rugs are also non-toxic, which isn’t a given with all waterproofing techniques. In fact, many clothing items and household products that are spillproof are known to contain harmful chemicals, so be sure to do a little research before selecting your spillproof rug.
Is Your Rug Non-Slip?
Picture it: you’re standing by the sink washing dishes, and without realizing it, you’ve got the floor around you a bit damp. You turn away from your sink and step away, placing a foot on your kitchen floor mat, and whoosh — the water and the slip-prone mat fly out from under your feet.
It’s not just important for places that are prone to getting a bit wet like the space around your kitchen sink. Any high-traffic area should have a non-slip rug for safety reasons. After all, it’s all too easy to injure yourself slipping and falling on a rug.
Tumble rugs come with a rug pad, which tucks into pockets on the underside of the rug. The rug pad itself isn’t likely to go anywhere, especially when placed on a hard surface, like the one you likely have in your kitchen. This means it’s just as good in your entryway as it is in your kitchen because you’ll never have to worry stepping onto your rug will result in a skid or a slip.
Is Your Kitchen Rug Washable?
The next thing you should keep in mind is how easy your new rug is going to be to wash. You’ll want something low pile, and generally, natural fiber rugs are a bit more durable than others — although this isn’t universally true. Something like jute or sisal, for instance, might be great in your kitchen because it’s a material that’s often used for outdoor rugs.
But if you want an accent rug with a little more panache, consider a Tumble rug. Our rugs are 100% machine washable. That means that whether you choose a small rug to set in front of your stove or sink or a kitchen runner rug to complement your space, no matter what goes on while you’re cooking and entertaining, you can just pop your rug in the washing machine.
This makes your rug just as easy to care for as your other linens, because rather than shelling out for expensive professional cleaning, all you need to do is walk your rug into your laundry room, and it’ll be as good as new. Even if you run a tight ship and don’t expect much mess, keeping your rug clean is important to the air quality of your home.
What Is Your Kitchen’s Style?
Lastly, you’ll want to think about what style your kitchen is decorated in. Is your apartment boho in style, or are you more minimalist? Would a multicolor rug brighten up your space, or would your kitchen work better with something simple, maybe dark gray, or black and white?
While a shag rug may be out of the question, there are so many rugs to choose from, you can definitely find one to fit in with your decor. Even if you tend to prefer things in pale neutrals, our Tabor Rug in Natural/Ash would work in your kitchen — because it’s easy to clean and spillproof, so nothing is off-limits. Even white.
