Why It’s Worth Laying a Rug in Your Kitchen
From boosting cosiness to keeping the floor clean, there are plenty of reasons a rug may enhance your cookspace
There are lots of reasons to add a rug to your kitchen: it can make a room with hard, practical flooring feel cosier, it can add colour and character, it might save the odd breakage, and it can protect certain floor surfaces.
Perhaps counterintuitively, it can also help to keep the rest of your floor clean, though to ensure a kitchen rug remains hygienic, choose carefully: something washable or easy to clean is ideal, preferably with a short pile so it won’t suck up crumbs. It should also be non-slip, either rubber-backed or with an anti-slip underlay.
Perhaps counterintuitively, it can also help to keep the rest of your floor clean, though to ensure a kitchen rug remains hygienic, choose carefully: something washable or easy to clean is ideal, preferably with a short pile so it won’t suck up crumbs. It should also be non-slip, either rubber-backed or with an anti-slip underlay.
Embrace an antique
It may seem counterintuitive to put something old and potentially valuable in a spot where it’ll get so much wear and tear, but think about it: an antique rug has already lasted a very long time. A runner like the one in this kitchen by Ashworth Parkes Architects will have had a lot of use, almost certainly more so than one that’s been under a coffee table for years.
Wear and tear can make old rugs look even better and, if you choose a pattern and deep colours, stains will ‘vanish’. You’ll want it to feel hygienic, though, so be prepared for frequent vacuuming (a powerful handheld can be useful for this) and airings. Bicarbonate of soda can also be invaluable for freshening up textiles.
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It may seem counterintuitive to put something old and potentially valuable in a spot where it’ll get so much wear and tear, but think about it: an antique rug has already lasted a very long time. A runner like the one in this kitchen by Ashworth Parkes Architects will have had a lot of use, almost certainly more so than one that’s been under a coffee table for years.
Wear and tear can make old rugs look even better and, if you choose a pattern and deep colours, stains will ‘vanish’. You’ll want it to feel hygienic, though, so be prepared for frequent vacuuming (a powerful handheld can be useful for this) and airings. Bicarbonate of soda can also be invaluable for freshening up textiles.
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Absorb splashes
A rug in front of a sink and dishwasher can be excellently practical. Drips left on a hard floor surface will often get trodden around the room, making a mess and giving you soggy socks or slippers.
It’s a matter of personal preference, but a washable cotton rug may prove more useful here than a liquid-repelling textile. A large, rubber-backed bath mat you can chuck in the machine isn’t a bad idea if you can find one as visually effective as this design chosen by Tamar Schechner of Nest Pretty Things.
A rug in front of a sink and dishwasher can be excellently practical. Drips left on a hard floor surface will often get trodden around the room, making a mess and giving you soggy socks or slippers.
It’s a matter of personal preference, but a washable cotton rug may prove more useful here than a liquid-repelling textile. A large, rubber-backed bath mat you can chuck in the machine isn’t a bad idea if you can find one as visually effective as this design chosen by Tamar Schechner of Nest Pretty Things.
Ease tired feet
The oven and sink are probably the spots you’ll find yourself standing in most often in your kitchen, making them prime contenders for a soft rug to make the experience more comfortable, as in this kitchen by Cushman Design Group.
An inside-outside rug, often made from polypropylene or recycled materials, is one good option for a spot close to the main cooking zone. Spills and splashes can easily be wiped off, almost as if they’d dropped onto a hard floor.
The oven and sink are probably the spots you’ll find yourself standing in most often in your kitchen, making them prime contenders for a soft rug to make the experience more comfortable, as in this kitchen by Cushman Design Group.
An inside-outside rug, often made from polypropylene or recycled materials, is one good option for a spot close to the main cooking zone. Spills and splashes can easily be wiped off, almost as if they’d dropped onto a hard floor.
Keep your toes warm
A long, slim rug, running the full length of a galley kitchen, can be forgiving on bare feet, if that’s how you roll as you cook.
This idea, demonstrated here by Imperfect Interiors, has the benefit of catching drops from the sink and keeping you cosy as you stand at the hob, as well as while you venture into your most-used cupboards and drawers. Again, embrace the old (and richly patterned) and enjoy how it feels underfoot.
Need help with your home? Browse interior designers in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
A long, slim rug, running the full length of a galley kitchen, can be forgiving on bare feet, if that’s how you roll as you cook.
This idea, demonstrated here by Imperfect Interiors, has the benefit of catching drops from the sink and keeping you cosy as you stand at the hob, as well as while you venture into your most-used cupboards and drawers. Again, embrace the old (and richly patterned) and enjoy how it feels underfoot.
Need help with your home? Browse interior designers in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Introduce natural textures
Textiles such as seagrass and sisal can be incredibly practical for a kitchen area, since both repel stains and are easy to wipe down.
In this Oxfordshire kitchen designed by Jo Shore, a natural rug not only complements the other natural textures in the room, such as the chopping boards, floor and stool, it’s also neutral enough to be extremely versatile and so is a good choice to bridge the connection between the kitchen and hallway, which is just out of shot (click through to see the rest of the project).
Textiles such as seagrass and sisal can be incredibly practical for a kitchen area, since both repel stains and are easy to wipe down.
In this Oxfordshire kitchen designed by Jo Shore, a natural rug not only complements the other natural textures in the room, such as the chopping boards, floor and stool, it’s also neutral enough to be extremely versatile and so is a good choice to bridge the connection between the kitchen and hallway, which is just out of shot (click through to see the rest of the project).
Catch crumbs
If you have floorboards in your kitchen that have little gaps between each plank, you’ll probably be familiar with the issue of crumbs falling between them and being near-impossible to get out without a vacuum cleaner.
A rug under the busiest part of your worktop, or by the toaster, will save you performing this task more frequently than you’d like. Simply pick up the rug and take it outside for a good shake, or sweep up crumbs with a dustpan and brush.
Tell us…
Which of these ideas do you like best and why? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
If you have floorboards in your kitchen that have little gaps between each plank, you’ll probably be familiar with the issue of crumbs falling between them and being near-impossible to get out without a vacuum cleaner.
A rug under the busiest part of your worktop, or by the toaster, will save you performing this task more frequently than you’d like. Simply pick up the rug and take it outside for a good shake, or sweep up crumbs with a dustpan and brush.
Tell us…
Which of these ideas do you like best and why? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
Although this kitchen by British Standard by Plain English is already characterful, with its blue cabinets, tongue-and-groove splashback, and butler sink, it’s still a blank canvas without the accessories. The plates, wicker basket and – chiefly – that beautifully patterned rug are what bring it to life. The colours in the rug add real warmth to the cool tones of the cabinetry and tie in well with the wooden worktop.
Note that this is a flatweave rug. This means it’s much easier to keep clean than a rug with a pile, since it won’t hold on to crumbs. That said, kilim rugs like this one, though usually hardwearing, typically can’t be cleaned in a washing machine. This means you’ll need to commit to frequent brushing or vacuuming, and sporadic spot-cleans and brief hose-downs outside to keep it spick and span.