5 Tips for Choosing Your Kitchen Rugs

The right kind of kitchen mat or rug can help to make the space look great as well as protect the floors and even the people using the room.

With such a range of options available, the task of finding the right one may seem daunting. Here we have included a few top tips to help you out.

When choosing the perfect kitchen rug for your home, there are several factors that one should consider. Hopefully, this guide will help you make the best buying decision.

1. Take The Time to Decide on The Right Material

Start by choosing the right material. From there, you can choose the design that makes the best use of your kitchen space. The kitchen is one of the busiest areas in the house which is why kitchen rugs are prone to a lot of dirt, messes, and spills so they must be stain resistant.  It is best to go with durable materials. We usually think of kitchen rugs as made of jute, cotton, wool, which are natural fibres. But there are other options that are just as stylish and luxurious as natural fibres like polypropylene and nylon.

Carpet fabric in a kitchen is a big factor in choosing the perfect kitchen rug. With the amount of foot traffic and spills that happen, you’ll need a washable and durable fabric.

The best carpet fabrics for your kitchen are:

• Cotton
• Natural Fiber (Jute, Sisal, Bamboo)
• Polyester
• Polypropylene
• Wool

Cotton is one of the easiest carpet fibers to clean. Cotton rugs are great for families with kids that accidentally knock over their juice cups! A great option to buy is the flat-weave cotton rug.

Natural Fiber rugs are extremely durable and scrubbing them down with a bristle brush won’t destroy them. Polyester and polypropylene are logical choices because they are non-flammable and the easiest to clean.

Wool is a perfect option for you if you like walking on a warm kitchen floor in the morning over a cold tile floor. It’s also water and stain-resistant.

 2. Consider The Floor Layout and Size

One of the first things you should do, before looking at carpets, is to measure your kitchen room size. You’d be pretty upset if you got home with your newly purchased rug and come to find out it doesn’t fit in the space that you’d like it to.

Most people choose a rectangular or square rug as their first choice. It’s a prudent and fantastic way to really outline your kitchen. Some other options that may be cute are half-moon rugs. They look wonderful and charming at the sink or in front of a stove. Nowadays, people are even adding round rugs to their kitchens. Adding a geometrical-shaped rug is perfect for contemporary design-styled kitchens.

Make sure to properly measure the available space where you want to place the kitchen rug so it won’t overwhelm the overall look of the kitchen. The layout of the kitchen usually determines the best shape and size of rug that will suit your space. For example;  a floral area rug can be a great way to extend the color range of your kitchen.

Yes, there is a little bit of math homework to do, but it should be quick to do. Once that easy task is out of the way, you’re ready to start exploring ideas for kitchen rugs.

3. Have Your Comfort in Mind

Decide what physiological support you need from a kitchen rug. The material can determine whether you can use it to cushion your body, most especially the knees, foot, or back. If you need to use a kitchen rug for a considerable amount of time in the kitchen while cooking, washing dishes, or preparing meals - you can opt for an anti-fatigue kitchen mat. It’s been proven to significantly reduce stress and strain on the body that may result from prolonged standing.

Kitchen rugs are placed either in the center of a kitchen or lining the side of a countertop. You’ll see some runners placed directly underneath bar stools, outlining the side of the island. A great tip to keep in mind is if you do place a runner near the island, make sure it fits all legs of the bar stool on it. Also, try not to place your carpet under your island because it makes it harder to pull it out and clean it.

For some of the kitchen shapes, like the u-shaped kitchen, a carpet looks best when it’s placed in the center of the room. Small kitchen rugs look great at the sink or the stove. Avoid putting a rug near a fridge, it tends to get cruddy quickly!

4. Consider Your Lifestyle

The three main features you should look for in a kitchen rug are slip resistance, stain resistance, and water resistance. You’re going to encounter all three in a kitchen setting.

Some companies spray non-slip rubber underneath their carpets. While others give you the option to buy a non-slip carpet pad that fits the size of your carpet. If you don’t have either of these options, buy yourself some rug gripper tape. Another feature that may be for you is a foam standing mat. They are comfortable to stand on, easy to clean, stain-resistant, and water-resistant.

A kitchen rug should fit your lifestyle. If kids and pets are a huge part of your life, consider getting a pet-friendly rug. It should be durable yet soft and thick at the same time for it to withstand high foot traffic, pets, kids, and spills. It should be easily washable with soap and water for it to be safe and not be a breeding ground for germs, ticks, and mites. Also, worth mentioning that it should have a non-slip backing for the safety of our prized kids and fur-babies. Best if it won’t require you to spend on professional cleaning services.

 5. Stay Coordinated with Your Kitchen Décor

Choose a kitchen rug that would pair well with your other décor in the kitchen area. The right one can add warmth and depth as kitchens are traditionally seen as family-friendly spaces. Besides giving off a cozy vibe, it should also add to the beauty of the interior design.  For example; a floral kitchen area rug can be a great way to extend the color range of your kitchen and that instantly adds freshness and cheer to a space.

A kitchen mat, as well as being practical, can also be used to bring a little bit more color and personality into an otherwise purely functional space. However, the right color can often be a bit tricky to ascertain.

Many contemporary kitchens with their white or metallic appliances and their block-colored cupboards are in danger of looking a little clinical. A saturated solid-color mat really looks great in a toned-down space, and you'll be surprised what a difference it can make to the room. You can also make good use of patterns and designs here.

However, if you have opted for bright or dark colors and designs, a more neutral, single-color mat might be the best option as it won't compete or clash with other things going on in the room.

Themed mats with pictures and writing add a little quirk to your kitchen, but again, you are going to want to pay attention to the colors.

The main color of the rug should match the dominant tone of your kitchen. So, for instance, if you have warm-colored walls such as red, yellow, orange, and honey-wood cabinets, seek out these kinds of colors in the rug too. And the same goes for cool colors such as blue, grey, green, and ashy-colored cabinets.

With mostly white, black, or metallic kitchens, you can go either way, selecting either warm or cool. Just pay close attention to colors found in other objects and decorations you already have in the room.

We should love decorating with a bit of flair even if it's for the humble space in the home which is the kitchen. Selecting an area rug that enhances the décor enhances the beauty of the house. The kitchen is not just a place where you cook meals and eat but it’s also a space where family and friends gather to share love and memories.

We’ve given you the answers to several of the more commonly asked questions about kitchen rugs. You have a guide to help you pick out carpet patterns, colors, pile, material, and length, and match it accordingly to your specific kitchen.

When you’re out shopping and trying to figure out how to choose the perfect kitchen rug, remember 3 things, size, color design, and type of fabric. If you can remember this, then you’re ready to find the carpet that best suits your kitchen