Cooking Up the Best Area Rugs for Any Kitchen

Kitchens are some of the most-used spaces in homes as the center for entertaining. From hosting large dinner parties to snacking at the kitchen island, there aren’t many days where your kitchen goes unused. 

Considering how much time we spend in our kitchens, it’s important to choose an area rug that protects your home’s floors, adds beautiful style, and provides comfort while cooking, cleaning, or baking. But many homeowners struggle to find the right rug for their kitchens due to size restrictions, increased foot traffic, and the potential for spills. 

If you’re one of those homeowners grasping at straws to find the right kitchen rug, we can help. Below, we share the five best kitchen area rugs, including both natural fiber and synthetic options.

1. Durable Polypropylene Rugs

Want the look pictured above in your own kitchen? Shop our All Weather Polypropylene Rugs and select the Fuji Mahogany rug color with a Chocolate Narrow Cotton binding.

Kitchens can get messy. Stray flour, olive oil splatters, spilled red wine, there are countless messes that can occur in a kitchen. And that means there are countless messes that can get on your floors and floor coverings. 

A polypropylene, sisal look-alike area rug is perfect for kitchens where you want to make sure your floors are well-guarded against potential stains. Durable polypropylene rugs are especially great options for in front of the kitchen sink as they can get completely wet without causing damage to the rug’s integrity. Plus, if a spill does happen on a polypropylene rug, you can just wash away the mess with a wet towel. 

Benefits of Polypropylene Rugs

Polypropylene rugs offer several benefits that make them ideal for kitchen use. They are easy to clean, as spills can simply be wiped away with a wet towel, and their stain-resistant nature makes them perfect for high-traffic areas and frequent spills. Additionally, these rugs are highly durable, capable of withstanding the wear and tear of a busy kitchen environment.

2. Seagrass Area Rugs

Get the look of this rug. Shop our Seagrass Area Rug collection and choose Seabasket with the Pale Ash binding.

Remember those spills we mentioned? Well, some of them can leave stains on floors and area rugs if you’re not careful. And if you don’t want a discoloration drawing attention from your houseguests, you’ll want to lay down an area rug that can withstand spills and have minimal chance of staining. 

Seagrass area rugs are a natural fiber kitchen rug that is naturally stain resistant. As a fiber that grows and is harvested underwater, seagrass is highly stain and water resistant. With a seagrass rug in your kitchen, there is minimal chance that a spill will turn into a permanent stain. In addition, seagrass is a unique, exotic texture, giving your kitchen a beautiful and stylish look.

Benefits of Seagrass Rugs

Seagrass rugs are a fantastic choice for kitchen floors, offering several key benefits. As a natural fiber, they are eco-friendly and sustainable, making them an environmentally conscious option. Their natural stain resistance means they effectively repel water and stains, ensuring long-lasting cleanliness and appeal. Additionally, seagrass rugs feature a unique texture that adds an exotic and stylish touch to your kitchen decor, enhancing the overall aesthetic of the space.

3. Thin Pile Sisal

What kinds of sisal area rugs have thin piles? Check out our Boucle Sisal (pictured above), Brasilia Sisal, or Como Sisal area rugs.

Seagrass and polypropylene aren’t the only kitchen area rug options that are professionals at handling dirt, messes, spills, and stains. A sisal area rug with a thin pile is also a great option for any kitchen. 

A thin pile sisal area rug is extremely easy to clean as it effectively traps dirt and other messes in its weaves. To get rid of crumbs and other stray food, all you need to do is shake out the rug to remove the mess. In addition, a thin pile sisal rug also won’t catch on chairs, tools, table legs, or other kitchen furniture as its fibers are tightly woven, allowing your rug to last longer. 

What kinds of sisal area rugs have thin piles? Check out our Boucle Sisal (pictured below) and Brasilia Sisal area rugs.

Benefits of Thin Pile Sisal Rugs

Thin pile sisal rugs offer numerous advantages for kitchen use. They are easy to clean, allowing you to shake out dirt and crumbs with ease. The tightly woven fibers make these rugs highly durable, preventing snags and wear. Additionally, their natural look makes them versatile, complementing various kitchen styles and enhancing the overall aesthetic of your space.

4. Custom Shaped Area Rugs

Because your kitchen may have an island, peninsula, or breakfast bar, there are some odd shapes that your floor can take. To find an area rug that can fit that space can be hard as you’re not looking for a standard, rectangular rug. What you need is something custom. 

Thankfully, you can create a custom shaped area rug made to fit your kitchen’s exact dimensions. It doesn’t matter if you’re designing around a floor register, kitchen island, or kitchen table, you can build a kitchen area rug that fits your exact needs.

Benefits of Custom Shaped Rugs

Custom shaped rugs provide several advantages for your kitchen. They protect your floors and offer a perfect fit, tailored to match your kitchen’s unique layout precisely. With personalized style options, you can choose the color and pattern that best suits your decor. Additionally, they are highly functional, efficiently covering and protecting specific areas, ensuring both aesthetic appeal and practical use.

5. Rug Runners

Considering the many shapes and sizes that kitchens can take, rug runners are also great options for the kitchen—especially if you have a galley kitchen or narrow walkways in between countertops. When picking the material for your kitchen’s runner rug, just make sure to use take the above fibers into consideration and go with a thin pile sisal, seagrass, or polypropylene option as those are the most durable and easy to clean.

Where else is a great place for a rug runner? View our six top places to put a rug runner in your home.

Benefits of Rug Runners

Rug runners offer numerous benefits for kitchen use. They are space-saving, making them ideal for narrow or high-traffic areas. Their durability allows them to withstand constant foot traffic, ensuring long-lasting use. Additionally, they add a stylish and decorative element to your kitchen floor, enhancing the overall aesthetic of the space.

Additional Tips for Choosing the Best Kitchen Rug

1. Use a Rug Pad: A rug pad can prevent slipping, protect your floors, and add extra cushioning underfoot. This is especially important in a kitchen where spills and movement are frequent.

2. Consider Water Resistance: Choose rugs that are water-resistant to prevent mold and mildew. Polypropylene and seagrass are excellent choices for water resistance.

3. Focus on Easy Maintenance: Look for low-pile rugs that are machine washable or easy to clean with simple household methods. This ensures that you can maintain a fresh and clean kitchen environment.

4. Match Your Kitchen Decor: Select rugs that complement your kitchen’s color scheme and overall decor. Whether you prefer bold patterns or subtle hues, the right rug can enhance your kitchen’s aesthetic.

5. Think About Placement: Place rugs in high-traffic areas such as in front of the sink, stove, or kitchen island. This not only protects your floors but also provides comfort where you stand the most.

Fire Up Your Kitchen’s Style

Kitchen area rugs can be hard to decide on as they’re bound to take a beating. But between polypropylene, seagrass, and thin pile sisal, you can’t go wrong as they are all durable, easy to clean, comfortable, and beautifully exotic. Plus, you can get them in custom shapes and sizes, or get them made into a runner so they can perfectly fit your home’s kitchen. 

With your kitchen designed, how is your dining room looking? Spruce up the rest of your entertaining space with our dining room style guide.