Modern Kitchen Rug Ideas For Your Home

The kitchen is the heart of the home, and also one of the busiest spaces. It’s a place of gathering and action: people are moving in and out to cook, socialize, and eat. So when thinking of kitchen rug ideas, consider rugs that can handle the wear-and-tear of consistent foot traffic while also providing ease, strong design, and comfort.

At Revival, our modern kitchen rugs fit any style. From large rugs to small ones, vibrant colored rugs, and farmhouse-style kitchen rugs, there’s a rug for every aesthetic preference to help create the exact vibe you want.

How To Place a Rug in a Kitchen

Try not to get too consumed with the details of where and how to place your kitchen rug. What matters most is you are happy with your rug selection (that the design fits the overall style of your kitchen, that it’s durable, and that it’s comfortable under your feet). Keeping those things in mind, here are a few tips for kitchen rug placement:

A good general rule to follow is keeping the rug at least 1’ from any walls so that a strip of floor is always visible, but sometimes in kitchens there’s less space for this. With runners, it may be more likely it’s placed 6” from the wall or built-in cabinets or appliances.

If you’re placing the rug under your breakfast nook or small table, you can place the chairs completely over the rug.

Rugs made of wool are known for being extremely resilient, but try to avoid placing them in an area where they might get overly waterlogged.

Pro Tip: When placing a kitchen rug, one of the most important things often overlooked is using a rug pad. The last thing you want is someone slipping and falling on a rug that's not anchored to the floor (especially if the floor is tiled).

What Size Rug For The Kitchen?

Just like with other rooms in the home, a good rule of thumb is the larger the kitchen, the larger the rug. Spacious kitchens will feel much more comfortable if they have a large area rug that can hold some of that space. If you have a smaller kitchen, a medium-sized rug will most likely be the best fit. And if the area between your kitchen counter and the oven feels crowded, a long and narrow runner, sometimes called a runner rug, always fits perfectly.

Because a lot of kitchens have islands, a runner is the king of kitchen rugs, and can be used with gusto. We like to mix and match kitchen runners. Spacious kitchens can accommodate multiple rugs: long runners combined with 4x6 and 2x3 pieces. If you have a smaller kitchen, stick with a 2x3 rug.

Of course, if you find a rug that you really love but the size doesn’t match the space of your kitchen exactly, a kitchen design team or one of our in-house design professionals can give you ideas for how to make it work.

Modern Kitchen Rug Ideas

Farmhouse Kitchen Rugs

Farmhouse rugs are known for their simple style and muted colors. If you're looking for a subtle yet modern kitchen rug, a farmhouse rug is a perfect choice.

Large Kitchen Rugs

Large kitchen rugs are a great choice for spacious, open-plan kitchens which have a lot of room for sitting and eating. We recommend something utilitarian and lower-pile, like a kilim or hand-knotted vintage piece with medium-pile. These rugs vary in size between 6x9 and 7x10.

Small Kitchen Rugs

Small kitchen rugs fit beautifully in front of the sink. These rugs are typically between 5x8 and 6x9.

Round Kitchen Rugs

Does your kitchen have a breakfast nook? If so, a round rug will compliment it perfectly by creating a subtle touch.

Runner Rugs

Runner rugs are long, narrow rugs that are the ideal fit for more tight-fitting kitchens, kitchens with islands, or counter-side bar seating.

Washable Rugs

It’s no secret kitchens can get messy, so consider a rug that can be cleaned easily. We like cotton rag rugs, chaputs, or boucherouites because they are lightweight and easy to dry.

Go Bold with a Bright Color

Most kitchens can handle a lot of color; it’s a vibrant space with a lot going on. In the case of a kitchen, more is more. So if the general tone of your kitchen currently feels bland and you want some extra spice, consider one of the below hues.

Bring the Outside In

Since the kitchen is the center for household spills, consider using an outdoor rug. These resilient pieces are more water-resistant, which will help in the stain department.

Rug Ideas for Kitchen:

Frequently Asked Questions

How to position an area rug in a kitchen?

When to come up with a rug in kitchen idea, try to remember these tips:

  • Place the rug where you’re most likely to use it: in front of the sink where it will cushion your feet as you wash dishes
  • If you’re placing the rug under your breakfast nook or small table, make sure there’s a strip of visible floor between the wall and the rug—about 6” to 1’.
  • Rugs made of wool are known for being extremely resilient, but try to avoid placing them in an area where they might get overly waterlogged.

How to place a rug in the kitchen?

In addition to the above-mentioned tips for kitchen rug placement, the most important thing to remember is there are no hard rules you have to follow. If you need help with design ideas for your kitchen rugs, you can always contact our design team for a free consultation.

What are some kitchen table rug ideas?

First, make sure it’s durable: a vintage piece, handwoven jute, or even an outdoor rug of recycled polyester will save you a lot of headaches. Better yet, buy a rug you can throw in the washing machine, like our Recess Collection. Next, pick something that’s lower pile: medium pile is the highest we’d recommend for a kitchen, as something plush or shag will trap too many crumbs! We love using flatweaves in the kitchen. Finally, looking for pieces that are darker in tone will also help with inevitable spills.

Rug Ideas for Kitchen:

Frequently Asked Questions

When to come up with a rug in kitchen idea, try to remember these tips:

  • Place the rug where you’re most likely to use it: in front of the sink where it will cushion your feet as you wash dishes
  • If you’re placing the rug under your breakfast nook or small table, make sure there’s a strip of visible floor between the wall and the rug—about 6” to 1’.
  • Rugs made of wool are known for being extremely resilient, but try to avoid placing them in an area where they might get overly waterlogged.

In addition to the above-mentioned tips for kitchen rug placement, the most important thing to remember is there are no hard rules you have to follow. If you need help with design ideas for your kitchen rugs, you can always contact our design team for a free consultation.

First, make sure it’s durable: a vintage piece, handwoven jute, or even an outdoor rug of recycled polyester will save you a lot of headaches. Better yet, buy a rug you can throw in the washing machine, like our Recess Collection. Next, pick something that’s lower pile: medium pile is the highest we’d recommend for a kitchen, as something plush or shag will trap too many crumbs! We love using flatweaves in the kitchen. Finally, looking for pieces that are darker in tone will also help with inevitable spills.

About Revival

Revival curates one-of-a-kind, high-quality handmade rugs and home decor from around the world. Our styles are original, design-centric rugs fresh off the loom to your home. With operations in the U.S., Turkey, Morocco, and India, the Revival Rugs teams visit suppliers regularly to make sure our products meet our quality specifications, and that workers are treated fairly. We simplify the process, eliminating steep markups and costs that don’t add value.

We believe that rugs have the power to transform any space. Transform yours today.

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