1. Kitchens are high traffic areas, so you want a sturdy rug that will hold up in the main traffic areas of the kitchen. Oval shapes work better if the normal traffic pattern in the area requires people to cross diagonally over the ends of the rug. Anti-skid backing or a rug pad will keep the rugs in place..

2. There is a possibility of spills in almost every area of the kitchen at the sink, by the dishwasher, in front of the refrigerator and stove, by the trash can, anywhere around a kitchen island or kitchen cart, etc. So go for washable, easy care rugs that resist stains.

3. You spend a lot of time on your feet in the kitchen. Look at the areas where you stand the most. You want some extra cushion from a rug in those areas. Things like glasses and dinnerware also get dropped in the kitchen from time to time. Protect your fine china and glassware as well as your kitchen floor with a thick, cushiony rug.

4. You want to keep your kitchen and kitchen floor clean, so look for rugs that are easy to shake out, vacuum and/or wash. A reversible rug will also allow you to flip it over to a cleaner side if you need to tidy up quickly. With this in mind, you may be looking for a rug made from polypropylene or polyester. These come in various thicknesses and offer some stain-resistance. Some of these are washable – check manufacturer’s labels for care instructions.

5. You can choose rug patterns with darker colors to better hide dirt and stains.

6. Rugs come in all décor styles to compliment and accent your kitchen décor. So be sure to get one that you enjoy looking at. A happy cook is a better cook.

No matter what type of floor your kitchen has, by using small area rugs you can unify the color scheme and the theme of your kitchen. Adding a rug to the kitchen can be the ideal choice if you want to bring in some warmth and excitement to your kitchen.

We recommend our Ultra Durable indoor-outdoor rugs for kitchens. These thick, cushiony rugs are water-proof and stain-proof. They are even red wine and bleach-proof! They also quickly absorb water and other liquids without the spill leaking to the flooring below.

With beautiful patterns that truly rival the finest indoor rugs, these rugs are easy to clean. Just rinse out smaller Ultra Durables in the shower and let air dry. For larger sized Ultra Durable rugs, just hose them off outdoors.

See how easy these rugs can make your life at