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One might think the decision between an area rug and a runner rug would be simple, but consider this: you need to determine how much floorspace you actually want to cover. Cover too much and the room could suddenly appear small and squished. Cover too little and your runner will look like a doormat.

So how do you decide what’s best for kitchen decor, area rug or runner?

In this guide, we’ll look at 3 criteria to help you make this decision.

Size

Choosing the right size rug for a kitchen means measuring out narrow spaces, as often the area between an island and the wall is quite slim. Here, you’d want to choose a runner rather than an area rug. However, if you’re looking to place a rug in a breakfast nook or eat-in kitchen with a small table, an area rug is ideal. 

Large area rugs can add warmth to a room while brightening up what may be a more austere palette. Keep in mind though, many interior designers recommend keeping a six inch frame of flooring around the rug to the wall and cabinets to make the rug expand the room rather than look oversized.

For instance, this Beverly Collection 6495 Cream Oriental Area Rug in 2 x 7 could fit a space between the island and sink and bring a timeless look to the room while warming it up. Or, if abstract is more your style, this Euston Collection 7681 Blue Abstract Area Rug brings a pop of color that would blend seamlessly into a bustling kitchen space. 

Color and Design

The beauty of selecting the color and design of a rug for a kitchen is that it can embellish your color palette or even draw the eye away from a space in your kitchen you don’t like. And they can go in any direction you want.

Say you want to elongate a small space. Consider stripes. Stripes on a long runner can make a kitchen feel bigger, as with this Luxe Weavers Towerhill Collection 7501 Blue Striped Area Rug.

Have a monochrome kitchen that needs perking up? Go bold on your floor with a brightly colored rug that brightens up the space. This could be done with something like this wild Luxe Weavers Victoria Collection Multi 5x7 Oriental Area Rug, which brings a pop art feel to a traditional design.

Or if you have a kitchen that’s very formal — think vintage range, hanging copper pots, and an old farmhouse sink — keep with the theme by incorporating an Oriental rug that’s as timeless as your home. Here, a big area rug can make a wood space feel toasty and inviting. The Hampstead Collection 8027 Red Oriental Area Rug is one such option. As stunning as it is durable, this gorgeous rug can stand up to boisterous dinner parties, busy afternoons making cookies, and lots of little feet while still looking as classic as any antique rug.

Construction

Let’s talk about construction. Traditionally—and by traditionally we mean for the past, oh, 2,000 years—rugs were made by hand or on a loom and from materials such as wool and silk. You can still buy those today, and they can be beautiful investment pieces. Or, you can buy modern rugs that use the latest weaving technology and synthetic fibers to craft rugs that can stand the test of time.

You can see this in choices like the beautiful Multi-Colored Modern Bohemian Distressed Area Rug or Gray Anthracite Modern Area Rug. Whether its a trendy modern design you’re looking for or something that speaks to classic Persian looks, Luxe Weavers endeavours to deliver the highest quality for the best price.

That means making cosmopolitan rugs for every room, including the kitchen. As the center of most homes, the place where you eat, cook, and share priceless family memories should be as warm and inviting as the rest of your home. To see more styles, visit luxeweavers.com.

In the words of the old nursery rhyme, “Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat.” 

What precisely that means, we can’t say, but it always makes us think of the holidays—which inevitably brings visions of yummy foods cooking in the kitchen. 

Typically the center of the home, everyone seems to congregate in the kitchen when it’s the holidays, so naturally you want the heart of your household to look as good as it smells.
But at the same time, kitchens are a high-traffic area. Family is coming and going, food inevitably gets spilled. How do you make this space feel cozy and welcoming while still operating as a functional food prep space? Two words: area rug. 

An inviting area rug that’s durable yet sophisticated, easy to clean yet stylish, can work wonders in making a kitchen a more hospitable space. But not just any area rug will do. In this guide we’ll look at six great kitchen rugs that can bring the holidays into your kitchen.

Luxe Weavers Magnolia Collection 2937 Beige White Abstract Area Rug

There’s a reason interior designers love the 1990 film Home Alone. Sure, it was a hilarious holiday blockbuster, but it also had one of the most festively decorated homes of any holiday film, ever (maybe excepting Christmas Vacation!) Rewatch Home Alone and you’ll see that almost the entire home was tastefully decorated in green and red. While that might be extreme for most homeowners, you can add a little seasonal flavor with a rug that incorporates the most popular Christmas colors. This abstract area rug takes a traditional Oriental pattern and incorporates subtle hints of red and green. 

Luxe Weavers Magnolia Collection 7613 Silver Geometric Area Rug

Often kitchens can give off a sterile vibe. Warm up a space with a tasteful area rug that says “sit back and stay awhile.” Geometric shapes don’t require that a rug fit a particular design aesthetic. Instead they can blend in nearly any space, which makes this rug universal. 

Manhattan Patterned Shag Gray Modern Area Rug

Don’t believe the naysayers, shag can go wherever you want it go—even in a kitchen. For those lucky enough to have a snug—a small, intimate, cozy space like a breakfast nook— within their kitchen, a shag area rug can make for a lovely coffee corner that’s a perfect space to sit with friends and family and decorate cookies. 

Luxe Weavers Taba Collection 7085 Grey Orientral Area Rug

Let’s be real, some of us are messier in the kitchen than others. But a kitchen area rug is still possible. Just opt for one that hides messes more than others, like this Taba Collection in grey. You can still easily have a timeless area rug design perfect for the holidays that will also keep the odd spill hidden, at least until your Christmas company has left. 

Luxe Weavers Victoria Collection Blue Oriental Area Rug

“Think small” may have been Volkswagen’s famous line, but in this case it applies to kitchens too. Just because you have a cozy kitchen space, that doesn’t mean you can’t make it more festive with a small area rug. 

Luxe Weavers Hampstead Collection 8027 Red Oriental Area Rug

If you really want to embrace the season, why not choose an area rug that’s as loud and proud as your Christmas spirit. Something that says “I put my Christmas tree up in October.” An area rug that’s as joyful as Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” on repeat. Something like, say, this Hampstead Collection red Oriental rug. It checks all the boxes: green and red hues, bright design, classic style that echoes long-held holiday traditions. What could be better? 

Want even more holiday-ready rug ideas? Take a look at our huge inventory covering abstract, traditional, patterned and Oriental styles.

Choosing a rug isn’t like choosing a life partner, but it can still be just as emotional. 

A rug is something that will command attention in your space for years or decades to come. So, naturally, people take selecting one seriously. There are many factors to consider when choosing a rug, with the obvious being color, style, and size. But what about the hidden factors? That’s what we’ll discuss here—three very important things to think about when choosing a rug. 

What kind of maintenance are you agreeing to?

There is a vast array of area rugs to choose from, and some require more particular care than others. Choose an antique rug and you’d better be ready to put in the time and money to keep it looking good. After all, an antique Oriental rug is old and often that means it's in delicate condition. Regular vacuuming might actually damage it. Instead, you may need to invest in regular professional cleanings to help it keep its luster.

A more durable rug, on the other hand, offers its owner a longer lifespan with less expensive care. 

Rather than requiring the services of professionals for a regular shampoo each season, a good weekly vacuum and annual deep cleaning should be enough to hold its shape and look. For instance, this Euston Collection 7681 Blue Abstract Area Rug is contemporary and tasteful, but it’s also hardy and can stand the test of time in any space. 

How will the rug be used?

Is this rug in a formal living room that rarely sees guests? Or is it going to be placed in a kids’ playroom that sees everything from fort building to multi-child wrestling matches? How you answer this question could play a big role in which rug you decide to go with. 

If it’s a busy space with lots of foot traffic, a flat-weave rug with a low pile is likely the best option. If, on the other hand, you’re looking to outfit the very private sanctum of your bedroom where only those you allow can enter, then go wild with a plush shag rug. While the latter does require more attention and care, if you know you’ll be one of the few individuals stepping on it, that may not be an issue. 

For most of us, a delicate, high-maintenance rug is not an option. It’s rugs built of stronger stuff that we’re after. And there are plenty of rugs available that offer both beauty and hardiness. While still providing optimal elegance, you can get the same look as a gorgeous antique rug, but with much more rugged materials. The Hampstead Collection 8027 Silver Oriental Area Rug, for example, is the epitome of Old World elegance, but provides the durability of a brand-new rug.

How does the rug feel?

Is it soft to the touch? Does it have a unique texture? Does it feel scratchy or itchy? 

If, given the chance, you could walk on it barefoot (as most of us are wont to do in our own homes) would you want to? 

This is important, not only for your own comfort, but for those around you. If you have frequent guests, chances are someone’s feet will come into contact with your rug. If you have small children, what are the chances of rug burn given a particular fabric? Is there a possibility of tears over a skinned knee on the rug? Might want to rule it out.

And if you’re ordering online and can’t feel rug options in person, look for descriptions and product details that explain and describe the materials used. The textiles used will affect the feel of a rug, but so will the weave itself, so educating yourself on area rug weaving techniques can help inform your rug purchase decision. 

Determining exactly which rug will work for you is a calculated decision that requires a thoughtful look at all the variables from textures to fabric, cut to color. 

Weighing all of these options will help guide you to just the right choice, at which point it comes down to one final question: How does the rug make you feel? If, as Marie Kondo would say, it “sparks joy,” then what’s not to love? Sure, you might be contradicting some of the earlier questions with your choice, but if a rug is really right for you, it will make you feel good and make your space feel happy.