I like a rug in the kitchen. I think patterns hide stains best - spoken from someone with a dog, 2 boys, and daily cooking :)

welp, love the look of a rug in the kitchen, but it can't live at my house. We are too sloppy and every now and then I still have the kids move a chair to reach something...it would just be more annoying than pleasing in our home. but one day....one day, we may;)

I, for one, am all for a rug in the kitchen (I have one...but no children or pets, though). Why not opt for an indoor/outdoor rug that can be easily cleaned? I think Dash and Albert have some cute designs that make for easy upkeep.

Now I want one in my kitchen! Probably not until the kids are older, though...

Casey I have a Persian runner in my kitchen in front of my sink wall and I love it. The pattern hides all the little bits of inevitable spills and it adds some interest. I try not to think about the biological warfare that's probably happening down there,though. Happy Monday!

www.chattafabulous.blogspot.com

I love the idea of a long runner in front of your sink cabinetry. I think it would add softness and texture to the room. I have always had a rug in the kitchen in that area and don't have much trouble with staining or spilling. Maybe just choose something with lots of pattern and the drips will be hidden!

Love all those inspirational images too!

Absolutely love a rug in the kitchen and a runner would be perfect in yours. Indoor/outdoor as suggested by Ashley would be perfect. I have 3 messy kids and have just used inexpensive rugs over the years and replace them when they look worse for the wear. You could always paint one...!

YES YES YES ;)

I'm in love with how it looks, but definitely don't think it's practical, especially with kids. We used to have a beautiful Persian rug on our tile, but it was a crumb magnet and I never felt like I could keep it clean! We have a small jute mat in front of the sink now and that works well. Your little one won't make a mess (yet) so it could work great for you!

I think a kitchen rug can either go really well, or really poorly. I think it depends on the space. One thing I liked about your inspiration photos was that most of the spaces was very much galley-like, so runners worked so well, and really filled the space.

I have a area rug at the kitchen sink....it sure saves on having to wash the floors all the time..and I buy cheap but very cute ones that I can throw in the wash and then when they are done I dont feel guilty throwing them out and getting new..and there are so many really cute ones out there now I do it seasonally Cheers Frances

Yes, i would defenitly do a rug there! If you are worried by spills, maybe consider two of the same kind back to back, that way you could wash it. I have an old persian rug in my kitchen and it withstands three kids (2,3,5) a dog and two cats! About two or three times a year i wash it, if nessesary, otherwise i just spot clean it. so just saying, if you love the look, don't let spills scare you.

Jenifer

It would look beautiful, I've always had one (kids, dog, cat husband). I agree pattern and indoor/outdoor would help a lot. I think it's worth the extra maintenance for the style it adds.

I love the idea of a rug in the kitchen...how about looking for an indoor/outdoor option? they make so many fabulous looking ones these days and you can literally hose them down

Cheers
~ Jillian
www.hersplitends.com

We had one in ours but I eventually got rid of it because it got so filthy. I'm not giving up though! I just need one that is better at hiding stains :)

Love the way it looks, but even without kids, it would still be filthy. i guess getting a persian number that hides the stains is the best option. My neighbor just bought one that is made of woven plastic. Have you seen those? Super durable, not very soft under foot, but has some great pattern. We have an indoor/outdoor sisal look alike in our living room that has held up to stains well, but I imagine int he kitchen it would get food ground into the grooves. Ah, such a hard decision to make.

I love the warmth of a rug underfoot and it's also very comfortable. We have a jute rug in front of our sink and I love it!

i have had a 12 ft dash and albert woven cotten in my kitchen for two years. with three kids under 5 i wash it once a week on hand wash and it looks great! I love, love mine.

Call me a germaphobe, but rugs harbour dust, mites, germs, dirt and pet hair. Yuk! It's a worry I'd rather avoid especially where the family's food is stored and prepped. Looks great in photos though.

Call me a germaphobe, but rugs harbour mites, dirt, dust, germs and pet hair ... Yuk! It's a worry, I'd rather avoid especially where I store and prep the family's food. Looks great in photos though.

I have two rugs in my kitchen, a 4x6 for the area near my cabinetry and a runner along the tall, narrow part of my "L" shaped room. For me it was a necessity when we adopted our greyhound. He is neurotic and wacky and struggles with the tile floor. The kitchen is his only escape route to the yard. I opted for two rugs from Overstock. Both are indoor/outdoor, hide dirt well and clean up with a baby-wipe, soap and water, or even windex. They were each under $50 too and stylish to boot. (Safavieh) Not itchy either ; ) Good luck!

Casey, this post and the mudroom post you've done are both issues I'm tackling with right now. We have white tile in our kitchen and I plan on getting an inexpensive persian runner so that it will keep the white tile cleaner & hide stains. I don't think a rug is a crazy idea w/the baby on its way as long as you don't mind the rug getting stained. Wood floors are nice though b/c you can easily wipe up spilled milk, formula, cereal, etc.

something dark with a pattern would work. I just wouldn't spend a ton of money on it.

my vote, definitely rug. my question: what type of hardware are you choosing on your cabinets?

I love the look of a rug in the kitchen. I'm a fairly neat cook so I think I could swing it. But I wouldn't spend too much on it and wouldn't use a nice antique rug in the kitchen (though they look fantastic). I might even use an indoor/outdoor rug. We have dogs and I love them in the bedrooms (where throw-ups tend to happen). They hose off well and don't stain as badly as real sisal or jute.
Claudia

I have an antique oriental in my kitchen. It fairs just fine.