That said, there are several things to think about when buying a rug for the kitchen:
• Traffic - Kitchens are notoriously high traffic areas. You will need a rug that is safe, durable and easy to clean.
• Size & Shape - The size and shape of the rug you buy will depend upon the size and shape of your kitchen, and where you intend to use it within the space. If you’re looking for a mat to go in front of the sink only, a 2’ x 3’ rug works nicely. If you have a galley kitchen, a runner is a good bet. If you have an eat-in kitchen, something like a 4’ x 6’ or 5’ x 8’ under the table might be best.
• Color – You can choose a rug that will blend with the floor and cabinetry in your kitchen or one that will contrast or distract from these features. The choice is up to you. But keep in mind, this is high traffic area. Dark colors will hide dirt and stains more than light colors. Therefore, if you choose to go with a light colored rug, make sure that it's very easy to clean. Lastly, be careful about choosing a rag rug with red in it for the kitchen. The red dye can run when it gets wet and stain light colored flooring.
• Fabric – Ideally, you’ll want to buy a rug that’s as durable, moisture-resistant, stain-resistant and as easy to clean as possible. Wool and nylon are stain-resistant and soft under foot, while polypropylene, vinyl and cotton are usually easiest to clean. Decide what’s most important to you and work to strike the appropriate balance between care and aesthetics.
• Care – The ease of care for your rug will depend on the material of which it’s made. Wool and nylon usually require professional or spot cleaning. Cotton can often be hand or machine washed. Vinyl and polypropylene can usualy be rinsed in the sink or hosed down.
• Safety – Because the kitchen is a high traffic area, rugs used in it should be held securely in place. Choose a rug that comes with an attached non-slip backing or use a separate rug pad underneath to prevent accidents.
Kitchen Mats and Rugs
1. Tailor Made Rug Set - Medium (3.5' x 7'), Flor $84.99. This rug set is made up of several individual nylon carpet tiles that can be rinsed off in the sink or replaced as needed.
2. Chandra Daisa - DAI-14 (Multi), Plush Rugs. 2.6" x 7.6" Runner $257. Dark and richly patterned, this 100% wool rug is naturally durable and stain-resistant. Professionally cleaning recommended.
3. Chandra Bense Garza - BEN-3000 (Black, Multi), Plush Rugs. 2' x 3' $81. 100% wool, this modern rug is naturally durable and stain-resistant. Professionally cleaning recommended.
4. Chilewich Kitchen Mats - Basketweave, Hello World. 2'2 x 3' $120. An extremely modern and easy to care for option, Chilewich floor mats can be washed with soap and water, and come with a non-slip backing.
5. ANDRUP, IKEA. 13" x 32" Runner $29.99. As colorful and as it is inexpensive, this wool/nylon/cotton blend rug is super easy to clean. Simply hand wash and hang to dry.
6. Diamond Black/Ivory Indoor/Outdoor Rug, Dash & Albert. 2' x 3' $38. An indoor/outdoor rug made of polypropylene, this graphic rug is scrubbable, bleachable and hoseable.
7. Cayden Rug, Crate & Barrel. 2.5' x 6' Runner $49.95. This dashing striped rug is 100% cotton and has a cotton/latex backing. Professional cleaning is recommended.
8. Nolan Magenta 2'x6' Runner, Crate & Barrel $39.95. Available in a variety of solid colors, this rug has a subtle ribbed texture under foot. 100% cotton, machine washable.
9. Kitchen Sink Indoor/Outdoor Rug, Dash & Albert. 2' x 3' $38. Like #6, this colorful striped indoor/outdoor rug is made of polypropylene, and is scrubbable, bleachable and hoseable.
10. Dalyn Monterey - MR103 (Black), Plush Rugs. 1'7" x 2'9" $20. This ombre shadowed rug is made of 100% nylon, and is extremely durable and soil/mildew resistant. Professional cleaning recommended.
Images: as linked above.
The Ultimate Used Furniture Cleaning Kit
Ana Creates a Community at Home
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Z2 iPod Dock and Wi...
Soda Recipe: Homemade Ginger Ale
Recipe: Spring Fruit and Nut Tabouli
I'm surprised no mention of GelPro mats?
https://www.gelpro.com/
We've also seen AT post folks with Kilims and vintage Oriental rugs in the kitchen...
...personally, I'd much prefer something like that or the GelPro mats in my kitchen.
Totally agree that they add character! We recently added a rug to our kitchen that I was undecided about at first, but it grew on me.
bepsf- I'd love a gelpro in my kitchen but need a brighter, tropical color/pattern. So far there aren't any in that line.
It's interesting that the first bullet points out the rug needs to be easy to clean, yet four of the ten recommend professional cleaning. That may technically be easy to clean [after all, you only need to make a phone call], but it surely isn't in the affordable category!
Gelpro rocks. Wish they had a wider color assortment. There are only so many shades of tan/beige/brown a girl can take. I spent the extra $ to get the red croc embossed.... it was the only one with any not neutral color.
Great ideas! I recently purchased a wool rug for my living room and my cats have already damaged it. Dumbest purchase ever. I think these would be great in high traffic living spaces as well, especially for people with destructive creatures in their homes.
I love the FLOR rug - those are so great since you can make up the design yourself. And, Dash and Albert has a great selection of bright stripes in practically every color combo!
Would it work to layer a pretty rug on top of a Gelpro mat?
ie, so the pretty rug completely covered the Gelpro
I second the FLOR tile rugs recommendation. I bought a few more tiles than I needed and they've worked great.
First off, they look fantastic. They're super easy to clean on a daily basis. The pile is short enough you can effectively sweep or vacuum them. They're surprisingly comfortable for tired & sore feet. They adapt perfectly to just about any space. Whenever one or all of them needs a deep & through cleaning I simply pick 'em up and give them a good scrubbing followed by air drying in the sun.
Grabbing a couple packs of FLOR tiles from a DWR warehouse sale a few years back has been one of the best ROI design/utility snags of the last decade.
Glad to help!
The Flor tiles look great, but I actually have the Ikea runner in my kitchen - it's the perfect length (width) for my space, and it really warms up the room. I have 3 kids, and it is easy to keep clean (believe me...I had to clean a huge spaghetti sauce spill off it - my fault, not the kids). I wanted a gelpro originally, but for something that long, it would be very $$$, plus the colorful stripes & wool texture just add more character...and for the price, I won't feel bad to change it up if it gets ruined or if I want something new.
If you know how to crochet, you can always make one for really cheap - any size or color that you want. You can do the basic square or rectangle, and sew or hook in some of those no-slip things for drawers.
Bathroom mats are also a good and inexpensive option - they are also made to withstand higher humidity.