Roundup: Outdoor Rugs for the Kitchen
We really like the look of a rug in the kitchen, but for people who cook and bake as often as we do, it’s not such a practical idea. No matter how often we vacuum or shampoo, all the flour and crumbs and spattering oil just take a toll after a while. Fortunately, there are so many great outdoor rugs available now, and they’re designed to take a beating (and to clean up easily afterwards!). Click through for our picks and how to find them…
Here's our key to the above photos:
• 1 This kitchen from Domino sure looks fabulous—we wish this were an outdoor rug. But really, sheepskin in the kitchen? It would barely last a week in ours.
• 2 Susan Bradley's Oscar outdoor rugs are made of sustainable, durable rubber (according to her site). We think they'd be a beautiful pop of color in a monochromatic kitchen (plus, they look like they'd be cushy under the feet). They're a new product, so you'll have to order directly through the company. They run about $250.
• 3 Dash & Albert's polypropylene rugs are so durable you can actually clean them with bleach. They come in many striped designs and colors; these are our favorites. Prices run from $34 for a 2'x3' to $495 for an 8.5'x11'.
• 4 For a more contemporary kitchen, chilewich "plynyl" mats come in stripes or solids, with a "shag" or looped weave. Either way, they're washable and quick to dry. Available at Unica Home, from $45 for a 28"x18" mat to $150 for a 60"x36" mat.
• 5 These polyurethane mats from the Koko Company come in tons of colors and patterns, from Persian-style traditional designs to leafy graphic prints. They're reversible, you can hose them down to clean them, and when they're worn out, you can actually recycle them. The "classic" 6'X4' mat is $52 on Koko's site. Or for SF readers, they're available locally at Flora Grubb Gardens.
Comments (13)
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It's not an issue of how long it'll stay clean, it's an issue of "how long before I break my damn neck on my ultra useless sheepskin kitchen throw?" Ugh.
view Kimber's profile
I've said it before and I'll said it again: Dash and Albert's cotton runners are absolutely the best for the kitchen since they absorb rogue drips ( unlike the poly, which may trap water and gunk beneath if you're not careful) and you can just toss them in the laundry ( instead of having to hose and scrub them off with yucky bleach in the backyard). I've washed mine at least once a week for 7 years and it's still in perfect condition.
view Veruca's profile
I don't think that people would use such rugs in the kitchen. You want your kitchen to look clean, not stylish... Maybe for another room it will work.
view Eefje's profile
this looks dumb
view icedesign's profile
Veruca's got the right idea: kitchen rugs should be machine washable.
view dtremit's profile
As I value my back and knees, I have always been using cheap cotton runners in the places where I stand most of the time in the kitchen. They absorb whatever drips on them, can be vacuumed and thrown in the washing machine when they become disgusting, and are cheap to replace.
view bromelia's profile
I placed an outdor rug in my kitchen. It's made of a woven, neutral colored material and is easy to wipe up and vacuum. When it needs it, i take it outside sponge it down with soap and water and hose it off.
view Seaside's profile
I have the woven rag rugs my grandparents made in my kitchen. (and my bathroom, and my hallway...) I toss them in the wash from time to time, and problem solved. They won't stand up to bleach, so they've gotten a bit spotted with time, but hey, they're RAG rugs. I can live with a few imperfections.
Outdoor rugs are a decent idea too. The sheepskin is obviously for someone who uses their kitchen only as a place to store extra Chinese takeout and lunchables.
view cedargr0's profile
A synthetic "sisal look" rug would be a great alternative in the kitchen. Easy to clean!
http://www.mydesignsecrets.com/2008/03/10/tough-rugs-i-love/
On another note, for those of you that are on your feet a lot in the kitchen, the Gel Pro Mat is a great alternative. Very good for bad backs, easy to clean, and stylish too!
http://www.mydesignsecrets.com/2008/05/22/relieve-kitchen-back-pain-in-style/
view MyDesignSecrets1's profile
I agree with Kimber. I hate the way rugs in the kitchen always go askew, and it's a slipping hazard too. Also, that sheepskin rug looks so unsanitary, it makes my skin crawl! If you have back problems and a rug or mat helps, I can understand it, but otherwise, what's the point of having a rug in your kitchen at all? Save it for the rest of your home!
view Emily the Cat's profile
I think that top photo with the sheepskin rug is from Thom Filicia's house. I love him but don't think much cooking happens in that kitchen.
view tequila red's profile
yeaaaah I just have a $5 runner from family dollar. I hate wearing shoes when I'm at home so its just to stand on when I cook and wash dishes. Bare floor makes my feet hurt after a while and those special mats for long term standing cost a whoooole lot more than $5!
view qstar's profile
Outdoor rugs are really important when you're redocating your home. You may look Ballard Designs to see such unique outdoor rug alternatives.
view elissam's profile