Kitchen Rugs: Yes, Really

Kitchens are the room people are most surprised to be told should have a rug. The objection is always the same — it will get filthy. It will. That is fine if it washes.

Why bother

Standing on tile or concrete to cook is genuinely tiring, and hard floors make kitchens sound harsh. A low-pile rug fixes both. It also breaks up what is often a large expanse of one flooring material.

The two positions

• In front of the sink and hob — where you stand. A 60 × 100 cm or 80 × 150 cm mat.
• Down the length of a galley or along an island — 80 × 300 cm or 100 × 300 cm.

What to look for

Low pile so chairs and bin lids clear it and crumbs vacuum out easily. A non-slip backing, because a kitchen floor gets wet. And pattern rather than plain — a busy or distressed surface hides a dropped sauce until wash day.

Washing schedule

Every two to three months in normal use, more if you cook a lot. This is the room where the washability is not a nice-to-have.