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So much more than just something soft underfoot, rugs are an ingenious way to energize a kitchen. Whether you’re looking to add a finishing touch to a newly renovated kitchen, or you’re simply looking to make a pre-reno space feel more bearable until demo day, a rug is a low-lift hero. When you consider how few opportunities there are to infuse a kitchen with character outside of built-in fixtures like cabinetry, countertops and sleek appliances, the appeal of a kitchen rug becomes even clearer. Kitchen rugs can lend color, pattern, and—perhaps most importantly—texture. If you’ve elected to go the route of painted cabinets, consider using a stylish rug that underscores or complements your color choice.
Turkish kilims are a favorite of interior designers because of their mesmerizing patterns and unique color combos. Whether you’ve opted for forest green, mint or blue-gray cabinets, you’re likely to find a Turkish rug to match. Of course, Turkish rugs are far from the only choice. Graphic, low-pile wool rugs that mimic the look of cement tiles are an ingenious way to wake up a modernist kitchen, while casual striped scatter rugs can work magic in everything from rustic farmhouse kitchens to nautical-inspired kitchens.
If you’d like to elevate your cooking space, but you’re not sure where to start, we’ve rounded up 32 kitchens adorned with ravishing rugs. Cull these picture-perfect kitchens for tips on where to position your rug, plus the sizes to use and what materials and styles are basically considered foolproof. Prepare to be floored!
1
Woven Wonders
To complement mint green cabinets and rattan bar stools, designer Chauncey Boothby selected a natural fiber rug to set a casual, yet sophisticated mood.
2
Fuchsia Flourish
To energize a neutral kitchen, the design firm Chroma worked in a vibrant magenta flatweave rug. Elsewhere in the kitchen, a few vibrant accessories work to bridge the color contrast.
3
Mood Maker
A pastoral landscape painting provides the color context for an orange and beige rug in this beyond-charming kitchen designed by the firm Denise McGaha Interiors.
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4
Graphic Design
You don't need to possess a farmhouse-inspired kitchen for a kitchen rug to make sense. As the firm Brio Interior Design shows, minimalist kitchens can be excellent candidates for rugs as well.
5
Softer Shades of Splendor
Muted blue-gray cabinets and striated wood cabinets are enhanced by a kilim incorporating vibrant pops of red in this kitchen designed by Douglas C. Wright Architects.
6
Peaceful Palette
A kilim featuring hushed shades of pink and lavender feels perfectly apropos in this predominantly powder blue kitchen designed by Elizabeth Stamos.
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7
Say it with Stripes
Industrial surfaces with a glam edge make a striped rug with graduating shades of gray feel like a natural fit in this chic kitchen designed by Jasmin Reese Interiors.
8
Kilim Me Softly
A bold red kilim enhances this primarily black and white kitchen cued up by the firm Brio Interior Design.
9
Natural Instinct
To lend cohesion in a bright and airy kitchen, New York City designer Jenny Wolf chose a natural fiber rug that echoes the colors and construction materials used in the room's rattan and iron barstools.
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10
Just the Jewel Tones
For a kitchen cocooned in a dramatic abstract statement mural, designer Kati Curtis opted for a solid, sage-colored rug with a velvety sheen for added interest.
11
Flattering Flatweaves
This striking space designed by KitchenLab Interiors shows exactly why kilims featuring soft shades of pink and peach are a go-to for all-white kitchens.
12
Magic Carpet
A vibrant rug provides a color palette for a wide array of accessories in this kitchen designed by Lily Spindle. The result is a room that feels collected rather than chaotic.
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13
Plush Hour
Table lamps and an insanely plush rug lend this kitchen designed by M + M Interior Design a cozy, layered feel more commonly associated with living rooms or bedrooms.
14
On the Quiet Side
For a kitchen rendered in predominantly cool tones, designer Martin Young selected a peach-colored rug to lend just a hint of warmth.
15
Finishing Flourishes
For a kitchen featuring a surplus of texture, (including a backsplash constructed of luminescent Moroccan tiles), designer Meredith Ellis elected to use a tactile Turkish rug.
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16
Not-So-Mellow Yellow
Hot pink cabinets are tempered by a sunshine yellow rug in this high-wattage kitchen designed by studio CAK.
17
Subtle Statements
To lend softness without creating visual noise, designer Sean Anderson selected a flatweave rug in a barely-there hue.
18
The Missing Pink
For an all-white kitchen, designer Lisa Gilmore chose an exuberant pink and blue rug to add vibrancy.
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19
Cover-Up Job
In addition to providing function—in this case, a smooth surface for kitchen chairs to glide in and out on—a small, prayer-style rug imbues this kitchen nook designed by Sherwood Kypreos with a wayfaring bohemian vibe.
20
Touch of Turquoise
A turquoise rag rug transforms this kitchen designed by Patrick Ahearn Architect from classic-feeling to subtly rustic-feeling.
Marisa Martin
Marisa S. Martin is a writer for Chairish and previously worked for One Kings Lane. An ardent vintage enthusiast, she loves a good throwback trend story and believes there’s nothing a bit of brass can’t fix.