In some instances we found the rug can sound a little squeaky as it acclimates to a space, but the sound fades with time and use as the pad compresses. Our original tester rug from 2019 is still holding up great, even after dozens of washes. People on staff who use their rugs in low-traffic areas-where activity is centered in the middle of the rug rather than around the edges, like playrooms and kids’ bedrooms-are still very happy with theirs, so for now that's where we recommend using them. Ruggable claims it started rolling out a redesigned rug in September 2021 that helps with the curling issue, but we haven’t tested the new version yet. In 2022 we received feedback from several people on staff who own Ruggables that curling and edges lifting up was a widespread issue, especially in high-traffic areas like hallways and kitchens (which we expand on in our piece on Ruggables). The thin water-resistant rug topper, made of polyester, then attaches securely to the pad.įlaws but not dealbreakers: The rug we tested laid flat almost immediately upon unrolling, but one side remained curled every so slightly before we used a kettlebell to press the stubborn corners into place. The Cushioned pad is about twice as thick as the Standard ( ⅖-inch thick) and much more supportive. The Standard rug pad is ⅛-inch thick and made of polyester and thermoplastic rubber, similar to a yoga mat. This system consists of a rug pad and a rug topper (the “topper” is the actual rug), which is not unlike the setup we recommend for most of our picks, but with Ruggable rugs the pad is not optional. Ruggable's Classic Low Pile rugs are only ⅛-inch thick (thinner than most low-pile rugs), so they can more easily be thrown into the average-size washing machine.

It comes in many color and design options. The Quadra Teal design we tested is Ruggable’s main type of rug, which they call a chenille rug. Why it’s great: Ruggable rugs are unlike any other option we tested, offering a two-piece design that combines the appearance of a traditional floor rug with some of the feel and function of carpet tiles. A more unconventional version with a white speckled center and a bold border in colors from gray to hot pink is available at Target and Walmart. You can sometimes find Safavieh’s area rugs for better prices on Amazon, though the selection is a bit scattershot. And the white one has held up well in a kitchen through a couple of years of testing Shannon tosses hers in the wash every couple of weeks to keep the color nice. One of our editors has had the multicolor version of this rug since 2015, and it’s holding up well-just a few of the yarns have pulled out slightly. At least, if you really ruin it, it’s inexpensive to replace (it’s the least expensive of the kitchen options we looked at). This rug is easy to flip over or toss in the wash-although the larger 8-by-10 versions may require a trip to the laundromat to use their large-capacity washers. The design, consisting of variegated yarns (or rags), means that most small stains will simply blend in.

We like Safavieh’s hand-woven rag rugs, which cost less than most other rag rugs we’ve seen, feel comfortable to walk on, and come in a wide range of colors and sizes. Why it’s great: Rag rugs rank among the best choices for a kitchen, because they’re machine washable, and due to their rustic appearance they still look okay with a bit of wear and tear, like some loose yarns or worn spots.

Dash and albert rugs