I put runners in my tile kitchen and very happy with the decision. One is by the refrigerator, so if something glass happens to bounce out it won't break (any more, and yes this seems to happen more than it should). One is by the sink/range, which makes it more comfortable to prep, cook, and clean up. Also the kitchen is completely open so the runners seem to give a "finished" quality to the space. In the middle of the kitchen is an island cart, and the runners don't interfere where an area rug would.

Edit -- they did slip around until I put grippy pads underneath. The runners I bought are reversible, so the pads help significantly.

Wish I could have one, but we have a trash compactor that slides out at floor level, so it would hit the rug. Of course I figured this out only after buying a rug online, happily laying it out in the space, and then trying to open the compactor. Agh.

I put runners in the kitchen when we remodeled (we have natural maple hardwood in there.) I was in that decorating/changing things frenzy that I now recognize as one of the things that happens to me when we remodel something. I really thought I needed them to protect the floor. In the 7 years since we remodeled, I have changed out those rugs several times-partly because of my rug fetish, partly due to wanting a seasonal change, and partly to try out different thicknesses.

This past year I decided to get rid of the rugs completely. I've decided that the few drips we get on the floor aren't hurting anything, and yes, I was tripping on the rugs. I don't need one more thing that will help me fall.

Now ask me if I've gotten rid of any of those rugs . . .

I knew that the rug you show above looked familiar. I live near a Sturbridge Yankee (warehouse?) that used to have a once a year sale on site. That's their folk art family rug - See it here - https://www.sturbridgeyankee.com/folk-art-family-rug-1.html

If that runner is 2'3" x 7'8", the sale price is $179.95. These are the 'liners' that they sell to go under them - https://www.sturbridgeyankee.com/rug-liner-2.html

I use runners. We have a largish footprint, but I love them. IMO it helps with slippery floors but also catches crumbs. I did get indoor/outdoor rugs because in the summer I can just hose them off! They're awesome! (Fairly inexpensive as well...)

thank you all! You helped me make up my mind, I for sure want runners! :) I was not icked out with a rug in my kitchen in the last house. I don't think I will be here. and I have slid multiple times! I could totally see me twisting my ankle. Is this how we know we are getting older? this is what we think of?

I agree - crumbs wont bounc around as much I think and with a 5 and 8 yr old I think that is a good thing.

so now, do I want the sturbridge ones? I think they are cute, but now I am not so sure :) that is the size my3dogs. they said $50 each for the two large runners and a 5x8 so $150 for all three rugs. I bet I could negotiate a bit. does that seem reasonable?

it is interesting that they say the colors are this: Highlights a gray, blue, rust and cream color palette

I could have sworn it was more green/red.....

I found some floor rugs at Costco I really liked and two of them together made the perfect runner because they are wider. Love them...

in the year something BC, before children, I had lovely oriental runners in front of the sink/ stove counter run but now with kids, pool and snow I needed a big 5x7 rug by my back door to catch mud, water and dirt so the runners looked odd going up towards that area. But I love the look and when kids move on will do it again!

Boop, it probably was. They come in 3 - 4 color combos,and on my monitor it looked like the navy one. It may have been this one - https://www.sturbridgeyankee.com/folk-art-family-rug-1.html

And Buttermilk and Crimson are shown in this link.

I bought this Ballard Designs Catherine wool runner just after I had the kitchen cabinets painted, and love it. Especially since it was a freshly cleaned Craigslist bargain for $50, instead of the $179.00 price on their site.