A good kitchen rug will follow a particular set of criteria. First and foremost it should be washable, because the kitchen is a dirty place. The second criteria is that it should be interesting, as an interesting texture, pattern, or color scheme can obscure the inevitable accumulation of wear.
Any time I've felt like a room in my home was "missing something," it's almost always been a rug. They have a way of subtly tying the details of a space together and can enhance the aesthetic without you having to make much effort. In my opinion, the hardest part is picking one out - but knowing where to shop is a great place to start.
Despite their slender profiles, the best runner rugs can still transform a space from confused to curated. While they don't have quite the anchoring effect of an area rug, they can still breathe life into the spaces that need it most (see: entryways, hallways, all-white kitchens in need of resuscitation). Beyond creating impact in your entryway or hallway, runners serve an entirely practical purpose: catching and/or disguising debris in your high-traffic areas.
But I quickly learned that finding rugs that looked and felt high-quality, without spending a small fortune, is surprisingly hard. I wanted something soft enough for movie nights when friends pile into the living room, durable enough for my friends' kids who inevitably end up crawling around, and comfortable enough during my (more occasional than they should be) at-home workouts.