Q:Help help help! Are there any synthetic rugs/mats out there that are (a) easy to clean, and (b) not ugly? Due to lack of space in our small SF home, our 11-month-old son eats in his high chair in our dining room. The wool area carpet in the dining room is rapidly becoming a bio-hazard from the amount of food that winds up falling/splashing/dropping/being thrown onto it. I hate the carpet anyway, so I don't have any problem getting rid of it, but my question is what to replace it with (continue reading below the jump.)
Sent by Munkinmama
We need some kind of carpet or floor mat in there to protect the wood floor from the very heavy dining chairs (I hate those too, but one thing at a time!). I thought about Flor tiles but am concerned that it's going to take too long to install, and this mama is just way too busy/tired to take on a project. Basically my criteria are that the flooring be easy to clean and as eco-friendly (or at least non-off-gassy) as possible. Also, notwithstanding the fairly traditional look of the room, in general our style leans toward simple contemporary/mid-century. Any ideas? Thanks, everyone!
Editor: How about it, folks? Has anyone with this general aesthetic in your home found an easy-to-clean rug or mat that you like and that looks good?
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To clarify, what I need help with is a new area rug/mat for the entire dining room, not just a splat mat for the high chair. Thanks everyone!
view munkinmama's profile
We have several of these SIGNE throw rugs from Ikea that we use under my daughter's clip on high chair. I like them because they are in expensive, foldable, coordinate with our decor and are machine washable. They come in lots of color waves and change often. So if you see ones you like, opt to but multiples in a single trip, because you are unlikely to be able to match them later.
view yrlh's profile
Flor tiles are not hard to install at all - you just lay them down, peel the little stickers and stick them to the floor. The stickers haven't damaged my wood floor at all.
view LaneC's profile
I ordered one of these for my Entry Foyer, and it is super durable, and looks really great!
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Indoor-Outdoor-Multi-color-Polypropylene-Rug-710-x-112/3828979/product.html
Here are a couple other cute ones (the second one is available in a variety of colors):
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Matrix-Indoor-Outdoor-Polypropylene-Rug-710-x-11/4015563/product.html
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Andros-Chocolate-Indoor-Outdoor-Rug-710-x-11/3898982/product.html
view lisamfb's profile
What about having your floor go naked? At least until the food throwing/spilling age has passed.
I had flor in our old house. It was obvious where the children sat due to the stains. Replacement tiles never matched. Now, in our new house, we eat over hardwood. Makes life easier.
view klin's profile
We eat over hardwood, too... I'm always tempted by how a rug under a dining table warms up a room, but until my kids are older I'm going to save my money for the perfect rug! :-)
view lisamfb's profile
I agree that Flor tiles are really easy to install and I have found that they wear really well. You can always rotate them around when you clean them to avoid wear in a specific area. If you don't want a rug at all, you could always put felt on the bottom of the chairs to protect the floor. I bought sticky felt and stuck them on our old dining room chairs. It didn't damage the chairs and it worked great--made it easy to slide without damaging the floor. Just an idea.
view Cicely'sMom's profile
What about a jute or printed bamboo rug? Both World Market and Pier 1 have some nice options, and Crate and Barrel carries some nice solids.
view mere1975's profile
I use an old sheet put down under the high chair in the danger zone. After the meal I shake it out the window and when it gets really bad I chuck it in the wash. This works the best for us and is the cheapest and easiest to keep clean.
view mummymaegs's profile
What about oil cloth with padding underneath? I have no experience with that, but I do have experience with little ones getting the floor filthy! I also cannot recommend having a dog enough. They clean up a lot of the spillage, although, unfortunately, mine does not like bananas. I need to get one that likes bananas;)
view BadJuJu77's profile
I have carpet under my table and protect it with an indoor/outdoor rug. Ballard Designs has a pretty good selection and they're relatively cheap compared to most rugs.
view hopskotch's profile
Get a dog.
view mabvt's profile
BadJuJu77 recommended an oil cloth, I think that is the same thing I am thinking about called a floor cloth. My mother in makes them. Canvas painted to match your decor and then coated with poly. so it will stay neat. Very wipeable and can add a personal touch. If you are interested I can see if she would do one in the size and colors you want, or I am sure you could find similar things on etsy or ebay maybe.
Thanks,
Christa
hoping to expand our family through adoption. find out more about us at www.kevinandchristablog.blogspot.com
kevinandchrista@aol.com
view christa964's profile
We took a tip from a friend and purchased a clear plastic floor protector from Ikea made for putting under office chairs. This helped us through living in a dining room with carpet with two small children.
http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/44881100
view sundarastudio's profile
What a great excuse to get a dog-- I've been trying to convince the babydaddy that our lives are incomplete without one, and now I can say "But honey, we really NEED a dog, to keep the dining room floor clean." While I obsess over which option to go with, I think I will experiment with going with a naked floor. Thanks, everyone!
view munkinmama's profile