Picture a kitchen where a rug has to cope with dropped crumbs, wet shoes and the odd spilt coffee. This light brown and white rug was made for spots like that, and it looks just as good in a lounge or under the dining table. On the kitchen floor it makes a kitchen rug with a pattern that keeps things lively without being loud.

Made from recycled PET, the 100% polyester pile of this synthetic fibre rug sits on a polyester back. Yarn from recycled PET can come from drinks bottles, and here it gives a soft surface in light brown and white. Because the rug is woven flat, with warp and weft forming the pattern together, crumbs and hairs are easy to remove. It was woven by hand in India, so it may differ slightly from the stated size.

Flatweave rugs like this one lie flat. Chairs are easy to shift on a flatweave, and on smooth floors non-slip underlay underneath is a good idea. Being rectangular, it suits a dining table or the space in front of a sofa. Several sizes are available, and choosing one starts with measuring your table or sofa. Happy over underfloor heating, it can also go outdoors under a seating area, so the furniture stands on it.

When something spills, blot it straight away with a clean cloth, then dab with water and a drop of washing-up liquid. Heat is the only real problem for the light brown polyester, which is why our care guide says to keep hot things well away. A brush lifts any flattened patches. Week to week, a quick pass with the vacuum is fine.