A checkered rug that goes in the washing machine

A checkered rug, also called a checkerboard or checker rug, is a grid of alternating squares in two colors. Ours are printed edge to edge on soft velvet rather than woven or tufted, so the lines between the squares stay perfectly crisp, you can choose any two colors, and the whole rug goes in your washing machine. That last part matters for a pattern that so often ends up in kitchens, entryways and kids' rooms. The classic is black and white; the most requested colors right now are green, brown and soft pink.

A very old pattern

The checkerboard is one of the oldest decorative patterns in the world. It appears on ancient game boards, on the marble floors in Dutch Golden Age paintings of quiet interiors, in Renaissance churches and in the black-and-white mosaic pavements of Masonic lodges. In the twentieth century it went everywhere: the racing flag waved at the finish line, the tiled floors of 1950s diners and kitchens, the black-and-white checks of the late-1970s ska revival and, from the 1980s, skate shoes and skate culture. Each era has given it a slightly different mood: formal, playful, nostalgic or rebellious. That range is why a checkered rug can suit almost any room.

Choosing the colors

Colors	The mood	Best in
Black and white	Classic, graphic, high contrast	Kitchens, entryways, bathrooms, modern living rooms
Sage or forest green and cream	Fresh, calm, a little vintage	Living rooms, bedrooms, rooms with plants and wood
Brown and cream or tan	Warm, 1970s, earthy	Mid-century living rooms, studies, dens
Pink and white or pink and red	Sweet, playful, Y2K	Bedrooms, dorms, girls' rooms, vanity corners
Blue and white	Crisp, coastal, cheerful	Bathrooms, kitchens, beach houses, kids' rooms
Red, yellow or orange with cream	Bold, retro, diner-style	Kitchens, game rooms, playrooms

If the color you want isn't listed, choose any two through our custom rugs. Since every rug is printed, there's no limit to the pairing: lilac and mint, navy and mustard, terracotta and sand.

Black and white

A black and white checkered rug is the most searched version of the pattern, and for good reason: it goes with everything. In a kitchen, it echoes classic tiled floors; in an entryway, it makes a bold first impression; in a living room with white walls and black metal furniture, it's a striking graphic anchor. Because the contrast is so strong, it can make a small room feel more defined. If you want it softer, choose off-white and charcoal instead of pure white and black.

Green checks

Green checkered rugs have become one of the most popular colorways, especially sage green and cream, which feels fresh, calm and slightly vintage. Forest or olive green with cream feels richer, almost like a country house or a library. Green checks look especially good with plants, natural wood, rattan and linen, and they pair beautifully with a white or cream sofa.

Brown checks

Brown and cream, or brown and tan, is the warm, 1970s version of the pattern. It suits mid-century furniture, walnut wood, mustard and rust cushions and warm lamps. In a study or a den, a brown checkered rug feels cozy and grounded. For more from that era, see our mid-century modern rugs and retro rugs.

Pink checks

Pink checkered rugs, pale pink with white, or pink with red for a bolder look, are a favorite for bedrooms, dorm rooms and vanity corners. They feel playful and sweet without being childish, and they pair naturally with white furniture, gold accents and soft lighting. For more pastel ideas, see our cute rugs.

Straight, diagonal or wavy

The same two colors can look very different depending on how the checks are laid out:

• Straight checks, squares aligned with the edges of the rug, are the classic look, calm and orderly.
• Diagonal checks, squares turned 45 degrees into diamonds, sometimes called a harlequin pattern, feel more dynamic and can make a narrow room feel wider.
• Wavy checks, a checkerboard that bends and warps as if seen through water, are the playful, modern take on the pattern, popular in pastel and Y2K rooms. See our wavy rugs for more.

How big should the squares be?

Scale changes everything. Large squares, around 8 to 12 inches, look bold and graphic and suit big rugs in living rooms. Small squares, around 3 to 5 inches, read as a texture from a distance and suit small rugs, bathrooms and busy rooms where you don't want the pattern to dominate. A good rule: the bigger the rug, the bigger the squares. If you have a preference, mention it when you order a custom rug.

In the kitchen

A checkered kitchen rug is one of the most natural uses of the pattern, a nod to the classic tiled floors of diners and old kitchens. In front of the sink or the stove, a 2×3 or 2.6×3.9 ft rug works best. Choose Standard: 5 mm crushed velvet on a non-slip faux leather back, about 500 g/m², which grips the floor and stays put while you cook. When something spills, blot it with cold water, and when it needs a proper clean, it goes in the washing machine. Our kitchen rugs have more ideas.

In the bathroom

A black and white or blue and white checkered rug looks great in a bathroom. One honest note: our rugs are printed velvet, not thick, quick-drying bath mats. Place one in front of the vanity or by the door, rather than right where you step out of the shower, and choose Standard for its non-slip back on tiles. A 2×3 ft rug suits most vanities.

In the living room and bedroom

In a living room, a checkered area rug under the coffee table becomes the room's focal point. A 5×7 ft rug is our largest standard size and suits most coffee table areas; for a larger seating area, a custom size up to 5′11″ × 10′ covers more floor. In a bedroom, a 4×6 or 5×7 ft rug at the foot of the bed, or a 2.6×3.9 ft rug beside it, adds pattern without overwhelming the room. For the softest feel underfoot, choose Premium, 7 mm plush velvet on a bamboo and cotton back, about 700 g/m². Our living room rugs and bedroom rugs pages have more layouts.

Hallways and runners

A checkered runner turns a plain hallway into something with character. Our standard sizes are rectangular rather than runner-shaped, but a custom size lets you order a long, narrow checkered rug, up to 10 ft long, to fit your hallway exactly. Measure the hallway's length and width, and leave a few inches of floor showing on each side.

Round checkered rugs

A round checkered rug is an unexpected, playful choice: the grid cut into a circle, from 2.6 to 5.9 ft (80 to 180 cm) across. It suits a reading corner, a small entryway, the space under a round dining table or a desk chair. Our round rugs page shows each size in a room.

Kids' rooms and playrooms

A checkered rug is a great fit for a playroom: it's cheerful, it hides small marks better than a plain rug, and a large-check rug can even become a board for games with oversized pieces. On a hard floor, choose Standard so it stays put when kids run across it, and remember it all goes in the washing machine. Our kids play rugs have more ideas.

About 8×10 rugs

Many people search for an 8×10 checkered rug for a large living room. We should be clear: we don't make 8×10 rugs. Our largest standard size is 5×7 ft, and our custom sizes go up to 5′11″ × 10′, which covers a long seating area but isn't as wide as an 8×10. If you need full coverage in a very large room, two matching checkered rugs can work well, one under the sofa area and one under a dining or reading area.

Printed versus woven checks

Traditional checkered rugs are woven or tufted, with the squares built from colored yarn. Printing works differently: the design is printed into the fibers of a short velvet pile, so the edges between squares are sharp, any color combination is possible and the rug stays light and machine washable. The trade-off is a lower, smoother pile than a thick shag or tufted wool rug. If you love a crisp, graphic checkerboard that's easy to clean, printed velvet is the better fit.

Pairing checks with other patterns

Checks pair well with stripes, florals and simple geometric shapes, as long as the colors are related. A green checkered rug with a floral cushion, or a black and white rug with striped curtains, feels layered rather than busy. For more pattern ideas, see our geometric rugs and the full range of abstract and modern rugs.

Standard or Premium

Standard is best for kitchens, bathrooms, entryways, under desk chairs and anywhere the floor is hard or slippery, because its non-slip back stays put. Premium is softer and warmer, best in bedrooms and living rooms where you walk barefoot or sit on the floor. Both are printed the same way, so the checks stay sharp, and both go in the washing machine.

Sizes at a glance

Rectangles come in 2×3, 2.6×3.9, 3.3×5, 4×6 and 5×7 ft. Round rugs come from 2.6 to 5.9 ft (80 to 180 cm) across. Custom rugs go up to 5′11″ × 10′, in any proportion within that, including long, narrow sizes for hallways.

Shipping and returns

Every rug is printed to order in 1–3 business days and ships from Turkey; US delivery usually takes 2–5 business days after that. Unused rugs in our standard colors and sizes can be returned within 30 days on US orders. Custom colors and custom sizes are made just for you and can't be returned.

Care

Machine wash on a gentle, cold cycle and let it air dry flat. Vacuum on a low setting between washes, and blot spills with cold water right away. The design is printed into the fibers, so the white squares stay bright and the lines stay crisp, wash after wash.