Protective chair mats are IMHO a purchase which is a necessary evil. Mats do not add to the decor of the room but I must say it goes a long way in protecting the rug surface from chair roller wear. Do tend to last years. Hope the material does not discolor over time.
We use these in the office and they get quite a bit of use. We have been using them for quite some time now and they last a long time. I have no negative comments at this time. I'll buy them everytime.
It is under my office chair in my home office. It is better than trying to roll about on the carpet unfortunately I manage to create lovely little depressions when I sit in one place too long. Those depressions seem to be permanent (probably because I am a big person). But no worries it gets the job done.