Moroccan Rugs

The Moroccan rugs have become “the rug of choice” for many interior designers as well as private consumers. They don’t have a long history but are most notable for their dynamic colorful modernist designs as well as for their strong sense of geometric structure (and abstract designs). None so far have been dated to before the mid nineteenth century, when their production began as an adaptation of central and western Turkish rugs, whose repertoire was followed closely by the weavers in Morocco.

The Moroccan rugs are, nevertheless, distinctive in their coloration and in the more block-like geometry of their composition.

Learning about the different styles and types of Moroccan rugs and carpets

Morocco is a country rich in history and cultural diversity. From the native Amazigh tribes of the Atlas Mountain to the African, Arab and Jewish influences, Morocco is renowned for its architecture, food and of course area rugs.

The Different Types Of Moroccan Rugs

While Moroccan rugs are well known, people are sometimes unclear as to which designs are actually Moroccan. Here we will list the various types of Moroccan rugs and detail their origins and particular styles.

What Are The Different Types Of Moroccan Rugs?

Vintage Moroccan Azilal Rugs

Azilals are tribal rugs from the central Moroccan province of Azilal. Handwoven by Berber women, these rugs are similar to Beni Ourain in their plushness and heavy pile. Where they differ is their colors. Azilals typically incorporate more geometric shapes and multiple colors of wool tainted with vegetable dyes. If you want the design of a Beni Ourain with a bit more spunk and spice, then Azilals are the rugs for you.

Vintage Moroccan Azilal Rug

Vintage Moroccan Beni Ourain Rugs

Beni Ourain rugs are 100% sheepskin wool rugs handmade by Beni Ourain tribes in the Moroccan Atlas Mountains. Traditionally cream in color with large lozenges or other berber insignia, some more rare Benis can be found in colours such as turquoise and taupe. These rugs are very trendy due to their timeless and minimalist look. In fact they were admired by designer such as LeCorbusier who liked to juxtapose his leather furniture with Beni Ourains, and Frank Lloyd Wright, who had them all over his famous home in Chicago. Other variations include Beni Mririt rugs.

Vintage Moroccan Boucherouite Rugs

Boucherouite Moroccan rugs are made out of recycled materials. These echo friendly Moroccan rugs, handmade by the Berber carpet weavers (generally women) have become increasingly popular thanks in no small part to their charm and bright colors. These rugs are truly one of a kind.

Vintage Moroccan Boucherouite Rug (sold)

Vintage Moroccan Kilim Rugs

Yes, you read right. Even though flat woven Kilims are typically associated with Romanian or Turkish rugs Morocco also produces gorgeous Kilims. These vintage rugs are flat woven meaning they appear thinner and not as soft as other wool rugs. Kilims have no pile. What they do have are awesome designs and colors. Specifically, Moroccan Kilims fits in many interior decors, from Moroccan, to California Boho chic.

Kilims are typically more affordable than other types of Moroccan rugs and in warm weather can function as indoor / outdoor area rugs.

*We’ve assembled an awesome collection of flat woven Kilims if you’d like to get more familiar with that rug style.

Vintage Moroccan Boujad Rugs

Boujad rugs are those very colorful (and very trendy) rugs in purples,oranges and pinks. Also popular as poufs, these rugs hail from the middle Atlas Mountains.

Vintage Moroccan Rabat Rugs (R’Bati)

Typically in bright reds and blues and sometimes green or purple, these rugs are from the city of Rabat, the capital of Morocco. The rugs often contain a large diamond or multi diamond motif in the center, and designs on the contour enclosing a plain area.

Today, these types of Moroccan rugs are less popular however you can still find them in houses of upper class families in Morocco and the Moroccan diaspora.

Vintage Moroccan Rabat Rug

Where to buy Vintage Moroccan Rugs?

Nazmiyal Collection has one of the largest collections of vintage Moroccan rugs for sale. We hand pick every single piece and for every carpet we buy, we rejected at least 80. Curating such a comprehensive collection of the best Moroccan rugs is not easy and quite time consuming.

But the results speak for themselves as we have assembled one of the most impressive collection of the real vintage carpets from Morocco. Brows our collection of Moroccan rugs online before buying and fell free to ask questions or have additional detailed images sent to you before you make your purchase.

Luckily, even the best handmade Moroccan rugs are still very much affordable.

Where does Nazmiyal find it’s Moroccan rugs and carpets?

Nazmiyal Collection has sourced handmade Moroccan rugs from the more isolated areas of the Atlas Mountains. We searched far and wide for the last true vintage and antique rugs woven by these nomadic tribes. We take pride in the fact that our collection is one of the most comprehensive in the world and contains many of the best original decorative pieces from Morocco. We give all of our love and effort in order to offer you the best pieces available at the best possible value.

How Were The Vintage Moroccan Rugs Made?

Morocco is a beautiful country situated in the northwestern tip of Africa, is famous for its beautiful beaches, traditional music, delectable cuisine, colorful history and most importantly, its stunning hand-woven rugs.

But to Western rug lovers, Morocco means hand-woven tribal rugs, which are highly prized by collectors in the West for their exotic beauty characterized by simplistic patterns and a variety of colors.

Moroccan rugs have been traditionally woven by the indigenous tribal people for use in their home and tents, rather than for decorative purposes. The weavers are almost always untrained and lack any formal artistic training. Owing to this fact, Moroccan rugs have a distinct primitivism about them, providing them with an almost childlike charm to them. It is truly the power of their simplicity and their beauty that makes them so appealing.

Morocco has about 45 different tribes spread across geographical regions that vary from the cold Atlas Mountains to the hot Sahara desert. Nomadic Moroccans and Berber tribes have been making rugs to use as tent sides, bed coverings, sleeping mats, burial shrouds, saddle blankets, and as a pastime tracing back to many generations ago.

Are Moroccan Rugs Good Quality?

The rugs woven in Morocco were not finely woven. They are far more tribal in nature and as such, they never needed to weave fine carpets with intricate patterns.

What Are The Weaving Textures Of Moroccan Rugs?

The rugs made in Morocco will vary from being very thick with a heavy pile, to flat woven as well as some that incorporate both pile and kilim weaves.

Since the designs are usually passed down through the generations in a rug weaving family, each tribe has developed its own distinctive design with varying weaving and embroidery styles. Over the centuries, Moroccan rug weavers have borrowed techniques from all over the Middle East and North Africa.

However, they have a few common weaving styles that can be divided into three main categories:

1. Knotted – To weave a knotted rug, a secure base is first created by laying a few rows of weft threads across the warp. A weft yarn is then slipped around the rug warps, catching at least two warp threads, and the extra length is knotted across the width of the textile. A knotted pile rug is warm because it is fluffy and traps air between the yarns.

2. Flat weave – Flat weave rugs have no knots, so they are thinner and may feature more intricate designs. This process involves lacing strands of weft year in and year out of the warp threads and beating them down to make a close, even textile. This techniques is widely used by the nomadic tribes that live in the Sahara desert. One primitive style that is well-knows is the Oued Zem, which is characterized by bright colors and toy, animal or household motifs.

3. Weft substitution – This is a variation of flat weave that involves creating complicated patterns from the back of a loom using different colored weft threads. The color variation allows the weaver to build elaborate designs. Rug weft substitution is actually a descriptive term, as the technique has no specific name and is often confused with tapestry and similar weaving styles.

Unlike other antique oriental rugs that have elegant designs consisting of intricate patterns and motifs, Moroccan hand-woven tribal rugs have a more subtle elegance about them. Yet, it is the simplicity in design often found in these rugs that help them fit in wonderfully with modern decor.

Vintage Moroccan Rugs To Create A Magnificent Moroccan Home Decor

Decorating your interiors with Moroccan carpets is a great way to up your style. Moroccan Rugs with their minimalist, tribal designs complement most interior styles. The term tribal or nomadic rugs immediately conjure up images of exotic Middle Eastern or Central Asian ethnography. In terms of design we tend to think of nomadic rugs as having a complex ornamental repertory of intricate geometric patterns, expressed in a palette of dark, deep colors.

One group of rugs and carpets, however, challenges all such assumptions and pre-conceptions – the rugs produced by the nomadic Berber peoples of the Atlas Mountain region of Morocco. Moroccan carpets are beautiful rugs, with styles ranging from minimal tribal tones to bright shags with an array of earthy colors, the Moroccan Rug is the new must-have.

1. Decorating Your Home With Moroccan Rugs For Traditional Taste

The neutral visage of Moroccan Beni Ourain rugs is particularly suitable for classic traditional and glamorous decor. Black-and-white features, a grand piano, leather smoking chairs, blue velvet and dark upholstery are exceptionally flattering against these sumptuous achromatic carpets. However, don’t miss the opportunity to pair bright, saturated or pastel colors, Tiffany blue, lemon yellow, regal reds and unexpected tones against their neutral surface.

2. Moroccan Home Decor in Modernist Interiors

When it comes to Moroccan carpet weaving, specifically the Beni Ourain variety, modern is the go-to style. Vintage Mid-century and classically modern furnishings have a natural appeal when arranged around a shaggy carpet. The same can be said for more austere, minimalist furnishings that are softened and greatly enhanced by the organic textures and patterns that these stylish creations display.

3. Home Decoration With Moroccan Rugs as Wall Art and Tapestries

A great place to display your Moroccan Rug is on the wall!

Hanging is a marvelous, modern alternative to placing rugs on the floor alone. Moroccan kilim rug and hand-woven rugs that feature colorful tufts and pile accents are well-suited for this application. Moroccan kilims in rich, warm tones of orange, red and brown create an exceptional backdrop for entryways and prominent furnishings. Although less traditional, the concept complements Morocco’s talent for decorating with carved screens, elaborate tiles and patterned accouterments.

4. Home Decor And Draping Moroccan Rugs:

Decorate your home with exotic collectibles like Moroccan Rugs. Home decorated by Charles and Ray Eames.

Adopting a pioneering style isn’t necessary when one can follow in the footsteps of great mid century modern designers like Charles and Ray Eames. The couple’s iconic Pacific Palisades Case Study home was decked out with modern furnishings and exotic collectibles that have been described as “a kaleidoscope of excess.” One of the more distinctive features, aside from their eponymous lounge chair, is the low-slung sofas and settees that are draped with colorful kilims.

Mastering Moroccan Interior Design

If you love adventure, travel, and everything exotic, Moroccan interior design might just be perfect for you. This design style is popular all across the world, but is of course named after the characteristic Mediterranean styles of Morocco. Let’s explore the elements of Moroccan interior design and how you can incorporate it into your own home.

Origin of Moroccan Decor

While its origin is in the homes of the people of Morocco, this interior design style gained popularity worldwide in the 1960’s. Wealthy hippies and travelers explored the world, and brought back the home decorating styles of Morocco to their own countries. The country itself is very culturally diverse, home to Berbers, Arabs, as well as European and sub-Saharan African immigrants. This diversity is reflected in the design style of the country. Areas rich in history have all shared a piece of their culture to create a colorful, unique style of design.

Moroccan Interior Design Bedroom

Elements of Moroccan Interior Design

Moroccan interior design is colorful and full and has many defining elements. The base of the characteristic features of this design is fluid lines. Moroccan decor and design does not usually contain harsh lines and edges. It is all about comfort. Its design elements are also very intricate, colorful, and textural.

Moroccan interior design rarely uses harsh lines or edges.

In terms of architecture, the style commonly uses u-shaped doors and entryways in the traditional Islamic keyhole design. Domes are common in the architecture as well. It also tends to include open courtyards, water fountains, and gardens. This design also uses lots of ceramic mosaic tiles. They are often bold and brightly colored and there is no limit to where they are used. The tiles frame doorways and windows, create tabletops, accent pieces like walls, mirrors, and picture frames, and more.

Moroccan interior design often includes a courtyard.

Comfort is an important element in Moroccan interior design. The seating is often low to the ground. Tables are sometimes low to the ground as well to accommodate the low seating. To capitalize on making space as comfortable as possible, textiles are abundant in this design. The floors are often covered in layered rugs or a single plush rug, with woven throw blankets and pillows readily available. Seating is soft and abundant.

Moroccan design uses low seating.

Moroccan interior design has many more beautiful details that can be included in your own design. A canopy either over the bed in the master bedroom, over seating in the living room, or high over a dining table creates a beautiful Moroccan look. Another element is lighting. Choose lanterns made of materials like copper or brass, and look for pieces that are intricately carved with geometric shapes. The lanterns are usually hung on the walls or ceiling. Mirrors are popular in this design style, as well. Load up your design with plenty of reflective surfaces and you can’t go wrong. Bonus points if the mirrors are decorated with characteristically Moroccan mosaic tiles.

A modern Moroccan interior with tribal rugs.

Of course, to create the most authentic Moroccan decor, choose genuine vintage Moroccan rugs. These pieces are stunning and have a history and charm that modern, machine-made dupes just can’t replicate. The weavers of these gorgeous tribal rugs wove a piece of themselves into each carefully hand-created carpet. Knowing that the carpet came directly from the area you are trying to emulate and has a full history and story to it is a feeling that just can’t be replaced.

Here are some stunning Moroccan rugs from the Nazmiyal Collection for your decor:

Vintage Moroccan Rug

Vintage Double Sided Moroccan Rug

Vintage Moroccan Beni Ourain Berber Rug

Vintage Moroccan Kilim

Double Sided Vintage Red Berber Moroccan Rug

Primitive Vintage Moroccan Rug

This interior design blog about Moroccan Interior Design was published by Nazmiyal Antique Rugs.

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