Nothing will take a room from boring to brilliant like an exceptional rug – and there’s nothing like a Moroccan rug. Their luxe quality and beauty is known around the world. What you might not know, however, are a few of the different styles that fall under the ‘Moroccan rug’ heading. The country of Morocco is huge, with various climates, peoples, and traditions. In this little guide, I’ll go over some of the main types of rugs woven here, their main characteristics, and give a few examples of each. Hopefully by the time you’ve scrolled through, you’ll get to know your favorite style and be off tracking one down!

BENI OURAIN RUGS

Beni Ourain Rugs are known for their thick, shaggy texture, zigzag and crisscross patterns, and knotted fringed ends. Traditionally, they are made from woven wool from a specific breed of Berber sheep. They are muted in tone, which is customary of their utilitarian origins: They were originally made by the Beni Ourain tribe of the Atlas Mountains to keep warm in the frigid temperatures.

BERBER RUGS

No two Berber rugs are the same. They have a high pile and thick texture, similar to Beni Ourain rugs, yet are made in bright, vibrant colors and geometric patterns. There are over 45 different Berber tribes, and each uses it’s own identifying colors and shapes. However, each flat-weave rug is styled with rows of these shapes to comprise a design.

MOROCCAN CACTUS SILK RUGS

A Moroccan Cactus Silk rug is made of flame-retardant cactus silk from agave cacti. While they share the same animated color as a Berber style rug, they are very soft and light in weight. Their visual styles can vary by piece, either having an all over design or a few shapes woven into a solid color.

A few Moroccan style rugs I found online:

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