- What is a Moroccan Carpet?
Moroccan carpets are woven by the Berbers, nomadic tribes indigenous to North Africa. They may be woven of wool, cotton or silk. Each tribe has its own geometric patterns, symbols and colors that reflect life within the group. For example, patterns include diamonds, grids and stripes. Symbols representing animals, insects, plants, even tools, may denote beauty, fertility or protection against the evil eye, while colors may signal love or beauty. Each Berber weaver also adds personal touches to their rugs, creating a unique handicraft. These creations may appear similar to American Indian weavings found in the Southwestern U.S.
Moroccans are also known for multicolored kilims (prayer rugs) or hanbels, which are lighter and often smaller than traditional carpets and are commonly used as throws. These are flat, pileless and tend to be woven from finer wool or silk.
- Why Buy a Moroccan Carpet?
Moroccan rugs have a distinctly modern look. During the Bauhaus period between the two world wars, designers used Moroccan carpets to enhance modern furnishings and interiors. Almost all of the rugs in architect Frank Lloyd Wright's iconic Fallingwater are Moroccan. Charles and Ray Eames, known for their furniture design, also purchased Moroccan rugs for their Pacific Palisades, Calif., house. Moroccan carpets are warm and bright and can enhance simplistic home design. Moroccan influence is associated with romance, so your carpet can help bring some of that feeling into a room. These carpets, along with other Moroccan-style accessories, can make a home feel luxurious.
The colors in Moroccan carpets are usually rich shades, and the motifs add visual interest to a room. They tend to be rectilinear, which is the perfect shape for placing in front of a sofa or alongside a bed. Moroccan carpets can also be hung as wall art or used as a throw.
- What to Know before You Buy
Before making an investment in a Moroccan carpet, which may grace your home for years, keep these factors in mind:
- Shop around.
Moroccan carpets vary in price, and keep in mind that some rugs – particularly if they are inexpensive – may not be authentic. A handmade rug will have imperfections, such as noticeable differences in the size and composition of the knots, while a machine-made rug will have uniform knots. In addition, synthetic fibers will burn, while silk or wool will smolder. Ask to burn a snippet of fringe to determine what material was used to make the carpet. - Match with your décor.
Bold patterns in a Moroccan carpet can overpower the furniture and accessories in a room and make the rug the focal point. Consider how noticeable you want the rug to be when making a decision about a pattern. - Consider your space.
These rugs are traditionally layered at angles to one another, but you might not have the space to do so in a smaller room or an apartment. If this is the case, consider buying just one rug, or choosing alternative means of display, such as a wall hanging or throw.