Moroccan Rugs

What are the different types of Moroccan rugs?

Perhaps the best known types of Moroccan rugs for sale are known as Berber rugs, woven by Amazigh tribes, the original inhabitants of Morocco who were referred to as Berber tribes. What differentiates these and other styles originating from the multiple indigenous tribes in and around Morocco are distinctive attributes such as the weaving motifs, types of knot, and dyes that are crafted from local minerals and vegetation in the surrounding environment of a particular tribe.

Many of the Moroccan style rugs we offer are crafted in the Amazigh or Berber style, but these are by no means the only options that exist.

Azilal Rugs

Nestled in between the High and Middle Atlas mountains of Morocco is the town of Azilal. Typified by their use of wool and cotton in the manufacturing process, Azilal style rugs feature bright colors and pattern types that utilize diamond shapes and bold lines. The aesthetic of these colorful Moroccan rugs fits in perfectly with children's nurseries and modern living rooms alike. If you're looking for a chic and contemporary wool rug, Azilal brings a vivid abstract aesthetic featuring painterly designs. They are similar to rugs that come out of Ourika, a town just 30 miles outside of Marrakech that holds the same name as both the Ourika River and the valley through which it flows in that region.

Beni Ourain Rugs

These rugs originate from the Beni Ourain tribal territory in the Middle Atlas Mountains. They are Berber style rugs recognizable by the use of wool in the manufacturing process and simplistic patterns relying on basic lines and subtle rambling black and brown diamond shapes throughout. It's no surprise that wool is a primary component of these floor coverings, the region has been home to nearly one quarter of the sheep population in Morocco since 1991. This popular Moroccan style rug is suitable for use in home theaters and home offices.

Boucherouite Rugs

Tribal Moroccan rugs have their own unique components that help to identify the tribe and region of origin. For Boucherouite area rugs, it's the use of recycled materials that typify this style most accurately and, unlike other Moroccan rugs, the name does not refer to the region from which they originate but the style of the rug itself. The term bu sharwit translates as “piece of cloth” and that pretty much describes these rugs in a nutshell. They are sourced from old materials that are woven together to create a new rug, much in the same manner as a typical quilt. Boucherouite rugs are woven by various tribes throughout the country.

Boujad Rugs

Authentic Moroccan rugs that are made from wool and use natural dyes incorporating traditional Moroccan motifs and medallions with lines and symmetrical shapes are usually of Boujad origin. This small town in the Chaouia-Ouardigha region of Morocco was once considered a holy place and home to many indigenous tribes. As a result, these rugs can range in color, weave, and composition, with a manufacturing process that utilizes twice the number of horizontal knots than vertical. This gives each rug a slack, limp profile which makes it easy to relocate in any room of the house you see fit. They are available in reds, pinks, and purples and their bold color palettes can best be described as surreal and hypnotic.

Kilim Rugs

If you're looking for a rug that is suitable for indoor and outdoor use then you're looking for a flatwoven Moroccan rug, or kilim. Because they don’t have any pile, just warp and weft, they’re recognizable by their thin, lightweight structure. Some moroccan kilims, known as Beni Ourain kilims, have a beautiful looped construction.

How to wash Moroccan rugs?

It's important to perform routine maintenance on your Moroccan rug. The good news is that it's easy to clean these types of rugs in a relatively short period of time. Just follow these steps and your Moroccan area rugs will look good as new.

Beat the Rug

Take your Moroccan rug outside and hang it over a clothesline or some other apparatus that allows for the rug to hang loose. Using a rug beater, strike the Moroccan rug to knock the dust and dirt from the fibers. Releasing loose particulate from the surface will make it easier to wash the fibers.

Wash the Rug

Using water and laundry detergent, scour the fibers with a washcloth or a towel to clean the surface of the rug. Do this with the rug lying flat, do not try to do this while the rug is hanging up. When you are finished washing the rug, rinse with water.

Hang the Rug

Once the cleaning process is finished, hang the rug out to dry. Be sure the rug has completely dried before placing it on the floor of the room. Sunlight and air flow are both highly effective at this task.

OUR FAVORITE RUGS

We have a lot of favorite rugs here at Revival, but there are some types of rugs we come back to again and again. Jute rugs , for instance, for their color, texture, and strength, and their easy flexibility. Plus, jute is an eco-conscious crop, so these rugs are good for the planet. We also love washable rugs : our Recess collection of rugs is designed to be thrown in the washing machine. Runners (sometimes you’ll hear people call these “runner rugs” ) are probably our most favorite size of rugs: thanks to their slimmer size, you can put them everywhere—and they’re more affordable, too.