Moroccan Rug Styles: A Guide to the Main Types

Morocco has many weaving traditions, and each one grew out of a particular place, climate, and community. Knowing the main styles makes it much easier to choose a rug, and to understand what you are paying for. Here is how the best-known types differ, and why our own atelier weaves only one of them.

Beni Mrirt rugs

Beni Mrirt rugs come from the central Middle Atlas, around the town of Beni Mrirt near Khenifra, where winters are cold and wool has always mattered. They are hand-knotted, with a dense, heavy pile and a deep, soft feel underfoot. Designs range from plain, quiet fields of natural wool to bold geometric motifs, and color is used more freely than in some neighboring traditions.

Because the pile is so dense, a Beni Mrirt rug has real weight and presence. It suits living rooms and bedrooms where comfort matters as much as looks, and the construction also works well in hallway runners and round rugs.

This is the only style we make. Our atelier is in Beni Mrirt itself, and our own weavers make every piece by hand in 100% natural wool. You can see the work in our Beni Mrirt rugs.

Beni Ourain rugs

Beni Ourain rugs also come from the Middle Atlas, further to the northeast. They are the style most people picture first: a pale ivory ground with fine dark lines, often forming diamonds. They are usually lighter in pattern than Beni Mrirt rugs, with little or no added color. Beni Mrirt and Beni Ourain are often confused, but a Beni Mrirt rug is generally denser and heavier.

Azilal rugs

Azilal rugs are made in the High Atlas. They typically have a cream wool base with expressive, abstract symbols in bright color, and each one tends to feel personal and hand-drawn.

Boujad rugs

Boujad rugs come from the plains around the town of Boujad. They are known for warm pinks, reds, and oranges, and for loose, free-form geometric patterns.

Boucherouite rugs

Boucherouite rugs are made from recycled textile scraps rather than new wool. They are colorful, thrifty, and playful, with a very different texture from a knotted wool pile rug.

Kilims and flat weaves

Kilims have no pile at all. The pattern is woven directly into a thin, flat textile, which makes them light and easy to move, though less cushioned underfoot.

How to choose the right style

• For softness and warmth: choose a dense pile. Beni Mrirt is one of the plushest options.
• For a quiet, neutral room: look for natural wool tones and restrained pattern.
• For a statement: look for strong color or bold geometric design.
• For a high-traffic space: dense pile wool holds up well, and a runner is made for narrow areas.

Ask how a rug was made and where. Many rugs are sold under a style name without coming from that region or tradition, so it is worth checking who wove it and in what materials.

A Beni Mrirt rug, made for your room

Every Soiree Berber rug is made to order in our Beni Mrirt atelier, in the size your space needs. You can recolor any design using the 192 shades of our Wool Colour Atelier, and check dimensions in our size guide. Most rugs take 4 to 10 weeks depending on size, and shipping is complimentary worldwide.

Browse our Beni Mrirt rugs, or start a custom Moroccan rug.