We have never failed to acknowledge the importance of good rugs in households. The account of their practicality is immense. And, the extent of their beauty is unfathomable. They hold the place of a quintessential cosy element across all contemporary (yet minimalistic) houses. At the same time, they also dominate older (and much luxurious) abodes’ rustic character.
All rugs have some sort of exquisite characteristic. However, a particular kind of rug has gained immense popularity in recent times due to its ability to stand out. Yes, we are referring to the Moroccan rugs! Unfortunately, these rugs’ added fame has only made it worse for new admirers to pick the right one. And, unless you’re a connoisseur of rugs and carpets, you’d be confused too.
That’s why we formulated this article in the first place. It will give you all the relevant information about Moroccan style shag rugs. It’ll help you distinguish them from other rugs. It’ll help you categorize them accordingly. And, it’ll even elaborate on the aspects of a great Moroccan style shag rug. So, hop on the magic rug and read along!
What are Moroccan Rugs?
Moroccan style shag rugs can represent a wide variety of hand-woven apparels that come from Morocco. The weaving pattern and the primary fabric used to create these rugs distinguishes them from the rest of their peers. These come from a long line of Moroccan tribal weavers known as Berber Tribes. Hence, these rugs are also referred to as Berber rugs. And though, the variation between the weave of any two tribes is different, only a handful of people can really tell the origin of the rugs.
That being said, you need not consult any of those handful people. That’s because we’ve managed to identify the six-primary category of these rugs: –
#1 Azilal Rugs
These rugs have their origins based in the higher ends of the Atlas Mountains. Like most Moroccan style shag rugs, these too are created using wool. However, the weaving process involved in creating these rugs use two types of wool.
The foundation is kept simple with naturally occurring colors of wool. You may find the base color of these rugs to be white, cream or off white. The secondary wool used to complete these are dyed using the colors obtained from local flowers. They’re woven with single-knots that often depict complex patterns.
#2 Boujad Rugs
These rugs are designed by the natives of the Central Plains. Unlike the Azilal variants, you can find these rugs consisting of more vibrant colors. Colors like pink, red, and orange appear commonly on these.
The weave pattern found on these rugs is a vivid reminder of the Berber tribes. Especially the knotting procedure used to create these explicitly resembles the Berber way. There is one atypical difference, though. The knots in these rugs are pulled together tightly. This enables the weaver to create these with lesser quantity of wool. Plus, this technique also allows the creation of complex geometric pattern specific to the Boujad rugs!
As far as the colors of the rugs are concerned, weavers use dyes made from local berries, henna, and flowers.
#3 Beni Ouarain Rugs
These are by far the simplest looking Moroccan style shag rugs you can find. The rugs are woven by the Beni Ouarain tribe residing in the Middle Atlas Mountains. Hence, the name of the rugs! They stick to a minimal color placement to be elegantly placed in simplistic houses with monochromatic or dichromatic themes.
The base colors are limited to a spread of white, off white, cream, and cloud white. However, the rugs are garnered with lines of black or brown depicting asymmetrical designs. That being said, the designs are geometric in nature. And, the asymmetric patterns only add on to the overall uniqueness of each rug.
#4 Beni Mguild Rugs
You must understand that Moroccan rugs differ hugely in thickness. This is primarily because of the variation of temperature across the Atlas Moutain range. As far as Beni Mguild rugs are concerned, they are woven by the tribes that dwell in the Western-Central parts of Middle Atlas Mountains. These parts are known for their extreme weather conditions. Thus, the rugs are woven as thick covers to protect the residents from the freezing winds.
These are woven using vertical looms and consist of many colors. Shades like red, blue, purple, and brown occur commonly on these rugs.
#5 Boucherouite Rugs
If you love colors, you’ll love these rugs too. These rugs bring together multiple colors to depict beautiful designs. And, since they come from an extremely cold region that has nearly no access to wool, they’re thick and plush in texture.
Unlike other Moroccan style shag rugs, these are created out of old cloth scraps. You may even consider them a prime example of practicality and recycling. The variation of cloths used to create such rugs makes it practically impossible to site their primary quality. However, this does add on a tint of colors to the rugs, nevertheless.
#6 Kilim Rugs
These rugs are originally woven by the Berber Tribes dwelling in the deserts. These are relatively light weight and can easily be transported. The primary looks of these rugs make them perfect to be used as floor covers for an entire house!
How to Compare Moroccan to Persian Rugs?
The primary point of difference for both kinds of rugs lie within their respective areas of origin. The Moroccan style shag rugs come from the tribes of Morocco. However, there can be a bit of confusion about the Persian rugs. They once originated from the extinct Persian Empire, but are now sourced mainly from Iran and parts of Pakistan. You can even distinguish the rugs based on the materials and colors they use, and patterns they depict. You can check more details about them here.
How Costly Are They?
The price of these rugs varies depending upon the area they cover. Apart from that, they’re even priced on the basis of their origin, design and transportation costs involved. You can get an average Moroccan Run within a price range of 3,500 to 6,000 Dirhams. This is equivalent to $950 to $1700. However, the vintage Berber Rugs may cost a lot more and range between $2,700 to $6,800.
How to Know of Knots Density?
Before we tell you the process to calculate knots density, it is important that you understand what the terms means. Knot density is referred to as the total number of underlying knots found within one square meter of a rug. The knots can be found on the rear end of the rugs that shows how they’ve been woven. Strong, rich knots depict good quality of wool, whereas dry and harsh knots refer to cheaper wool quality.
How to Wash Moroccan Rugs?
Moroccan rugs are primarily made from wool. This means they can be washed with cold or lukewarm water and laundry soap.
Conclusion
Moroccan rugs are a great way of adding practical décor to your household. Plus, they’re still hand made by the tribes of Atlas Mountains. This means that by buying these rugs, not only do you add on to the uniqueness of your home, but also support
