Berber rug, a new basic in home decoration

Berber rugs have become a decorative 'must have'. It is a real addiction that I have to this wonder of rugs, all with unique finishes, with a soft and pleasant texture and perfect to accompany the decoration of any room in our home.

But do you know the origin of the rug that has become the strongest trend within textiles in the Nordic style?

The history of the Berber tribes

Its origin comes from the Beni Ouarain women – a name that defines a group of seventeen Berber tribes dedicated to pastoralism and also to the area they inhabit: the northeast of the Moroccan Middle Atlas Mountains – have been weaving these carpets for centuries as a way of subsistence and to use them as mattresses and blankets against the freezing temperatures of the region in winter.

They are handmade on rustic wooden looms with pure sheep's wool, a material that makes them very soft. Each rug is totally irregular and therefore a unique piece.

On the cream tone, with golden reflections, given by the natural wool, geometric tribal motifs are drawn in brown, made with wool of this colour from, for example, the animal's neck, or in black, with wool dyed with natural products such as tree bark.

Currently this model of rug, as it has become so popular, has been imitated by different brands and we can find them in different formats and colors. Obviously the authentic ones have a rustic finish and very varied color gradations due to the instability of the natural dyes that are used to give them color and make them exclusive and valuable.

Beni Ouarain rugs have become a decorative icon all over the world. 

Both the classic style rug, cream in color and with geometric details in different ranges of gray, and the current more colorful versions that we find on the market, all of them have a special charm and become the protagonists wherever we decide to place them, since they fit both in the living room and in the kitchen, the bedroom, in the hallway and even in the bathroom. In addition, in Nordic environments it is very common to include details from other cultures, especially Moroccan.

The Berber rug has the power to achieve a striking, elegant and very homely decorative effect, so it is not surprising that they have gone straight to the lists of basics in home decoration.

Via.