The Different Moroccan Rug Styles: Our Guide

Our guide to the different styles of rugs from the various regions across Morocco

If you'd like to get to know the different Moroccan rug styles and how to spot the real deal vintage pieces, here's a short guide to the unique weaving styles and designs from the various Berber tribes and traditional handcraft regions of Morocco.

Moroccan carpets were traditionally made for decorative and personal use in the home rather than made for commercial purposes. Each rug totally unique taking weeks or months to complete, with no two rugs ever the same. They're full of imperfections and quirks, Amazigh (Berber) symbology and variations in pile and colour depending on the wool and materials available at the time. 

The Nouvelle Nomad collection is just a small example of the many different types of traditional Berber carpets available and focuses on curating unique and authentic vintage Moroccan rugs - ranging from antique, mid-century, modern and contemporary style carpets.

Mostly aged between 30 and 80 years old, many of these older style Berber rugs are no longer made in the traditional styles and weaving methods, making the true vintage pieces both collectable and a privilege to have in the home.

Explore our full collection of Moroccan Rugs

Azilal Rugs

From the mountainous Azilal region of the Atlas Mountains. These artistic rugs are often smaller in size and thinner in pile than the other Moroccan rug styles, making them versatile and easy to move around the home. They also make beautiful artistic wall hangings.

Finely spun and hand-knotted wool is often wispy and textural on the surface. Whimsical designs featuring freeform outlines of diamonds, imperfectly repeating line patterns and Berber symbols telling stories and family tales.

Older rugs dating back to the 1970s and earlier are highly collectable - and will usually feature an un-dyed natural sheeps wool base with simple designs in natural earthy colour pallets.

The more recent Azilal rugs are much brighter and colourful with brightly coloured cottons knotted through a natural wool base.

Explore our collection of Azilal rugs

Boujad Rugs

Boujads are some of the most sort after of the vintage Moroccan rug styles. Their unique and recognisable style is often copied by commercial rug brands going for that 'bohemian style', but never matched.

Featuring rich bold naturally dyed colour pallets of pinks, magentas, reds and purples in 100% sheeps wool from the Boujad region central planes of the middle Atlas Mountains. Low to medium pile loop-knotted weaving style that can range from light weight flat-woven kilims through to thick and heavy high wool-content pieces.

Often featuring large central diamond or lozenge shapes, and handwoven designs filled with symbology and repeated pattern work around the borders.

The quality, designs, and colours of the natural plant and vegetable dyes of the rugs made around mid century, 1960s and 1970s in Boujad region are some of the most beautiful and now considered collectors pieces.

Explore our collection of Boujad rugs

Beni Ourain Rugs

The ultimate and the most iconic of the Moroccan rug styles. These beautiful thick 100% wool master pieces come from the Beni Ourain tribe of the Middle Atlas Mountains. Created from the high quality hand-spun wool from the sheep of the region for warmth and protection from the cold winters.

The colours of the true vintage Beni Ourain Carpets range from a dark white, to soft white through to a warmer and sometimes even yellower creamy white. Featuring handwoven and perfectly imperfect geometric design work and criss crossing diamond shapes in grey, brown, charcoal or black natural wool.

As with the other Moroccan rug styles, a Beni rug from the 1970s or earlier Mid Century pieces are a highly sort after and valuable, popular with collectors, architects and designers for their classic style.

Watch out for bleached and extremely white white rugs. These will likely be newer make pieces from imported wools made to look like the Beni Ourain style.

Explore our collection of Beni Ourain Rugs

Thick and heavy large area sized rugs from the Beni MGuild tribes of the Middle Atlas Mountains. Characterised by double loop knots on a sturdy wool base in distinct geometric designs. Many Beni MGuilds have been made to be used on both sides - the plush side in Winter, the flatter under side in Summer.

Colours of the Beni MGuild rugs range from deep plums, violet and burgandy reds, through to royal blues and natural pinks and terracottas. Many of the older style Beni MGuild rugs will have softly faded back with time giving them a really beautiful soft tonal look.

Finding a brighter pink Beni MGuild Rug may mean an old style rug has had a bleach wash put over it. This changes the properties of the natural dyes and results in an almost fluro pink colour.

Explore our collection of Beni MGuild Rugs

Boucherouite Rugs

The ultimate in sustainable homewares - also known as Moroccan rag rugs, boucherouite rugs and textiles have been hand-knotted by Berber women from regions all over Morocco from up-cycled fabrics, cottons and left over yarns.

Originally made for various uses around the home - for a comfortable floor or bed covering, seating areas for a family meal, or as colourful wall decoration. These functional pieces of art are some of the most versatile, creative and brightly coloured of the Moroccan rug styles.

Many of the older style Boucherouite Rug pieces from the 1970s and earlier are considered collectors items with bold and creative design work. These pieces are made from naturally dyed cottons, fabrics and other natural materials.

Newer aged pieces from the last few decades you'll also find synthetics and polyesters woven through the shaggy and textured surface, knotted onto a soft and flat cotton backing.

Explore our collection of Boucherouite Rugs 

Taznakht Rugs

A region in the South of Morocco Taznakht is known for it's high quality weaving and beautiful wool quality. Rugs from this area have beautiful earthy colour pallets and often silky feel to the surface. Naturally dyed with saffron, henna and other plant and vegetable dyes.

The style and designs from the region often features a large central shape and borders and full of symbology. The antique and mid century aged Taznakht Rugs dating back to the 40s, 50s and 60s are highly collectable and some of the most special of the vintage Moroccan rug styles.

Explore our collection of Taznakht Rugs

Haouz Region Rugs

The Haouz region around Marrakech is a hot and arid inland area that calls for practical flat woven rugs. This style is often referred to as the Beldi style rug - Beldi meaning traditional, rural and natural.

The low pile hand-knotted weaving style often features intricate traditional designs in tones of ochre, plum, and soft natural reds. Often with a striped flat woven kilim section at one or both ends, woven onto a sturdy base of goats wool.

The typical zig zag or saw tooth edging around the borders, and raw end tassels in natural brown goats wool.

These Beldi rugs are great for dining areas under tables and outdoor areas with their practical flat woven surface.

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Kilim & Flat-Weave Rugs

Unlike the thick, knotted pile of a Beni Ourain or Boujad, kilims and flat-weave rugs are woven completely flat - the pattern created directly through the weave itself rather than tied by hand into a pile. This makes them lighter, thinner, and fully reversible. Historically, these were everyday practical textiles rather than special-occasion pieces - floor coverings, blankets, even saddle bags, which is part of why they carry such a beautiful earthy and lived-in character.

Often featuring bold stripes, simple geometric motifs, and earthy, sun-faded tones in reds, ochres and indigo, kilims bring a relaxed warmth wherever they're placed. Their lighter weight and reversibility make them brilliant for layering over another rug, using in high-traffic hallways and entryways, or as a runner in narrower spaces where a thick pile rug would feel too heavy.

Explore our collection of Kilim Rugs

Zemmour Rugs

Zemmour rugs come from the Zemmour tribe of the Middle Atlas - a region historically less known than their more famous Beni Ourain neighbours, but weaving in a similar tradition. Like Beni Ourain pieces, Zemmour rugs are sort after for their soft, dense wool pile in warm, natural undyed tones - creams, soft greys and toffee browns, though typically with simpler, more understated patterning; sometimes left completely plain, sometimes carrying a subtle diamond or line motif running through.

They're a beautiful, often more accessible alternative for anyone drawn to that classic neutral Moroccan rug look, and a lovely find for collectors who already have a Beni Ourain and want something in the same family with its own quieter character.

Explore our collection of Zemmour Rugs

Got More Questions about the different Moroccan rug styles and what type might be best for you and your home?

We're here to answer all your queries.

Explore our full collection of Moroccan Rugs

Or view our Rug Archives for inspiration from 10 years of beautiful treasures we've sourced and sold over the years.