Moroccan and Berber Style: How to Get the Look

Few patterns travel as well as the ones woven in the Atlas Mountains. The irregular diamonds, zigzags and broken lines of a Berber rug look as natural in a London flat as they do on a riad floor, and they have become shorthand for a relaxed, characterful home. You do not need to fly to Marrakech to get the look. This guide explains what makes the style recognisable, how to choose a Berber-inspired rug, and how to build a room around it without tipping into themed decor.

What defines a Berber rug?

Berber is a broad term for the textiles of the Amazigh peoples of North Africa, and it covers several distinct looks. Knowing them helps you choose the right mood.

• The ivory classic: a creamy ground with dark, hand-drawn-looking lines forming lattices and diamonds. Calm, graphic and endlessly versatile.
• The colourful version: bold abstract motifs in reds, oranges, pinks and blues, often scattered freely across a pale field.
• Flatweaves: striped and banded kilim-style designs, thinner and lighter, with strong horizontal rhythm.

What links them is an imperfect, human quality. Lines wobble, motifs vary in size and nothing is perfectly symmetrical. That irregularity is the charm, so look for designs that keep it.

Choosing a Moroccan style rug for your room

The question is how much of the look you want. A neutral Moroccan style rug in ivory, oat or taupe gives you the pattern without the colour, which suits Scandinavian and minimalist homes. A striped or coral-toned design brings in the warmth and energy of the souk.

• Small or dark rooms: stick to light grounds with fine lines; the pattern adds interest without closing the room in.
• Large, plain living rooms: go for broad bands or a bold, open diamond that holds its own across 200×300 cm.
• Hallways: stripes and chevrons are made for runners, leading the eye along the length. See our runner rugs.

Folk-inspired flatweaves and handcrafted-looking patterns are one of the strongest returning trends, so this is a style that feels very current.

Building a Berber living room

The rug should be the starting point, with everything else taking its cue. For a Berber living room that feels grown-up rather than themed:

1. Keep walls warm and plain. Limewash, plaster pink, sand or warm white let the rug's lines stand out.
2. Bring in natural materials. Rattan, jute baskets, terracotta pots, raw oak and leather pouffes all belong here.
3. Repeat one rug colour. If the rug has olive or taupe lines, echo them in a cushion or a ceramic, then stop.
4. Go low. Floor cushions, a low coffee table and a slouchy sofa suit the relaxed, grounded mood.
5. Add greenery. An olive tree or a large-leafed plant feels right with sun-bleached palettes.

Size the rug so the front legs of the sofa and chairs sit on it. In most UK living rooms that means 155×230 cm or 160×230 cm, or 200×300 cm for larger spaces.

Natural palettes and how to use them

The most enduring Berber colourways are drawn from the landscape: chalky ivory, oat, taupe, olive and clay. These sit perfectly with the warmer, earthier palettes forecasters expect to dominate the next couple of years, as grey falls out of favour. Coral and pink stripes are the playful exception and work well in bedrooms, kids' rooms and sunny kitchens.

If you want more choice in this direction, our bohemian rugs and geometric rugs cover both the neutral and colourful sides of the style.

Mistakes to avoid

• Too many motifs: a Berber rug plus patterned tiles, ikat cushions and a printed throw becomes noise. Let the rug lead.
• Cold greys: they flatten the warmth of the style. Choose warm whites and sand instead.
• A rug that is too small: a tiny rug floating in front of the sofa loses the relaxed, generous feel.

Our rug picks

Sunwashed Mosaic Ivory & Olive Mediterranean Washable RugMade to order · 10 sizes · machine washableFrom£50Broad Bands Ivory & Olive Stripe Washable RugMade to order · 10 sizes · machine washableFrom£50Coral & Pink Afghan Kilim Stripe Washable RugLondon stock · ready to shipFrom£29Broken Chevron Ivory & Taupe Berber Washable RugMade to order · 10 sizes · machine washableFrom£50

Broken Chevron Ivory & Taupe Berber Washable Rug

The ivory classic in spirit: broken taupe chevrons on a light ground, with the slightly irregular rhythm that makes Berber patterns so appealing. Ideal for a calm, Scandinavian-leaning living room.

Broad Bands Ivory & Olive Stripe Washable Rug

Wide ivory and olive stripes inspired by flatwoven kilims. It works beautifully as an 80×300 cm runner in a hallway or a large rug in an open-plan space.

Sunwashed Mosaic Ivory & Olive Mediterranean Washable Rug

A sun-faded mosaic geometric that bridges the Moroccan and Mediterranean looks. Like the two above, it is a designer washable rug, made to order in 10 sizes from £50.

Coral & Pink Afghan Kilim Stripe Washable Rug

For the colourful side of the style, this washable flatweave stripe in coral and pink comes from our London stock, dispatched in 1–2 business days, from £29. Perfect for a bedroom or a bright kitchen.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Berber rug?

Traditionally, a rug woven by the Amazigh (Berber) peoples of North Africa, known for irregular diamonds, lines and natural colours. Today the term also describes rugs inspired by those patterns.

Do Berber rugs go with modern interiors?

Yes. Neutral Berber-style designs are graphic enough for modern and Scandinavian rooms, and their hand-drawn feel softens clean lines.

What colours go with a Moroccan style rug?

Warm whites, sand, terracotta, olive and natural wood. Avoid cool greys, and repeat one accent colour from the rug rather than introducing new ones.

Start with the rug, keep the backdrop warm and simple, and let the imperfect lines do the rest. That is the whole secret of the look.