28 Ways (in pictures) to Style Moroccan Rugs

My husband Aziz and I live in the beautiful seaside city of Essaouira, perched on the Atlantic coast of Morocco.

Essaouira, Morocco

We moved here 6 years ago after renovating a broken down house in the countryside which we have lovingly restored. Our home, Villa Noor Essaouira, has an eternally peaceful feel as we are surrounded by not much except forest, wind, sun, moon, and the occasional donkey. We are lucky and grateful that life has brought us to this beautiful spot.

Villa Noor Essaouira is the first time in my adult life that I’ve lived in a house, so there’s a lot more space to contend with than a Manhattan apartment. Aziz and I have taken our time decorating and filling it up, which believe me, when you live in Morocco, takes restraint.

If I were to pin the style of Villa Noor Essaouira, I would sum it up as Morocco-meets-Europe vintage chic with an eye on maximalism. Our style isn’t eclectic. Everything fits together with a purpose and a flow. We’ve sourced our furnishings partly from our vintage furnishings business, Mid Century Maroc, custom builds, along with fab finds we’ve discovered in the souks that we cannot live without. One of our main sources of décor inspiration is the liberal use of Moroccan rugs.

Morocco is exploding with a million things to buy for the home that are saturated in color, history, and culture. This is especially true of rugs. One is more beautiful and interesting than the next and it can become an addiction. Still, today when I stroll through the Medina, I want to stop and buy every rug.

There is nothing like a Moroccan rug or blanket to add texture, incredible color, and warmth to your abode. In fact, if you have a budget for only one thing Moroccan to add to your home, rugs are the way to go!

Before moving to Morocco, I honestly didn’t even know about Moroccan rugs. It’s safe to say I’ve been a keen decorator in my various apartments but was never really a ‘rug ‘ person. Well, that has changed.

Starting with a stock of 30 or so Moroccan vintage rugs from Mid Century Maroc, lots of floor and wall space, and a desire to learn about the production, meaning, and history behind the many different styles of Moroccan rugs, we started to play around.

At first, we were tentative and trapped in a limited mindset about ‘where’ a rug should go. So, we safely dotted them here and there. But after more time traveling the country and living in our home, we loosened up realizing Moroccan rugs can honestly go anywhere.

Today, we use them as bath mats, draped over vintage Moroccan trunks, tucked around sofa cushions, on the wall, and of course, on the floor. We bring them outside, throw them over a bed, or drape them over a wooden ladder. They warm up our kitchen and bathroom floors and greet you as you transition from the outside into our boot room. And during chilly evenings, they feel great wrapped around our shoulders.

We also added Moroccan rugs to our London flat, where I would argue, they look and feel even better. There is something about bringing crazy color, texture, and warmth into this mostly grey and damp country, that is highly satisfying.

In the showroom of Mid Century Maroc, you’ll find rugs everywhere. We hang them on walls, spread them liberally on the floor, and hang them outside to welcome clients. They especially add texture when doing a photo shoot for our IG account @midcenturymaroc or our website.

Bottom line, if you want to add warmth, texture, and a loving dose of Morocco to your home, Moroccan rugs and blankets are the way to go. Throw them on the floor, hang them on a wall, or drape them over furniture. The possibilities are endless, and the gratification is eternal. We love a home that feels cozy while chic, a home you can’t wait to be in and rarely want to leave, and Moroccan rugs have a way of creating that quality.

We would love to hear about your ideas or answer any questions! Reach out to us anytime at brooke@midcenturymaroc.com. Our home, Villa Noor Essaouira is available for rent. Book your stay with us now! Interested in some of the rugs you see here? Head to ‘Décor’ in the Moroccan Collection of Mid Century Maroc.