The trend of the moment: Berber rugs
In the teeming and varied world of carpets, there is one type of design that we are particularly fond of at AFK Living: the Berber carpet. What is its history, how is it made, what are the most popular designs?
You will know everything about Berber rugs after reading this article!
The origin of Berber carpets
Basically, the name “Berber” refers to an ethnic group from North Africa. This population has a very rich and diverse culture, which is found in several countries such as Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, etc.
Berber carpets are extremely old (since the Paleolithic era!). They were mainly hand-woven by women. Indeed, men were in charge of livestock and the search for water sources as well as shelters. This allowed them to have wool, cotton and plants so that women could weave and dye the raw material. Women were not only in charge of weaving, but also of making various objects necessary for daily life.
Berber tribes are the origin of the various types of Berber carpets or kilims. The region of origin of each tribe defines the characteristics and appearance of traditional carpets. In general, they are recognized by their line-based patterns. However, there are also those with geometric patterns and those with specific decorations. For example, Berber carpets from Morocco often have braided or combed fringes.
The particularities of Berber carpets
Berber rugs bring warmth and comfort to a room. They will have their place throughout the house, whether it is the living room, the bedroom or the kitchen. You just have to make sure that the design and color are in harmony with the room where you want to install it.
However, the right Berber carpet depends rather on your taste because the particularity of Berber carpets depends on their origin. The most famous is the one coming from Beni Ouarain with its sober colors decorated with geometric lines of dark or bright color.
Those from the Mrirt region are distinguished by their thickness of wool compared to those of Béni Ouarain. The weaving of Berber carpets from Mrirt is also denser which gives them a silky appearance.
Among other famous models, we can also talk about Azilal rugs. They are recognized by their varied and colorful patterns as well as their short pile. They are well suited in a bedroom or a designer living room.
If you appreciate colors and geometric patterns on a Berber rug, you will find what you are looking for with Boucherouite kilim rugs.
Vintage Berber rugs
The particularity of the vintage style is surely the retro but yet timeless side. The villages of Boujaad and Zayane are the most famous for being the origin of many vintage Berber carpets.
If you want to decorate your interior in a vintage style, here are some suggestions to make the whole thing coherent. First of all, you should know that the vintage look is based on designer furniture in dark colors. The style of the 50s and 60s is perfectly suited to a design based on clean lines and wooden or steel furniture.
Then, you can combine aged-looking objects with modern decorative accessories. Last but not least, the vintage look would not be perfect without choosing bright colors for your accessories (chairs, small furniture and a vintage Berber rug!)
