{"id":28214,"date":"2026-11-08T07:17:27","date_gmt":"2026-11-08T06:17:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.leslosanges.com\/difference-berber-rugs-beni-ouarain-mrirt-azilal\/"},"modified":"2026-11-14T04:02:31","modified_gmt":"2026-11-14T03:02:31","slug":"difference-berber-rugs-beni-ouarain-mrirt-azilal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.leslosanges.com\/en\/difference-berber-rugs-beni-ouarain-mrirt-azilal\/","title":{"rendered":"Beni Ouarain, Mrirt, Azilal\u2026 what is the difference between Berber rugs?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Beni Ouarain, Mrirt, Azilal, Boucherouite, Boujaad, kilim\u2026 When you\u2019re looking for a Berber rug, the names seem endless, and it\u2019s not always easy to figure them out. Each name refers to a region or tribe in the Moroccan Atlas Mountains, each with its own weaving technique, wool, and patterns. Here\u2019s a simple guide to help you identify each type and choose the one that best suits your home.<\/p>\n

The Beni Ouarain rug: thick, ecru, and graphic<\/h2>\n

The Beni Ouarain rug<\/a> is the best-known of the Berber rugs. It is woven by the Beni Ouarain tribes of the Middle Atlas Mountains, where winters are harsh; as a result, it has a long, thick, almost \u201cshaggy\u201d pile made of natural, unbleached sheep\u2019s wool. Its patterns consist of black or brown diamonds and broken lines. This is the rug embraced by 20th-century designers, and it complements almost any interior style, from Scandinavian to contemporary.<\/p>\n

The Mrirt rug: the softest and densest<\/h2>\n

The Mrirt (or Beni Mrirt) rug<\/a> comes from the M\u2019rirt region, also in the Middle Atlas. Its wool is particularly fine and its knots are very tight: the pile is shorter than that of a Beni Ouarain, but much denser and silkier. It is the most luxurious Berber rug to the touch. The patterns are often understated\u2014fine lines, solid backgrounds\u2014but contemporary designs also play with color.<\/p>\n

The Azilal Rug: Color and Freedom<\/h2>\n

The Azilal rug<\/a> comes from the province of Azilal, in the High Atlas. Against an ecru background, the weavers create very free-flowing and colorful patterns: symbols, diamonds, and abstract shapes in pink, orange, blue, or yellow. Its pile is shorter than that of a Beni Ouarain. It\u2019s the perfect rug for a bohemian-style home or to add a pop of color to a neutral room.<\/p>\n

The Boucherouite Rug: The Recycled Rug<\/h2>\n

The Boucherouite rug was born out of upcycling: it is knotted with strips of recycled fabric (cotton, synthetic materials, old clothes) rather than wool. As a result, they are very colorful, lightweight, and often slightly irregular. These cheerful, graphic rugs showcase the ingenuity of Berber women.<\/p>\n

The Boujaad rug: red, pink, and orange<\/h2>\n

The Boujaad rug comes from the Boujad region, between the Middle Atlas Mountains and the plains. It is recognizable by its warm hues\u2014red, pink, orange, and purple\u2014and its geometric patterns, with a shorter pile. It adds a lot of warmth to a living room or bedroom.<\/p>\n

The kilim: the flat-woven rug<\/h2>\n

Unlike other rugs, the kilim has no pile: it is flat-woven. This makes it thin, lightweight, and reversible\u2014perfect for a kitchen, an entryway, or under a table where a thick rug would get in the way.<\/p>\n

Summary Table<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Rugs<\/th>\nRegion<\/th>\nThickness<\/th>\nColors and Patterns<\/th>\nIdeal for<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Beni Ouarain<\/td>\nMiddle Atlas<\/td>\nVery thick, long-haired<\/td>\nEcru, black or brown diamonds<\/td>\nLiving room, bedroom, Scandinavian style<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mrirt<\/td>\nMiddle Atlas (M\u2019rirt)<\/td>\nDense, tight-weave velvet<\/td>\nUnderstated or graphic<\/td>\nHigh-end living room, bedroom<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Azilal<\/td>\nHigh Atlas<\/td>\nMedium<\/td>\nEcru with free-form colorful patterns<\/td>\nBohemian, colorful interior<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Boucherouite<\/td>\nAll of Morocco<\/td>\nFine to medium<\/td>\nVery colorful, recycled fabrics<\/td>\nChildren\u2019s room, cheerful room<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Boujaad<\/td>\nBoujad Region<\/td>\nLight to medium<\/td>\nRed, pink, orange<\/td>\nCozy living room<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kilim<\/td>\nAll of Morocco<\/td>\nFlat<\/td>\nGeometric<\/td>\nKitchen, entryway, hallway<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

How do I choose?<\/h2>\n

First, consider how you\u2019ll use the rug: for comfort underfoot, choose a Beni Ouarain or a Mrirt; for a high-traffic area, a shorter-pile rug or a kilim. Next, consider the color scheme of your interior: ecru to soften the space, or an Azilal or Boujaad to add a pop of color. Finally, measure your room: most of our rugs can be custom-made<\/a>, starting at \u20ac150 per square meter.<\/p>\n

Still not sure? Come see and feel our rugs in our showroom in Biarritz<\/a>, or browse our entire selection of handmade Berber rugs<\/a>. We offer free shipping worldwide.<\/p>\n

Learn More<\/strong> \u2014 Discover our Beni Ouarain rugs<\/a>, our Mrirt rugs<\/a>, and all our handmade Moroccan rugs<\/a>, whether in stock or custom-made.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Beni Ouarain, Mrirt, Azilal, Boucherouite, Boujaad, kilim: our guide to recognise each family of Berber rug and choose the right one.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27003,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[741,740],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28214","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-manufacturing","category-news"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t