Moroccan rugs are often a decor must-have for design enthusiasts because they tend to be one-of-a-kind, statement-making pieces that give any room a special feel. Their tones range from extraordinarily vibrant to neutral, in either distinct patterns or more free-form designs. Often boasting patterns that symbolize fertility, survival, and the natural world, these handcrafted works of art are much more complex than your everyday rug. Due to their understated elegance and endless variety, they work just as well with contemporary maximalist interiors as they do with relaxed, eclectic settings. Take a look into the AD archives for 23 different ways to style your Moroccan rug. From a mod ’60s-inspired living area to an ethereal children’s playroom, these gorgeous handwoven pieces add personality to spaces of all kinds.
Architect Alison Spear filled her upstate New York home with souvenirs from her travels. This raffia-and-leather rug straight from Morocco gives the library an earthy feel.
This Marrakech home once belonged to Chilean artist Claudio Bravo. It still boasts a colorful, creative atmosphere, with vibrant rugs from Morocco, a Kurdish kilim draped over a table, and a star-shaped side table.
For Villa Corinne in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, France, designer Nicholas Haslam has preserved 100-year-old charm while incorporating stylish modern design practices. Although the bedroom was inspired by muted tones found in the cover art of vintage French Vogue magazines, the striped rug adds some much-needed texture.
Graphic motifs, vivid colors, and pattern mixing are hallmarks of an eclectic room . One way to bring these elements, plus a little global flair, into a world-traveling design lover’s home is with Moroccan rugs, which often feature woven abstract designs and bright hues. Feeling inspired by bold styles from Casablanca to Marrakech? Read on for 21 ways to style Moroccan rugs from the AD archives.Shown: In a Balinese home , an antique colonial four-poster, fronted by a Moroccan carpet, frames an embroidered panel depicting a scene from the Ramayana.
Simrel Achenbach of Descience Laboratories, in collaboration with designer Daniel Sachs of Sachs Lindores, combined adjacent lofts to create a Manhattan residence for photographers Inez van Lamsweerde, Vinoodh Matadin, and their son, Charles. In the playroom, bleached-alder-wood closets provide a neutral contrast to the richly colored Moroccan carpet.
In the same home , the Noguchi Akari ceiling lamp is suspended over a custom-made white-oak-and-steel table, a beaded African stool by Philippe Starck, and Moroccan and Uzbek rugs placed side by side. On display are works by Andy Warhol (top left) and Louise Bourgeois (top right), among others. The floor is laid with Navona travertine.
A minimalist fireplace blends into the white walls in a New York home decorated by D’Apostrophe Design; the sculpture is South African, and the rugs are vintage Moroccan.
In a California home decorated by Waldo Fernandez, the upstairs landing includes an Ed Ruscha painting and a circa-1940s Moroccan carpet from Mansour.
Colonial-era Brazilian brass lanterns hang above a terrace in this Rio de Janeiro home , which was decorated by Pedro Espírito Santo; the hammock was made by Amazonian Indians, the elephant pedestals are Italian, and the rug in the foreground is Moroccan.
A mask from Burkina Faso is displayed above stylist Carlos Mota’s custom-made bed, which is dressed with a Moroccan coverlet in his Dominican Republic retreat ; the 1930s wall hanging is by Elsa Gullberg, the lamps are circa-1970 American, and the carpet is Moroccan.
In the master bedroom of a California home by MAC II, the custom-made headboard is upholstered with an antique Moroccan silk carpet; the columns are by Napa Valley Cast Stone.
In Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber’s New York home by Ashe + Leandro, the master bedroom features an RH bed, Ralph Lauren Home side tables, and a vintage Italian bench from Billy Cotton; the walls are clad in a Clarence House fabric, the curtains are of a Duralee floral, and an antique Moroccan rug is laid atop carpeting by Holland & Sherry.
In the library of accessories designer Fiona Kotur’s Hong Kong home , the pair of Christian Liaigre armchairs and the custom-made sofa and its pillows are all covered in Manuel Canovas fabrics; the cocktail table is by Yves Klein, while the Moroccan carpet from Woven Accents and the floor lamp in the corner are both vintage. Brass picture lights by Ralph Lauren Home top the bookshelves.
In the same home , the sitting room’s custom-made sectional sofa is dressed in a Designtex fabric, with pillows of a Lee Jofa solid and a Kelly Wearstler for Groundworks print; Kotur designed the cocktail table, which is clad in basketweave-pattern copper tile by Maya Romanoff, the 1950s palm-tree lamp is by Jansen, and the vintage Moroccan carpet is from Woven Accents.
In Patrick Dempsey’s Frank Gehry–designed Malibu, California, home , the sculpture studio’s custom-made Shrader Design sofa is clad in a Great Plains fabric and features decorative pillows by Brenda Antin; the cocktail tables are by Lucca Antiques, the leather daybed/bench is by Caste, the floor lamp is from Obsolete, and the Moroccan carpet is from Lawrence of La Brea.
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Designers Andrew Fisher and Jeffry Weisman used two antique Moroccan rugs in the living room of their Mexican retreat . Paired with furniture in darker, muted tones, the bright weaves add a touch of color to the space.
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The geometric Beni Ourain rug in Stefano Pilati’s Paris duplex complements the room’s black-and-white color scheme, while the thick weave brings warmth to an otherwise sleek space.
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In the living room of artist Cindy Sherman’s Hamptons farmhouse , exposed beams coupled with thick, layered rugs and rich textiles give the space a relaxed, rustic feel.
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Another corner of Sherman’s home features Pakistani textiles and Moroccan accents.
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With a life-size teepee, the playroom in designer Jenni Kayne’s Los Angeles home is any child’s dream, and the cozy rug makes the floor perfect for playtime.
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At this Manhattan home designed by Delphine Krakoff, an understated Didier Benichou rug allows the bold art and lush view to take center stage.
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In this 18th-century French farmhouse , a boldly striped rug adds geometric flair to the office’s traditional decor.
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In the living room of Jonathan Adler and Simon Doonan’s vacation home on Shelter Island, mod furniture and a shaggy, vintage Beni Ourain rug create a groovy-chic vibe.