Decorating: How to Give Your Home a Moroccan Makeover
Embrace stong colours, geometric patterns and beaten metals to imbue your space with exotic charm
Laura Wheat
16 June 2015
Houzz UK Contributor. Freelance Journalist and interiors obsessive, newly ensconced in a handsome Edwardian semi on top of a hill.
Houzz UK Contributor. Freelance Journalist and interiors obsessive, newly ensconced... More
A trip to Marrakech is an assault on the senses, as you take in the mass of sights, scents, sounds and tastes that embody this exotic city. Colour is everywhere and pattern is king. You’ll want to stop at each stall and sniff every spice, but the chaotic atmosphere and abundance of choice can be overwhelming. It’s all part of the experience.
Moroccan design has been influencing our interiors for years, and ever since the internet made it possible to shop (and ship) furniture and accessories from all over the world, you can easily create a Moroccan-inspired space at home without ever visiting this magical place… though I really suggest you do.
Moroccan design has been influencing our interiors for years, and ever since the internet made it possible to shop (and ship) furniture and accessories from all over the world, you can easily create a Moroccan-inspired space at home without ever visiting this magical place… though I really suggest you do.
Shop a show-stopping rug
No trip to Marrakech would be complete without venturing into the cavernous and chaotic depths of the souk. Take a map and your best poker face if you’re intending to snag yourself a bargain rug.
There are two main types of rug: kilims, which are flat-woven from cotton and wool and feature patterns made up of diamonds, squares and stripes, and ‘carpets’, which are still rugs, but with a long wool pile, often in more neutral colours than kilims. The most well-known (and fashionable) carpets are the tribal patterned rugs made by the Beni Ourain people in the Rif Mountains near Taza, as pictured in this colourful living room. Style yours with natural wood and leather furniture for multi-textured appeal.
No trip to Marrakech would be complete without venturing into the cavernous and chaotic depths of the souk. Take a map and your best poker face if you’re intending to snag yourself a bargain rug.
There are two main types of rug: kilims, which are flat-woven from cotton and wool and feature patterns made up of diamonds, squares and stripes, and ‘carpets’, which are still rugs, but with a long wool pile, often in more neutral colours than kilims. The most well-known (and fashionable) carpets are the tribal patterned rugs made by the Beni Ourain people in the Rif Mountains near Taza, as pictured in this colourful living room. Style yours with natural wood and leather furniture for multi-textured appeal.
Light your way
Take a stroll down any shop-lined street in Marrakech and you’ll find skilled craftsmen selling beautiful lanterns. There are many designs available, but these spherical, patterned brass pendants are typical of the more contemporary offerings.
Arranged en masse, as here, they create an exotic centrepiece, not to mention an atmospheric scattered light effect after dark. They’re widely available in the UK.
Take a stroll down any shop-lined street in Marrakech and you’ll find skilled craftsmen selling beautiful lanterns. There are many designs available, but these spherical, patterned brass pendants are typical of the more contemporary offerings.
Arranged en masse, as here, they create an exotic centrepiece, not to mention an atmospheric scattered light effect after dark. They’re widely available in the UK.
Create a courtyard oasis
After experiencing the bustling streets of the medina, you’ll understand the need for a peaceful retreat away from the noise and frenetic activities occurring outside. Moroccan riads are houses designed to focus inwards, onto an internal garden with an open roof. This space is surprisingly quiet, thanks to thick external walls and small windows.
Create your own courtyard oasis with plenty of potted plants, bright patterned tiles and somewhere to rest and recuperate after a long day.
Take a look at more stylish courtyards
After experiencing the bustling streets of the medina, you’ll understand the need for a peaceful retreat away from the noise and frenetic activities occurring outside. Moroccan riads are houses designed to focus inwards, onto an internal garden with an open roof. This space is surprisingly quiet, thanks to thick external walls and small windows.
Create your own courtyard oasis with plenty of potted plants, bright patterned tiles and somewhere to rest and recuperate after a long day.
Take a look at more stylish courtyards
Add leather accessories
If you crave rich colours from the darker end of the spectrum, look to Morocco’s leather goods industry for ideas. Put your feet up on a chic leather pouffe, like these tan numbers, which enhance the natural tones of the wooden table and woven chair. This style is easily found online in the UK and often ships unstuffed, so be prepared for a bit of extra effort!
If you crave rich colours from the darker end of the spectrum, look to Morocco’s leather goods industry for ideas. Put your feet up on a chic leather pouffe, like these tan numbers, which enhance the natural tones of the wooden table and woven chair. This style is easily found online in the UK and often ships unstuffed, so be prepared for a bit of extra effort!
Capture the key colours
Certain colours are immediately evocative of Moroccan décor, such as this iconic electric blue, which famously adorns every wall inside the Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech. Use this hypnotic shade in your own garden as a design feature in itself, as well as a foil for lush green foliage.
Certain colours are immediately evocative of Moroccan décor, such as this iconic electric blue, which famously adorns every wall inside the Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech. Use this hypnotic shade in your own garden as a design feature in itself, as well as a foil for lush green foliage.
Play with pattern
A stylish way to embrace Moroccan design is to shape your scheme around a few patterned pieces. These bedside tables are a chic addition thanks to the neutral tones of beige and stone, which combine well with the bright blue of the contemporary four-poster bed. One wall of geometric patterned paper is just enough to tie all the elements together.
A stylish way to embrace Moroccan design is to shape your scheme around a few patterned pieces. These bedside tables are a chic addition thanks to the neutral tones of beige and stone, which combine well with the bright blue of the contemporary four-poster bed. One wall of geometric patterned paper is just enough to tie all the elements together.
Mix in midcentury
The bold colours and lively patterns of Moroccan design combine surprisingly well with the clean lines and simple shapes of midcentury furniture. Here, a bright Beni Ourain carpet provides the inspiration for a living room full of eye-popping pink and purple pieces. The green foliage adds an organic element to ground the scheme.
The bold colours and lively patterns of Moroccan design combine surprisingly well with the clean lines and simple shapes of midcentury furniture. Here, a bright Beni Ourain carpet provides the inspiration for a living room full of eye-popping pink and purple pieces. The green foliage adds an organic element to ground the scheme.
Embrace traditional tiles
Marrakech is a tile-lover’s paradise, with ornate courtyards and buildings such as the decorative Ben Youssef Medersa hidden around every corner inside the medina walls.
Happily, it’s now possible to source many Moroccan-inspired designs in the UK without the need for a prolonged bartering session. Traditional colours to look for in patterned tiles include black, deep red, green, turquoise, cobalt blue and mustard yellow.
Discover more inspiring ideas for bathroom tiles
Marrakech is a tile-lover’s paradise, with ornate courtyards and buildings such as the decorative Ben Youssef Medersa hidden around every corner inside the medina walls.
Happily, it’s now possible to source many Moroccan-inspired designs in the UK without the need for a prolonged bartering session. Traditional colours to look for in patterned tiles include black, deep red, green, turquoise, cobalt blue and mustard yellow.
Discover more inspiring ideas for bathroom tiles
Seek out a handira
One interiors trend that offers more insight than most into the traditions of its creators is the handira, or Moroccan wedding blanket. These intricate textiles are created by Berber women in the Middle Atlas Mountains of northern Morocco. Made from a mixture of sheep’s wool, cotton and linen, they are collectively woven by members of the soon-to-be bride’s family in anticipation of her wedding. They are usually pale in colour, with bands of mirrored sequins and soft fringing.
If you can get your hands on one of these precious blankets, they make beautiful bedspreads or can be displayed to full effect as a wall hanging.
One interiors trend that offers more insight than most into the traditions of its creators is the handira, or Moroccan wedding blanket. These intricate textiles are created by Berber women in the Middle Atlas Mountains of northern Morocco. Made from a mixture of sheep’s wool, cotton and linen, they are collectively woven by members of the soon-to-be bride’s family in anticipation of her wedding. They are usually pale in colour, with bands of mirrored sequins and soft fringing.
If you can get your hands on one of these precious blankets, they make beautiful bedspreads or can be displayed to full effect as a wall hanging.
Try a contemporary update
For a more subdued take on North African-inspired tiles, take a cue from the patterns of the region, but opt for a neutral, one-colour design.
These dove grey arabesque offerings may not win many points for authenticity, but they do pair perfectly with a marble bathroom and provide a hint of Moroccan flavour.
For a more subdued take on North African-inspired tiles, take a cue from the patterns of the region, but opt for a neutral, one-colour design.
These dove grey arabesque offerings may not win many points for authenticity, but they do pair perfectly with a marble bathroom and provide a hint of Moroccan flavour.
Just add a flash
Even an otherwise minimal, modern space can work a Moroccan mood. Here, an all white and pale wood Scandi scheme gets a shot of North African colour in the form of a colourful kilim.
TELL US…
Which elements of Moroccan style do you like most? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Even an otherwise minimal, modern space can work a Moroccan mood. Here, an all white and pale wood Scandi scheme gets a shot of North African colour in the form of a colourful kilim.
TELL US…
Which elements of Moroccan style do you like most? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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When adding a touch of Moroccan style to the room it feels like it has a story and gives you that sense you are far away. The colours and shapes involved are truly unique to Moroccan heritage.
Fancy a handmade coffee table inspired by Moroccan design and heritage check this coffee table
Click here for Handmade coffee table
For the Moroccan rug lovers, I invite to check out my story for stunning and artisanal handmade Moroccan treasures:
https://bohoconvention.com/