7 Times a Beni Ourain Rug Made a Room
Simple, stylish, soft and cosy – here’s why these black-and-white, diamond-patterned rugs are having a moment
Amanda Pollard
15 August 2018
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
Popular in the mid 20th century, these diamond-pattern rugs, traditionally made by Morocco’s Beni Ourain tribes, have been gracing our floors again for a while now and are looking as stylish as ever. Browse these rooms to see how one could work in your home.
Give it a supporting role
This room is all about the wallpaper, so it needed a floor covering that wouldn’t compete. Step forward the monochrome shades and simple geometric design of a Beni Ourain rug. The easy style allows the bold purple pattern on the wall to be the central focus in the room.
It helps that the timber floor has been limewashed to blend in with the hues on the rug, forming a neutral base for the vivid scheme above.
This room is all about the wallpaper, so it needed a floor covering that wouldn’t compete. Step forward the monochrome shades and simple geometric design of a Beni Ourain rug. The easy style allows the bold purple pattern on the wall to be the central focus in the room.
It helps that the timber floor has been limewashed to blend in with the hues on the rug, forming a neutral base for the vivid scheme above.
Make it the star of the show
In an all-white room scheme, a Beni Ourain rug can be more than a background player. Here, the black and white design ties in with the similar palette in the rest of the room, and the sharp pattern makes it a bold feature.
In an all-white room scheme, a Beni Ourain rug can be more than a background player. Here, the black and white design ties in with the similar palette in the rest of the room, and the sharp pattern makes it a bold feature.
Play tricks
The designers of this chic living room have used the pattern on the rug to their advantage. The zigzag design leads the eye through the centre of the symmetrical furniture layout to the vivid artwork over the mantel.
For an added boost of geometry, the midcentury chairs replicate the triangular shapes on the floor covering.
Need some help with your scheme? Find interior designers in your area
The designers of this chic living room have used the pattern on the rug to their advantage. The zigzag design leads the eye through the centre of the symmetrical furniture layout to the vivid artwork over the mantel.
For an added boost of geometry, the midcentury chairs replicate the triangular shapes on the floor covering.
Need some help with your scheme? Find interior designers in your area
Add similar elements
Show off the black lines in your Berber-style rug by doubling them up elsewhere.
In this stylish space, the designers have arranged a collection of prints as a gallery wall, each with a slim black frame. These edges tie in with – and emphasise – the lines on the floor covering, ensuring the geometric design doesn’t go unnoticed.
Show off the black lines in your Berber-style rug by doubling them up elsewhere.
In this stylish space, the designers have arranged a collection of prints as a gallery wall, each with a slim black frame. These edges tie in with – and emphasise – the lines on the floor covering, ensuring the geometric design doesn’t go unnoticed.
Snuggle up
It’s not just the simple pattern on a Beni Ourain rug that’s so pleasing, it’s also the texture. Make the most of its cosy feel by teaming it with some soft, tactile cushions.
Here, the designers have chosen Moroccan wedding blanket cushions as the perfect complement. The rug zones the area while the cushions add to the snug, relaxing vibe.
Browse beautiful rugs in this style and many others in the Houzz Shop
It’s not just the simple pattern on a Beni Ourain rug that’s so pleasing, it’s also the texture. Make the most of its cosy feel by teaming it with some soft, tactile cushions.
Here, the designers have chosen Moroccan wedding blanket cushions as the perfect complement. The rug zones the area while the cushions add to the snug, relaxing vibe.
Browse beautiful rugs in this style and many others in the Houzz Shop
Create a hang-out zone
A tween’s bedroom needs the perfect combination of practical storage, neutral colours that can be updated as the child grows, and a comfy feel for hanging out with friends.
The designers have achieved all of this here, and the rug is key to its success. The black and white design will go with anything, and the soft texture makes it the perfect surface on which to sprawl out.
A tween’s bedroom needs the perfect combination of practical storage, neutral colours that can be updated as the child grows, and a comfy feel for hanging out with friends.
The designers have achieved all of this here, and the rug is key to its success. The black and white design will go with anything, and the soft texture makes it the perfect surface on which to sprawl out.
Boost a room with texture
This open-plan kitchen and living area is almost entirely decked out in greys, blacks and whites. Yet it has a cosy feel that’s been achieved through texture. An intimate living zone is clearly marked out as comforting, with its wooden bench and soft, tactile rug.
Tell us…
What do you think of the simple, monochrome design on these rugs? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
This open-plan kitchen and living area is almost entirely decked out in greys, blacks and whites. Yet it has a cosy feel that’s been achieved through texture. An intimate living zone is clearly marked out as comforting, with its wooden bench and soft, tactile rug.
Tell us…
What do you think of the simple, monochrome design on these rugs? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
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Ubiquitous as these are, i have just bought an enormous one of these after months of searching for a light textured rug. I bought it from a women's co-operative in Morocco and the quality and craftsmanship is amazing. The interesting thing is that the room it is going in is very dark and the creamy colour of this rug would look ghastly on the wall but brings so much light into the room it has transformed it.
Beni Ourain rugs are truly an artisanal decor statement with so much history and culture, it elevates a room to a higher vibe. If curious about the well kept traditions that go behind the handmaking of process and the meaning of symbols then you will certainly enjoy this article:
https://bohoconvention.com/blogs/news/the-berber-moroccan-rug-more-than-a-home-decor-trend
We offer you a diverse collection of one-of-a-kind rugs individually handmade in the Atlas Mountains. Each rug from knotted to flatwoven features seductive designs with infinite symbols passed down from generation to generation. On our website, you will find anything from minimalist to maximalist Moroccan rugs and everything in between with sustainability top of mind. Right from the loom to your room!
https://www.babakech.com