Thick, soft and luminous, the Beni Ouarain is the most iconic of all Berber rugs. Every piece in our selection is hand-knotted in Morocco from natural wool and will never be reproduced identically.
The Beni Ouarain takes its name from the Aït Ouarain tribes of Morocco's Middle Atlas mountains. To face harsh winters, the women of these tribes wove thick rugs that served as blankets, mattresses and floor coverings. Their motifs – diamonds, broken lines, lattices – form a visual language passed down from mother to daughter. In the 20th century, modernist architects and designers embraced these rugs for their clean graphic lines, which sit naturally in contemporary interiors.
A genuine Beni Ouarain is hand-knotted, knot by knot, on a vertical loom. The sheep's wool, traditionally left in its natural colour, gives the characteristic cream or ivory background, highlighted with dark brown or black lines. Its long, dense pile makes it wonderfully soft underfoot and highly insulating. Alongside classic designs, our selection also features more colourful contemporary interpretations that stay true to this craft.
In a living room, choose a size that at least the front legs of your sofa and armchairs can rest on – 200 × 300 cm suits most rooms. In a bedroom, a large rug placed under the bed should extend 60 to 80 cm on each side. Style-wise, a cream Beni Ouarain with fine lines brings light to minimalist interiors, while a bolder pattern becomes the statement piece of the room.
Turn the rug over: on a hand-knotted piece, the pattern shows on the back and the knots are slightly irregular. A tufted or machine-made rug has a glued or perfectly uniform back. The wool of a Beni Ouarain is dense and supple, with a natural smell and no synthetic feel.
Yes. During the first months, a natural wool rug releases short fibres left over from weaving. Vacuum without a rotating brush, in the direction of the pile: shedding quickly decreases.
Yes. Our artisans make your rug to your dimensions, colours and patterns. Crafting and delivery take 8 to 12 weeks, and you are kept informed at every step.
