A Moroccan Berber rug is a practical and beautiful centerpiece for any room. They were designed with warmth and comfort in mind, so they can easily turn a bare room into a home. They are also shockingly durable, primarily because the developed among a nomadic culture that needed tough furnishings that could survive traveling by camel. That having been said, they do need some maintenance. It takes a little bit of work, but the benefits are more than sufficient to justify the effort.
Using a Beni Ourain Rug
A Moroccan Berber rug is best used to add a touch of rustic charm to a room. They first became popular among modern designers who used them to form a contrast with minimalist furniture, and that use remains popular. Using a rug alongside other pieces with a modern style with emphasize their modernity, but the rug will be small enough to ensure that it does not steal the spotlight.
At a more practical level, they are wonderful for rooms where people will be walking with bare feet. They provide the softness and warmth of full carpeting, but it remains much easier to clean. Many of the rugs are even soft enough that they can be used instead of traditional seating. People can sit on the rug and remain perfectly comfortable. That makes it a strong choice for a small game room, since it allows people to play on the floor instead of wasting space on a table and chairs to go with it.
Preventing Damage
Moroccan rugs are woven to be strong, but that does not mean that they are completely immune to damage. They can last for many years, but a certain degree of wear and tear is to be expected. Fortunately, it is fairly simple to prevent the worst of the damage.
Most of the damage that a rug will suffer comes from debris getting ground into it and wearing away at the wool. Most of that debris will arrive when it falls off a person’s shoe, so simply asking guests and residents to take their shoes off before walking on the rug will keep it in good shape. It will still get exposed to some dirt, especially if it shares a home with a dog, but occasional cleaning can easily deal with that.
Cleaning a Beni Ourain Rug
Routine cleaning for of a Beni Ourain rug is quick and easy. Simply take the rug outside and shake the dirt out of it. Be sure to do the cleaning on a day with low wind, to make sure that none of the dirt blows back into the wool or onto your face as you shake the rug. This is the technique that most of the weavers use for cleaning their own rugs, and it routinely enables the rugs to last for decades. Most of them do it once per month, but a rug that is used heavily might need it more often.
It’s best to call a professional cleaner to avoid accidental damage to the rug. This only needs to be done once every few years in most cases, so the expense is minimal, and it ensures a clean and useful rug for a very long time to come.
