What Is a Beni Ourain Rug? A Complete Guide

The Beni Ourain are a group of Amazigh (Berber) tribes of Morocco's Middle Atlas mountains. Winters there are long and cold, and women wove deep-pile rugs from the wool of their own sheep to sleep on, sit on and keep their homes warm.

Because the rugs were made for the family, not for sale, the designs were personal and simple: an ivory field and a few dark lines, diamonds or symbols. In the twentieth century, modernist architects and designers brought these rugs into their interiors, and the Beni Ourain became a design classic.

A Beni Ourain is hand-knotted on an upright loom. The weaver ties a short length of wool around two warp threads, row after row, and trims it to form the pile. A large rug holds tens of thousands of knots and takes weeks of work.

Every ZenRug is hand-knotted to order by women weavers in Morocco, from 100% natural sheep's wool and natural dyes, with a pile of about 3–4 cm (1.2–1.6 in).

• The pile is deep and dense, and the wool feels soft and springy, not coarse or slippery.
• The pattern shows on the back, knot by knot. A smooth or latex-covered back means it is not hand-knotted.
• The fringe is the end of the warp threads, not a strip sewn on afterwards.
• The lines lean and wander a little: that is the hand of the weaver.
• The seller tells you where and how it was made, not just that it is "Beni Ourain style".

In a living room, most people choose an 8×10 or a 9×12 so the front legs of the sofa and chairs rest on the rug. Under a queen bed, an 8×10 placed sideways leaves about 60 cm (2 ft) of rug on each side.

Classic ivory with black or grey lines brightens a room and suits every wood tone. If you have children, pets or a busy entrance, consider a darker Beni Ourain, such as black with ivory lines, which hides everyday wear.