7 criteria for choosing a Berber rug, the 3rd one will surprise you!

When you're a Berber rug seller on Instagram or the internet, you sometimes have to resort to less-than-reputable marketing techniques. So, my apologies for this clickbait title, designed to entice Moroccan rug enthusiasts to discover our collection of vintage kilims imported from Morocco. This post, a true clickbait, is nonetheless here to educate and entertain you. Don't mistake this for a load of nonsense, but rather the framework of what you need to know to choose a Berber rug wisely. Fabric, weave—these two keywords for the rug category should help you connect with Google's robotic voice. Now, it's time to keep the promise of the title, because, although I'm a rug seller, my word is my bond.

Criterion number 1 for choosing a Berber rug: The material of the rug.

Wool, of course! you might say. Obviously, I don't even dare imagine you're considering a "Berber-style" rug produced in Romania for La Redoute, Ikea, or Maisons du Monde. Just so you know, there are industrial acrylic rugs that are even marketed as hypoallergenic, with "Made in Europe" touted as a selling point. So, if you really want a cheap wool rug made from petroleum-based products while adopting a Bohemian and Berber look, go for it. But please, while you're at it, buy a Rolex or a Vuitton bag made in Marrakech to balance things out a bit. And if you really refuse to put your bare feet on the fur of an animal that's probably dead by now, know that Boucherouite or Boucharoutette rugs are made from recycled fabric and are authentic Moroccan handcrafted rugs.

Criterion number 2 for choosing a Berber rug: The size.

Every interior design or decorating tutorial tells you the same thing: Your best friend is a tape measure. Measure, measure, and measure again. What's the right size rug for my living room? How much should a rug hang over the edge of a coffee table? Can you put a rug under a bed? What width should a hallway runner be? All these questions are highlighted on my Google dashboard, and ideally, I should write a dedicated article answering each one. If you're worried about getting the dimensions wrong, here's a little tip from an interior designer: Mark the corners of your future rug with tape on the floor, then measure. Next, give yourself a little extra space. But always make the measurements slightly larger. 10 to 15%. And think about the doors and how they open... Just saying...

Criterion number 3 for choosing a Berber rug

Ouch! This is where I need to deliver on the promise of the title and surprise you. Quick, an idea! I call upon the gods and goddesses of the Azilal region to come to my aid and inspire me. I need an original idea for your interior design, something you haven't seen anywhere else and that will truly help you choose your Moroccan rug.

My third piece of advice for choosing a rug is to pay attention to its aura. Rugs have a soul. We can't change that. You can laugh about it and hide behind your husband's Cartesian logic (because if I believe Google Analytics, there's an 80% chance you're female. And if you're not female, Google also tells me it's possible you still have a husband and belong to that highly sought-after category for us merchants: non-heterosexuals with very high purchasing power. But let's diverge. Your rug has a soul. And even if you don't believe it, you must admit that decorating your home aims to give it a soul. So talk to your rug, talk to it even if it's currently just a photo on your iPhone screen. Talk to it out loud if you're alone and dare. Otherwise, talk to it secretly in your head. And believe me, it will answer you. Maybe not distinctly at first; talking to rugs, old or new, takes a little practice and training. But it will... Answer. And then you'll know it's yours!

Criterion number 4 for choosing a Moroccan rug: The budget or price of your rug.

"The price is forgotten, quality remains," my grandmother used to say. It's true. But let's not exaggerate. Spend some time online, compare prices, be shrewd and wary. When something seems expensive and someone talks about a fair, "ethical" price, turn on your "scam" radar. I'll let you in on a secret that isn't really a secret: We're businesspeople, and it's not true that there are carpet sellers who pay a "fair" price to Moroccan women filmed in slow motion at sunset. While others are terrible profiteers. Even in the most remote rural areas of the Moroccan Atlas Mountains, there's the internet. The artisans know the prices, but also the difficulties of importing and selling to individuals. If the same carpet is twice as expensive at a competitor's, it's because their market is bigger. And that's all there is to it!

Criterion number 4 for choosing a Berber rug: Black and white or colour?

Okay, often when we start looking at Berber rugs, we think of white wool Beniourain rugs with black diamonds. That's just how it is. Thanks to Elle Decoration and other home decor magazines for educating and conditioning us to all want the same thing, while making us believe we're chic and bohemian. I love and sell new Beniourain rugs. But I'd be lying if I said they were my favorites. If you haven't already, check out @bohemianchicinterior on Instagram; you'll find photos of thousands of our clients' interiors, and you might just fall in love with something other than a magazine photo.

Criterion number 5 for choosing a Berber rug: New or vintage?

New, perhaps for a child's room. A colorful wool Azilal. Or, if you really haven't given up on a Beniouarain rug for your living room. Otherwise, vintage is fine. An Azilal or a Boujaad from the Atlas Mountains has more soul than a piece of carpet from La Redoute.

Criterion number 6 for choosing your rug: City mouse or country mouse?

Think about how you'll use it. Think about dogs, cats, children, and friends who've had a few drinks. Think about cooking, summer, winter, autumn, rain, and mud. Remember that a rug isn't a painting you hang on the wall. Imagine who will walk on your rug, who will see it. Will you always be wearing shoes, or will you be lying down reading, or doing other things on it that my modesty can only hint at? Think about all of this, and it should guide your choice...

Criterion number 7 for choosing a Berber rug: The rug merchant

In this case, the rug seller is a woman. As you've probably guessed, for me, a rug isn't an impersonal, soulless object. You might call me crazy or superstitious, but I'm an animist and convinced that objects have a soul. Your Berber, Moldovan , or Ikea rug needs to speak to your subconscious. Your rug isn't just a rectangle of wool or fabric laid on the floor. It's a piece of your story, a testament to your encounter with a rug seller. So, even if you choose it online, even if you're too shy to call me at 06 24 40 73 24, even if you pay in four installments with PayPal, know that the passion and love of the rug seller come with the kilim you're about to acquire. So, do as you please, but I doubt that the old, ex-fascist IKEA boss will be good for your karma.