We get so many questions about our custom Beni Ourain rugs that we just had to write an entire blog post about them and hopefully answer all your questions! Also, as you know, we LOVE Beni Ourain rugs and consider them a classic that will never go out of style – I’ll show you why.

This is a classic Beni Ourain rug with thick black lines.

Let’s start with some frequenty asked questions:

Why can’t I find a Beni Ourain rug in American standard size?

They are very hard to find in American standard size because Moroccans work with centimeters and follow European sizings. We can have a custom Beni Ourain rug made in American standard sizes for you. They can be made in 4’x6′, 5’x8′, 8’x10′ or any other size you need. (Maximum width is 9’8″, maximum lenght is 13′)

How can I order my custom Rug?

If you’re interested in our custom Beni Ourain rugs, please get in touch with us via email with the rug size you’d like to order, and if you have a picture of a rug you like (you can pick from our site or send any picture you might have) We’ll get back to you with more information on pricing. We ask for a 50% deposit to start making the rug, then when the rug is ready, we send a picture for our client’s approval. We ask for the final payment prior to shipping the rug.

What can be customizable?

– The rug size
– The background color
– The line color
– The diamond pattern style and size
– The pile (or thickness of the rug)

The Rug Size

The maximum width of our custom Beni Ourain rugs is 9’8″ and a maximum length is 13′. Anything below that is doable. The pricing for different sizing changes from time to time so if you’d like a quote on a specific size, just contact us via email with your request. We’ll get back to you promptly. Note: We can have square rugs made but we can’t have round rugs made.

The background color

– What’s the difference between natural white & cream? This is the most frequently asked question for sure!

Here’s a picture showing both, a Natural white rug beside a cream rug. They are lighter shades of cream rugs but this will give you an idea.

Natural white: It’s a beautiful creamy white color that is not pure white because the wool is natural and will never be as white as a synthetic white. Natural white is the palest shade of wool on the market, it’s a beautiful rich natural white and it’s our personal fave here at Baba Souk.

Cream: It’s a creamier off-white with more yellow in it. It’s great if you’re looking fro a warmer look and is great with dark wood and brown leather.

The diamond line color

They are most typically black or dark brown which are natural wool colors but you can have them made in almost any color you’d like. We LOVE the classic black lines but we have already had Beni Ourain rugs with pink lines, blue lines and even turquoise lines made! Send us your special request by email, we’ll do our best to make it happen for you.

Here’s a custom Beni Ourain rug with hot pink lines. It looks pretty cute in a girl’s room!

Here’s a more classic look, the background of this Beni Ourain rug is cream and the lines are dark brown. Notice the contour line, which is also an option.

The Diamond pattern and style

There you can have fun! Pick the size of your diamonds. Do you prefer small argyles or large ones? Thick lines or thin lines? We even have custom Beni Ourain rugs with Berber symbols, we love this design. It’s super design and the minimalist symbols give it a really cool modern look. See the pictures below for different types of patterns and lines. We even make dotted beni rugs! Have a look right below.

Here you have a natural white Beni Ourain rug with thin lines and large diamonds.

This Beni Ourain rug has small argyles and is low pile.

This Moroccan rug has a natural white background, black dots and is medium pile, which is very cozy!

The pile (or the thickness of the wool)

Walking on a Beni Ourain rug might be the comfiest feeling ever! It feels so wonderful. We have three custom Beni Ourain pile options:
Low pile: (about 0.25″)
Medium Pile: (about 1″)
High Pile (More than 1″)

We always recommend medium pile because we think they look at their best and are the coziest without being too much trouble to take care of. Higher pile requires more maintenance but they sure are cozy! (See the picture below for an example of higher pile). The medium rug pile is a great compromise, it has a more uniform look and is still amazingly cozy.

This is a high pile rug with double diamond lines, which is also an option for custom Beni Ourain rugs.

Why are they so popular?

The reason why everybody loves them so much is certainly their versatility and the fact that their minimalist design will never go out of style. They look amazing in so many décor styles, from Bohemian to minimalist, girly to masculine, classic to eclectic. Check all the different decor styles we have in this blog post!

How long does it take to make a custom Beni Ourain rug?

Depending on the size of the rug you order, it can take 6-8 weeks to complete a rug. Weaving a handmade Beni Ourain is a long process! We have several women working on the same rug at the same time, depending on their workload, the lead time may vary a little. When the rug is finished, we send you a picture so you can see the rug and make sure you love it before we ship it to you. Then, it takes about 15 days to be shipped (via standard shipping to Canada or the USA). We can also ship it faster if you’re willing to pay extra to get it in 5-7 days once it’s ready.

We love the California style where modern meets quirky and traditional.

International Shipping:

We do ship Internationally! Get in touch with us via email to get a shipping quote for your location.

Can Custom Beni Ourain Rugs Be returned?

Unfortunately not! As you can now imagine, making a custom rug is a long process and it takes lots of effort. From communication, to ordering, to making, to wrapping, to shipping, – it’s a lot of work. We also do send a picture of the rug prior to shipping, so we make sure you’re satisfied before sending it to you. If ever there were a defect or a problem with the measurements, we would, of course, do our best to accommodate our customers as we strive to offer the best customer service and truly value our customers.However, anything like this very rarely happens.

What is the difference between “Ready-Made” Beni Ourain rugs and “Custom Beni Ourain Rugs

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We have a few rug sizes that we keep in stock in Morocco because they are European standard sizes, They are just as beautiful and their selling price is great! It’s a great option if you are able to play around with sizing in your room. They’re ready to ship so it’s a faster option if you’re in a rush to get a beautiful Beni Ourain rug in your home. We ship them directly from Morocco and here are the sizes and prices we have available right now:

Ready-Made Rug options:

7’x10” (200cm x 300cm), CAN$1300 including shipping from Morocco
8’x11.5’ (250 cm x 350 cm) CAN $2400 including shipping from Morocco
13’ x 10’ (300cm x 400 cm) CAN $3300 + shipping costs to be confirmed depending on your location.

Most of the rugs we have in stock are natural white with black lines and the pile is medium. (which is what we prefer and the most popular option too!) We can send you a picture of a ready-made Beni Ourain rug prior to your buying it, just get in touch by email if you’d like more information or if you’d like to see some rug pictures prior to making your purchase. You can buy your ready-made Beni Ourain rug directly online, right here!

Where are your custom Beni Ourain rugs made, are they authentic?

First of all, all our rugs are authentic and handmade in Morocco out of 100% wool. They are entirely made by hand by a group of traditional women artisan weavers just outside Marrakech. Antique Beni Ourain rugs used to be made by the eponym Berber tribe but nowadays, let’s be honest, you’ll rarely find an Antique Beni Ourain rug, and if you find one, it will be very pricey and will look antique. So don’t get yourself fooled by vendors. The new ones are still made by hand in Morocco, following the Berber weaving tradition and they are just as delightful. They come in whiter shades of wool (which we love) and can be made in different sizes and patterns.

Watch it if you think you’re buying a Beni Ourain rug and the price is particularly low, it’s a bad sign! These rugs are being knocked off by Turkish and Chinese factories a lot lately. If you want to make sure your rug is the real deal, look at the reverse side of the rug. If it’s a real Beni Ourain, the knotting should be irregular. Authentic Beni Ourain rugs are pricey because they are weaved by hand and are made to last a lifetime.

What I like the most about Moroccan rugs is the contrast between their handmade traditional nature and their super modern look in our contemporary homes.

Care Instructions for Custom Beni Ourain Rugs

And, last but not least! We get many emails regarding the care instructions of our custom Beni Ourain rugs. While it’s true that a white rug is a daring choice, especially if you have young kids or animals with dark fur, Beni Ourain rugs are made with natural fibers so the stains do come off, they’re much easier to take care of than synthetic white rugs.

Moroccan rugs are made to be super resistant and last a lifetime. Please follow these simple guidelines:

For regular care
-You can vacuum your rug
-If an accident happens you can spot clean your rug using a white towel, cold water and clothing detergent. Make sure your rug doesn’t stay humid.
-To eliminate odors and humidity, let it dry in the sun for a day.
-Make sure it does not stay wet or humid. If you store it, we do not recommend storing it in a bag.

Shedding:
A new rug might shed more but the secret is to brush it frequently. You can use a plastic brush like a hand broom brush. It will remove the excess wool. Then vacuum. You can repeat this once every two weeks in the beginning until all the excess wool is gone. Then the shedding will stop.

Cleaning your rug:
Have it cleaned by a professional rug cleaner once a year to keep the wool color white and to refresh it. It should cost about $2 per square foot. Make sure you mention your rug is 100% wool. It should come out like new!

We love this modern bohemian look! A Beni ourain rug is ja great option to balance out a colorful wallpaper.

A bit of History

Characterized by thick luxurious white wool and minimalist black lines, the story behind Beni Ourain rugs is quite interesting. These rugs were used to cover the floors of the nomadic Beni Ourain tribes living in tents in the snow-capped Atlas Mountains where winter is particularly rough. These thick pile wool rugs were typically used as floor insulation, bedding, and blankets to keep warm during harsh winters. These tribes lived in remote mountainous locations in the northern Middle Atlas region, therefore, their art was not influenced by the Arab-eastern world, which explains why their style is so particular. Now you understand why Beni Ourain rugs are so comfy and dense!

FUN FACT 🙂

Apparently, Frank Lloyd Wright himself was a big fan, I’ve read he made frequent trips to find rugs for his clients and had a Beni Ourain rug in almost every room of his Falling Water house. These black & white rugs might be trendy right now but they have the type of classic beauty that never goes out of style. In fact, they might seem to be increasingly popular in Canada and the US lately, but they’ve been praised by the French for quite some time. A Beni Ourain rug makes a room, no questions asked!

I hope this helps! Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for any other questions you may have. Click right here to send us an email.

– Stephanie

It’s finally spring and I don’t know if you’re as excited as we are but Spring fever is real over here! Give me all the flowers, the tender greens, and the light! We’ve put together these little Easter brunch ideas for you. And the easiest -of all times- DIY flower wreaths. (Thanks to Atelier Carmel for the idea and the flowers!) Guys, these flower wreaths take literally ONE MINUTE to make. Scroll down to watch the little video we put together with the help of our talented homegirl Maca, she makes the cutest little videos!

Oh! By the way, the pictures were taken at Camille’s place, she just finished renovating her kitchen and her little banquette is the cutest thing. Especially with a bunch of Boucherouite pillows on it 😉 I’m so in love with the tiles she picked for her floors, the light bounces off them like crazy.

Our DIY Tabletop Flower Wreaths would be so cute for an Easter brunch but beyond that, how cute would they be for a Spring wedding or a summer party!! Wait until you watch the video. You’ll laugh at how easy they are to make.

SpringTable_v003 from Baba Souk on Vimeo.

Easter Brunch Ideas – DIY Tabletop Flower Wreaths

What you’ll need:
– Olive Branches
– A few flowers (these are Ranunculus and Butterflies)
– Scissors
– Clear Tape

Steps:
– Cut the olive branches the size of your plates.
– Secure both ends with clear tape.
– Add a few of your favorite flowers.

Snap! Your table is in full bloom

Easter is such a great time to gather your loved ones. Get your fancy crystal glassware out of the cabinet, it’s time for rosé!

This is us trying to take a decent picture (but honestly we were laughing like crazy) I rarely step in front of the camera but this time I had to, the setting was just too gorgeous. Camille and Maca totally got me with the Rosé 😉

I just adore this color palette, such a great mix of peachy pinks, teals, light blue and mustard yellow! That original painting, Colombes by Zoe Bovin is a stunner too! (It’s available online in our Baba Art Gallery, right here)

Do you like the all-white kitchen look with butcherblock countertops and gold? I think it’s the best thing because then you can add some color pops with your accessories. Accessories are way easier to change than floors and countertops! That cute Boucherouite rug might not be the most practical in a kitchen (especially if you have kids) but hey, how cute!

Happy Easter to all of you! I wish you some sweet times with your family. Let me know if you try out these easy-breezy flower wreaths, I’d love to see them! –Stephanie

Pictures: Baba Souk
Video: Hey Maca
Location & Styling: Camille Picard
Flowers: Atelier Carmel

Elif, who is now living in Montreal, is the Turkish-born trendsetter behind the Insta-Famous account, The Fashion Medley. She has the coolest edgy-chic look in town. We recently had the pleasure to shoot her Beni Ourain rug in her beautiful living room and got a chance to chat a little.

1.   How would you describe your personal style?

Ugh this is my least favorite question 🙂 

I think it’s masculine and minimal with edgy and sometimes whimsical details.

2.   Do you have a style Icon?

I get inspiration from different people all the time, lately Instagram is my biggest inspiration source – mostly geniune people who are not bloggers or fashion professionals that have really cool Instagram pages. In terms of icons; Lauren Hutton, Caroline Bessette Kennedy, the Olsen twins and mid 2000’s Kate Moss are always my favorites. I’m loving the Hadid sisters’ looks nowadays.

3.   You recently moved into a new apartment here in Montreal. What was your inspiration in terms of home décor style?

My interior design aesthetic is a lot simpler than my fashion sense, I love mid century modern. Palm Springs homes were my biggest inspiration and names like Neutra, Breuer, Wegner, Koenig etc.

Shop this look: Beni Ourain Rug from Baba Souk, Couch from Article, Table vintage from Etsy, Plant Stand from Hudson + Oak and Hook & Stem, Ceramic vase is vintage, clear vase from Vuela, wall scone is from Urban Outfitters.

4.   You recently finished decorating your living room and it’s so beautifully curated. How did you go about creating this flawless space?

For me the sense of space is really important, I don’t like cluttered interiors but I also don’t like super-simple and minimal homes either. So my aim was to create a space that looked like a living room/gallery that shows real people are actually living in it. For example, I wanted a leather couch but I made sure we bought the most comfortable one because it’s where we spend almost 80% of our time. I chose a daybed instead of a second couch or many other chairs because I love the architectural aspect it brings to the entire living room.

Our light fixtures and coffee table are vintage, so they actually are mid century furniture. I also have a lot of original vintage artwork. It was important to me that nothing in the living room looked so familiar, I wanted everything to look unique – which is why the Beni Ourain rug is one of my favorite pieces in the entire living room. It has imperfect lines and it brightens up the entire space. Even though it’s a bohemian rug it somehow fits my home perfectly and I think it’s what takes the room from a generic “space” to a living room.

5.   We know you’re such a trendsetter and you have an eye for design. Would you mind sharing what you think will be the next big trend in home décor?

As I’m still following the interior design concepts of 60 years ago, I’m not the best person to ask about new trends 😉 I know terrazzo is huge right now, also Vladimir Kagan style legless, curved couches. I don’t know if it can be considered new but painted ceilings also seem to be trending well.

6.  We know you love neutrals but what’s your take on the next HIT color?

Terra cota, camel, taupe (do these count as not-neutrals?) 😉 Peach and light pink too.

Thank you so much for sharing Elif. I’ll be dreaming of Palm Springs for a while. – Stephanie. 

We had the pleasure of being invited to Lauren MacLean’s new apartment for a shooting session and not only did she show us her new amazing Parisian boho style apartment but she was kind enough to let us style the place and take pictures. Lauren’s previous apartment has been featured in Apartment Therapy and My Domain to name a few, and we can’t wait to see what she’ll do with this one. You could definitely say she’s a decor influencer.

(Shop this look: Beni Ourain Rug with dots, Square Pouf in Tan Leather, Painting by Zoe Boivin)

First of all, Lauren, thank you so much for having us over. Your new place is simply gorgeous and we’re so happy to chat with you about your inspiration and how you’ve managed to create such a great vibe in your home. You have such a flawless style and we’d like to ask you a few questions to inspire our readers who are home decor enthusiasts.

1. We know you recently moved into this apartment. What made you fall in love with your new flat?

My first apartment was a very special experience to me. From being so worried about living in a tiny space to turning it into a journey I was able to share and be proud of made for the perfect first apartment experience, so the decision to move didn’t come easy! But above all, I simply love designing in beautiful spaces. I had always known about this apartment across the hall, I would catch glimpses of it in passing and saw enough to know that it’s where I want to be.

The apartment was in terrible shape, but with all its charm and character (and a bit more square footage!) I saw its potential and knew it would be an amazing project to start from scratch and turn it into my home. So with A LOT of blood, sweat and tears, I created a fresh new canvas to work with which really let me connect with the space and make it feel mine.

(Shop this look: Pink Boucherouite Rug, Moroccan ceramics, Original Painting by Zoe Boivin)

2. We remember your old decor and it was just perfect. What was the biggest challenge with creating a new decor when moving into this new place and starting over?

When I design a room I let the elements of the space itself contribute to my approach, like the room’s architecture, natural light, and layout. These aspects inspire my ideas for colour palettes, textures, furniture size and placement. So with treating each space as its own I actually made a lot of changes. With more square footage I was able to embrace some bolder colour palettes and stronger pieces better suited to this space.

Though I didn’t keep many pieces from my last apartment, I maintained the approach of living minimally. From my last studio apartment, I learned the value of living minimally and saw how therapeutic it really is. It pushed my design and creativity, but also taught me a lot about myself and how to connect with your space. You pay attention to what is around you, you love and connect with those things because you choose them wisely, and there is no room to accumulate stuff that doesn’t bring you value. A small space might force this style of living at first, but it’s certainly a lesson I am so happy to have learned and will always take with me.

(Shop this look: Beni Ourain Rug with dots, Square Pouf in Tan Leather, Painting by Zoe Boivin, Sun Mirror, Peace & Love poster)

3. What is your process when you start decorating? Do you have a plan? Where do you start? Any tips you can share?

Most of my design remains as visuals in my mind. I am not great with translating design to paper or executing visions to mood boards because a lot of my design is influenced by feelings. I like to start with an empty space because this lets me visualize more options. When you are looking at a full space your imagination can be limited because your eyes are still set on what is already there. And I am a big believer in taking your time designing your space. Don’t fill it for the sake of being done. When you take your time it lets you find things you really love and connect with.

I also like to envision my line of sight. When I style a space I factor in what’s around it, what you also see when looking at that area. You might like an individual item, but when placed in your home it doesn’t have the same impact because you are now seeing in amongst other colours, textures, lighting, etc. Example, I might love the colour of that chair, but realistically in my space, when you look at the chair you will also see the couch and the colours together don’t have the same impact. I also consider this for furniture placement.

Some rooms may look like they have an obvious layout, but think outside the box and move things around. When I walk into a room I prefer to have my eye-catching design elements make the first impression oppose to the practical pieces like TVs and storage units.

(Shop this look: Moroccan ceramics, Original Painting by Zoe Boivin, Pink Kilim Pillow)

4. How would you describe your overall decor aesthetic?

I think I have an eclectic approach to a Parisian aesthetic. The foundation of my apartment is very Paris apartment with the mouldings and herringbone floors so I let this tell the overall story of my space, but I have also always loved the juxtaposition of classic architecture against modern pieces. So I add the odd modern piece to bring a bit more character to the space. I see furniture as art so this also lets the pieces have more of a standalone impact rather than blending in.

(Shop this look: Moroccan Pouf in Natural Leather, Pink Striped Boucherouite Rug, Boucherouite rug with diamonds, Original Painting by Zoe Boivin)

5. Where do you mostly get your inspiration for your own decor? Any resources or inspiration sources you’d like to share?

We have access to amazing inspiration today so I certainly use things like Pinterest where it’s so easy to just type in a word and have endless content to scroll through, or platforms like My Domaine and Apartment Therapy that aren’t limited to a specific style, but can show you amazing design that lets you expand your ideas.

I also like to use movies or shows to feel inspired. Anyone who knows me will tell you I am almost never paying attention because I am only focused on the design happening in the background! Design for me is mostly about a feeling, so when I am watching something that takes place in a city, or setting that I love, it’s like seeing design come to life and you can take from it more than just physical objects placed in a room. ‘The Longest week’ being a favorite movie of mine is a great example of this type of inspiration for me.

But with so much inspiration at our fingertips it can become overwhelming. I treat my space as a way to reflect who I am, a space to really connect with so I try to encourage others to do the same.

A lot of this comes to trusting your instincts on what you really love, because you love it for a reason so why wouldn’t you want to live embraced in that feeling? Trends will always come and go and help guide us through design, but finding inspiration within yourself can actually make the difference between connecting with your home and just living in a beautiful space.

(Shop this look: Boucherouite pillows, Original Painting by Zoe Boivin, Rattan Sun Mirror, Moroccan vase in Purple.)

6. Is there a home decor trend you forecast for 2018 that you are really into right now?

The upcoming trends I love and feel will make a big statement this year is ‘natural’. In furniture I see materials like chunky, solid wood and rattan making a big statement, but designed in a way that isn’t limited to a specific style. Natural elements like these mixed in amongst bold colours, metals and modern pieces helps a space look more effortless and eclectic. It can really help to balance and offset and overly styled or decorated room. This is certainly a trend I am embracing!

7. What object in your décor do you most cherish? Is there a piece you would never part with? Why?

When I moved into my new apartment I made a lot of changes to suit the new space, but there are certain things that can adapt to any space because they mean something special to you. For me this includes art. Art is so personal and is something that I choose simply based on my response to it, not how it will look in my décor. When I first moved to Montreal I met artist Lysa Jordan* who created my 2 large canvases. Having art by a local artist was important because it felt like part of my experience in a new city, a way to embrace what the city has to offer. And now I will always be left with these beautiful pieces, but mostly a super cool story of friendship and experience to share. Something I wouldn’t part with!

*Note that in these pictures the artworks you see are from our latest collab by artist Zoe Boivin, You can see the collection right here. We also love Lysa Jordan’s work which is usually showcased in Lauren’s home, find her work here.

(Shop this look: Moroccan Pouf in White Leather, Ceramic Mug in Purple, Cactus Silk Kilim Pillows, Original Artwork by Zoe Boivin)

8. In your opinion, what makes a home cozy, welcoming and inspiring? Any particular must-have items?

I like to pay attention to all the senses, looking past the physical objects in your home, as a way to create a cozy and approachable space. Lighting is a very important design element for me. It has its practical purpose, but its impact can be so much more. I always distribute table or floor lamps in all corners of a room using low wattage, soft bulbs. This brings a warm and consistent glow across the room which really sets the tone of a space. And I like to have fresh plants and flowers because they add life to your home. They aren’t just objects so they become something you really connect with. I think that creating a welcoming space is really about finding balance. Break up bold colours with softness, break up strong patterns with neutrals.

Take your time finding a scent that you love in candles, oils, etc. This is an impactful way to make your space “yours” because it’s personal to you, and I believe that all these little personal reflections are how we can make an inspiring space of our own.

Thank you so much for sharing all of this, Lauren, we’re feeling so inspired, and speaking for myself, I can’t wait to get back home and add some Parisian boho touches! -Stephanie

Location: Lauren MacLean’s
Styling: Camille Picard X Baba Souk
Pictures: Baba Souk