Decorating with a Berber rug: neutral or colourful ideas

In short: a neutral Berber rug (white, cream, beige) warms up a clean interior without cluttering it; a colourful Berber rug becomes the centrepiece of a plain room. Either way, three rules are enough: choose a large enough size, repeat one or two of the rug’s colours elsewhere in the room, and play with textures (wood, linen, ceramics) rather than adding patterns everywhere.

Neutral or colourful: how to choose?

• Choose a neutral rug if your sofa, curtains or walls are already coloured or patterned, if you like calm interiors, or if you often change your decor: a white or cream rug goes with everything.
• Choose a colourful rug if the room is mostly white, grey or light wood and lacks character: the rug brings colour and warmth in one go.

A white thick-wool rug such as the Polaire Mrirt rug brings softness and light without stealing the show from the furniture. See all our beige and neutral Berber rugs.

Pairing the colours of a colourful Berber rug

The safest method: pick out two or three colours in the rug and repeat them in small touches – cushions, a throw, a vase, a frame. The room then looks considered, effortlessly.

• A red or orange rug goes with warm wood, cognac leather, natural linen and the deep greens of plants.
• A blue or green rug works with white, light grey, pale wood and touches of brass.
• A multicoloured rug needs calm surroundings: a plain sofa, light walls and few other patterns.

The bright red Volcano Mrirt rug instantly warms a white or light-wood living room.

The Horizon Mrirt rug, with fine multicoloured stripes, holds its own against bold colours: it works with a blue sofa as well as with red armchairs.

The Blue Green Mrirt rug, in teal and green, adds depth to a light interior. Find all our colourful pieces in the colourful Berber rugs collection.

By interior style

• Scandinavian: a white or ivory rug, perhaps with dark diamonds, on a light wooden floor. The most classic pairing.
• Boho: warm colours, free patterns, plants, rattan and layered textiles. A colourful rug fits in naturally.
• Modern and minimalist: a plain or very graphic thick-wool rug to soften clean lines, concrete or metal.
• Japandi: sand, beige or brown tones, dense wool and few patterns. Material matters more than motif.
• Classic or “old money”: a rug in deep colours or marron glacé, with dark wood, velvet and warm lamps.

Room by room

• Living room: the rug defines the seating area. The front legs of the sofa and armchairs should rest on it. See our guide what size rug for a living room.
• Bedroom: a thick, soft rug under the lower two thirds of the bed, or one on each side. Neutral tones encourage calm.
• Entrance: choose a thinner rug that does not catch the door, in a colour that forgives foot traffic.
• Study: a colourful rug energises, a neutral one soothes – choose according to how you work.
• Dining room: large enough for the chairs to stay on it, in easy-care wool.

Decorating mistakes to avoid

• A rug that is too small: the room looks smaller and the furniture seems to float.
• Too many patterns: with a busy rug, keep the sofa and curtains plain.
• Ignoring the light: a dark rug in a dim room darkens it further; a light rug makes it look larger.
• Matching everything: picking up one colour from the rug is enough – matching every object makes the room feel stiff.

To understand what the patterns on your rug say, read our guide to Berber symbols, and to compare styles, see Mrirt, Beni Ourain or Azilal.