Moroccan Decor

Moroccan furniture is usually solid timber and stylish. Morocco is an ex-French colony, but it is very near Spain as well. In fact, two small parts of Morocco, Melilla and Ceuta are still under Spanish jurisdiction.

 

This means that Moroccan furniture and decor has Berba, Arabic, French and Spanish influences. These Mediterranean influences are obvious in traditional and modern Moroccan furniture.

 

If combined with Moroccan decor and colours, Moroccan furniture can transform your home. Walls are usually emulsioned plain white or cream and sparsely decorated with old carpets or tapestries with one or two photos or paintings hanging between them.

 

Reds and browns are the predominant colours. Poignant texts from the Koran or other Arabic philosophers are frequently written out in bold characters and framed.

 

Moroccan accessories such as lamps, lanterns, mirrors, benches, vases, mosaic end tables, ottomans, rugs and ceramics can add that special local flavour to the decor, setting off the solid wood or padded cloth furniture.

 

Pillows feature extensively in Moroccan interior and garden decor, but they also use settees and seats in the European manner. Morocco is well-known for its leather work and leather is frequently used to cover chairs, sofas and footstools or poufes.

 

Scatter rugs are important for sitting on and they are taken out and beaten every day to keep them clean as Morocco is a hot, sandy and dusty country if you travel a couple of miles inland from the coast. Camels are still used for transport in rural areas and camel hair is woven into rugs, blankets and wall coverings.

 

Moroccans like tiles and mosaics and Arabic style tiles are quite distinctive if you want to use them in your bathroom and kitchen. If you would like to dine in Moroccan style, they normally dine at a very low round table with the primary dish in the centre from which everyone helps themselves, although in a family, some members will feed others as well.

 

Following custom and hygiene, you may only touch food with your right hand, although everyone will have washed both hands before coming to the table. Bread, rice and couscous feature highly in Moroccan food as does potatoes, carrots, lamb and chicken.Water is served during the meal and tea and coffee afterwards frequently with very sweet cakes sprinkled with icing sugar and syrup.

 

People relax at home wearing long, loose-fitting garments and lounge on benches or on rugs on the floor surrounded by cushions. In the evening, lighting will be low offered by low wattage bulbs concealed behind red and brown stained glass or fabric. Candles, scented or not also feature a lot in living rooms and bedrooms unless someone wants a more powerful light to read by.

 

Candles in wall sconces are common methods to highlight special parts and illuminate corridors and some doorways. Often these sconces do not hold candles, but hold scented oil with a floating wick which is less expensive to leave burning between the hours or twilight and bed time.