Moroccan Home Decor - Spice Up Dull Fabrics With Beautiful Moroccan Embroidery

Embroidered details on fabrics instantly give them a unique, personal touch. Embroidery has been a tradition in Moroccan decor throughout history, and can easily be added to your home, no matter if the feel is urban or rural countryside.

Moroccan fabrics with intricate embroidery make beautiful tablecloths, curtains, or tapestries for any home. The brilliant colors and rich fabrics can make any space instantly chic and sophisticated.

Most likely brought to Morocco by Jewish, Arab and Berber refugees, the art form has flourished in the area. The different cities of Morocco each have their own unique style of embroidery, so the fabrics used and details depend on regional variations. The city most famous for its embroidery is Fez, stemming from its long history of royal court traditions.

Fez is renowned in Morocco for utilized gold and silver threads to embroider on rich velvet and handmade leather. Many of the motifs used came from various corners of the world, particularly the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

Adding Moroccan fabrics with gold embroidering on bold fabrics can create the festive atmosphere of a sultan’s palace in your living room. Placing an embroidered fabric across the coffee table will give the room a unique, intimate feel.

Beautifully detailed mattress covers are also crafted in Fez. The cotton covers are decorated with silk thread in geometric floral patterns. To add a Moroccan flair to your bedroom, an embroidered bed cover is the ideal choice.

The city Tetouan is most famous for making mirrored hangings and cushions that are put on display at weddings. Cotton is worked with pastel silks typically detailed with floral motifs. This style of embroidery is quite distinct among the rest of Morocco. Because of the pastel colors used, it is suggested to be of Turkish origin. The lighter colors also make a great contrast to the bold brights used in other Moroccan regions.

The most common pattern is geometric shapes, but plants and birds, particularly storks can be seen perched among them around the outer edges of the design. The Moroccan culture believes the stork brings good luck.

Another unique place in your home to add Moroccan fabrics that you might not have thought of is in the bathroom. Square clothes with the design of the stork perched on top of Mosques and other holy places can be found around Morocco in public baths. Stork designs are also often embroidered onto bags, curtains, wall hangings, and belts.

Since the invention of the sewing machine, embroidery can be done quicker and pieces have unfortunately become homogenized. To ensure that you get a unique, one-of-a-kind piece, make sure it was handmade. Handmade embroidery is a true testament to the ability and skill of the artist, as well as the uniqueness of each piece they create.

Adeal Benhayoun is the owner of Star of Morocco, which specializes in Moroccan decor and Moroccan style furniture.