The city of Marrakech, where ancient traditions and modern influences meet to create a captivating tapestry of culture. Nestled within the heart of Morocco, this enchanting city is renowned for its vibrant souks, labyrinthine streets, and an array of exquisite handmade crafts. Among the many treasures waiting to be discovered, one stands out in its allure and timelessness—the Moroccan rug!

Marrakech has long been a paradise for rug enthusiasts, offering an abundance of choices that showcase the rich heritage of Moroccan craftsmanship. Whether you're an interior design aficionado or simply seeking a unique piece to adorn your home, the journey of buying a rug in Marrakech promises an unforgettable experience but also an overwhelming experience. We hope that these tips will make things a little easier for you.

A Brief History of Moroccan Rugs

The majority of what you'll find in Bazars is made by one of Morocco's forty-five distinct Berber tribes. Every Moroccan Berber rug is handmade on a loom and has a distinct style. Women are more likely to do it in their spare time. Rugs can take anywhere from 10 days to 6 months to complete, depending on size, complexity, and the amount of time she has available. Rugs are primarily used in homes or for special occasions. They are then traded or sold as goods.

Keep these things in mind if you visit Morocco and want to buy a rug to take home with you.

1. Bargain As Your Life Depends on It

In case you missed it, you must bargain for your rug! Do not, We repeat, DO NOT accept the price that the shop offers you. There are a few shops with fixed prices, but they are few and far between. Always try to negotiate first.

Bargaining is part of the game here. The salesman is aware that you will not (or should not) accept his first offer. Many people are hesitant to go too low. Not to worry. Reduce the price by as much as 2/3, to begin with, and work your way up from there.

You should eventually expect to pay around half of the original price. Move on if you know you're already out of your league at 50% off the original price. There are some stores where bargaining is not permitted. They will be upfront and tell you this right away. You have the option of accepting or rejecting that.

If you've agreed on a price, you shouldn't change your mind. When you finally commit, it's bad form to change your mind and walk away. Wait until you are absolutely certain before agreeing completely. There is no contract yet, but there is an oral agreement.

2. Don't Show Too Much Interest

Don't let the shopkeeper figure out how much excited you are about a rug, or you'll lose one of your most powerful bargaining chips. Instead, maintain a casual demeanor. Examine additional rugs so that you can eventually return to the one you really want. Furthermore, don't be afraid to walk away. True, Moroccan rugs are one-of-a-kind, but many times when you walk away, the salesman will return and lower the price or agree to the last price you gave.

However, if you appear to be very interested and must have the rug, the salesperson will not be as flexible with pricing. They'll notice that you're willing to pay more because you truly want it.

3. Choosing Your Rug

When you start looking at rugs, it can be a little (ok, a lot) overwhelming. There are SO many to choose from that they can all start to blend together after a while. You may also be shown rug styles that you are not interested in, but these pile up on the floor and in your mind, adding to your confusion. Here are a few pointers to help you find the perfect rug without going insane!

• Make a list of colors that you like or dislike. If you've seen a few orange rugs and dislike them, tell the vendor you don't want to see any more orange rugs. Similarly, if you know you need a rug with blue in it, let them know right away.

• Begin by narrowing down the rugs that you like. The vendor will take rug after rug and place them on the floor. Stop them when you've reached a point where you're not sure. Request that the rugs you do not like be removed and the ones that are "maybes" be set aside. Once the rugs you don't like have been removed, simply have them lay out the rugs you do like; this makes it much easier to decide what might be a good fit.

• Keep in mind that the rooms in which you are viewing the rug are likely to be much larger than the room in which the rug will be used at home. So, while it may "appear small" on the large floor, it may be ideal for your home.

• After going through the maybe pile and weeding out the rugs you still want to look at or those that aren't a good fit, it's time to decide whether you want to see more or make a decision.

• If you decide to see more, let the vendor know if you have a favorite style of the rugs you've seen or if you'd like to see something completely different.

An open conversation will not only help you find the rug you want but will also assist the vendor in determining which rug is the best fit. Some places have thousands of rugs, so having a good starting point is extremely beneficial to everyone. It's also a good idea to keep in mind your budget for purchasing a rug, or at least a ballpark figure.

Vintage Moroccan Rugs

If you walk into a shop and are told that a rug is a vintage Moroccan rug, don't believe it, especially if you don't know the difference. There is an entire industry dedicated to "aging" rugs that will be sold as antiques. If you really want to buy an antique, you should do your homework so you know what you're getting. You're also unlikely to find rugs here that are older than the 1920s or 1930s.

If you don't know what you're looking for and don't have a lot of experience with vintage rugs, we would advise you to proceed with caution. You can't really judge the value of anything if you don't know what you're buying. Consider buying something you simply adore rather than an investment piece for your purchase.

4. The Fire Test

Authentic Moroccan rugs are made from genuine wool. One way to tell if you’re getting a real wool rug or a synthetic is to hold up a lighter to one of the loose edges. If it doesn’t light or put itself out it's made of wool. If it ignites it’s synthetic. Chances are if you pull out a lighter and it’s fake after the dealer has told you it’s authentic he’ll get quite nervous.

One Last Thing!

Do not believe anyone on the street who tells you specific shops or alleys are closed (this applies to almost every shop or attraction in Marrakech) or not open, or anything of the sort. The person will most likely tell you this, and then "offer" to take you to a different shop that they work with, requesting (or forcing) you to tip them for the convenience of taking you. If you ever happen to be approached by these scammers, it's always best to assertively inform them that you will report their activities to the authorities. This strong stance will likely prompt them to back off and leave you alone.