All About the Moroccan Chic Style

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Chic is one of those words you often see thrown around in the design world. It’s especially common to see it added to certain design styles to update an older look for modern sensibilities, as is the case with rustic chic and even boho chic. And one style that’s easy to fall in love with is the Moroccan chic style.

Like other styles that make use of the word chic, Moroccan chic is about taking the classic Moroccan design style and updating it for a more modern appeal. The Moroccan style has very distinctive architectural, color and pattern traits. However, it can also look dated on its own since it has so many classical elements to it. Moroccan chic takes some of those Moroccan features and combines them with modern sensibilities, like a judicious use of color and choosing one pattern as a focal point. Below we’ll cover in detail how to get the very on-trend Moroccan chic style.

If you want to get a Moroccan chic style, first focus on the furniture, like this Carnuel Moroccan Leather Pouf. Image courtesy of Wayfair.

Moroccan Chic Furniture Details

One hallmark of the Moroccan style is its distinctive furniture and high use of textured patterns. So you’ll first want to focus on the furniture. To start off, it just isn’t a Moroccan style unless you have a pouf somewhere, like the tan one in the photo above. This is a good element that instantly sets the Moroccan tone thanks to its patterns.

In general, you’ll want to focus on pieces with a high degree of geometric pattern. For instance, you might choose a room divider with a patterned and geometric tone. Furniture featuring arches and diamond patterns are also common.

Layered fabrics give an instant Moroccan feel. Image: Pierivb/Getty Images

Fabric Textures Galore

Another hallmark of the Moroccan style is the use of plenty of textured fabrics. You can see in the photo above how this idea was updated for a more chic design. The fabrics have plenty of texture, but the space is still dominated by a neutral color scheme. That way, this room keeps a light, modern feel.

A common aspect of the Moroccan chic style is that it’s defined by different textures on top of and next to each other. You might even see multiple rugs placed on top of each other in some styles. In the photo above, you can see how the print on the wall sits above a textured pillow, which sits next to a textured bed accent.

Combine the high dose of color in traditional Moroccan styles with the neutrals of modern styles by using an accent color. Image: Pierre-Yves Babelon/Getty Images

Go Subtle with Color

Traditional Moroccan styles are all about color saturation. However, more modern styles tend to veer towards neutrals. To strike a chic balance between the two of them, you could focus on one accent color. The Moroccan chic style in the photo above uses a deep blue as its main accent color. You can see how that shade is reflected in the bedspread and bench. The space also uses red as a secondary accent color.

You could use small punches of multicolored elements, too. Examples include colorful stained-glass pieces in the windows, artwork or a rug. However, these items should not overpower the space. Ground out these elements with neutral-colored items to keep it modern, like in the photo above.

To keep things more minimal and modern, focus on one main pattern. Image: KUPRYNENKO ANDRII/Shutterstock

Choose One Pattern as a Focal Point

The Moroccan style is all about patterns and texture. However, to keep things more on the Moroccan chic and modern side, work with just one or two large-scale patterns as your focal point to keep the room looking more visually streamlined.

An example is the space in the photo above, where the defining pattern of the room is the design behind the TV. A secondary texture comes from the geometric design in the carpeting. Moroccan styles are also all about layering tons of pillows together, so feel free to do that, as well. You can use smaller, subtle designs on the pillows. Again, this photo shows how layering visual textures in neutral shades keeps the style looking more modern.

Arches are a major aspect of Moroccan styles, but you can incorporate them in subtle ways. Image: Richman21/Shutterstock

Architectural Details

Another huge trend in the Moroccan style is notable architectural details. For example, a recurring detail is that doorways tend to have arches for more of a cultural appeal. However, we can’t all completely remodel our doorways. A good compromise is the wall facade design in the photo above. It still gives that arched Moroccan architecture feel without having to get out the sledgehammer.

You can also incorporate similar geometry into other home accents like coffee tables, mirrors or even headboards. You’ll most commonly see the horseshoe arch in Moroccan architecture, which is a style you can find in all kinds of home goods.

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