Moroccan furniture is normally solid timber and stylish. Morocco is an ex-French colony, but it is very near Spain too. 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 contemporary Moroccan furniture.
When combined with Moroccan decor and colours, Moroccan furniture can change your home. Walls are usually emulsioned plain white or cream and lightly decorated with old carpets or tapestries with one or two photos or paintings hanging among them.
Reds and browns are the principal colours. Meaningful writings from the Koran or other Arabic philosophers are frequently copied out in bold lettering and framed.
Moroccan accessories such as lamps, lanterns, mirrors, benches, vases, mosaic end tables, ottomans, rugs and ceramics can bring that remarkable local flavour to the decor, setting off the solid wood or padded cloth furniture.
Pillows and cushions feature large in Moroccan interior and garden decor, but they also use sofas and seats in the European manner. Morocco is well-known for its leather craft and leather is frequently used to cover chairs, sofas and footstools or poufes.
Scatter rugs are essential 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 want to dine in Moroccan style, they usually eat at a very low round table with the main dish in the centre from which everybody helps themselves, although in a family, some members will feed others as well.
Following tradition 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.
Individuals 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 cloth. Candles, scented or not also feature a great deal in living rooms and bedrooms unless someone wants a stronger light to read by.
Candles in wall sconces are common ways to highlight extraordinary parts and light up corridors and some doorways. Often these sconces do not contain candles, but hold aromatic oil with a floating wick which is less expensive to leave burning between the hours or twilight and bed time.
Owen Jones, the writer of this article, writes on a variety of subjects, but is now involved with outdoor dining tables. If you want to know more, please visit our web site at Solid Oak Dining Tables.
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