The word Berber refers to a style of carpeting that traditionally was
seen in light, solid neutral background colors with flecks of darker
colors, usually brown or gray. Berber carpets originated in North
Africa where they were hand woven by the Berber people of the area using
a distinctive hand-knotting technique. They are still made by hand
there and often at the homes of families who have been making them for
centuries. These rugs provide income for the families who sell them at
local bazaars and markets, as well as to tourists and to merchants who
will re-sell them.
These homemade Berbers sometimes incorporate local and cultural designs,
and are usually made of natural materials. They still feature the
unique knotted texture they are famous for, but they are now available
in bright colors and designs as well as the traditional neutrals with
flecks.
Contemporary Berber carpets are made of looped pile to look like the
originals. Like the tribal Berbers, the contemporary Berbers are most
often found in the plain neutral colors with darker flecks; but they can
also be found in solid colors without the flecks. They have been
popular with consumers for years, but until recently were used
predominantly in high traffic areas such as dens or offices. Now,
however, you can find them used anywhere in a house that wants a clean,
stylish look, from bedrooms to dining rooms and even living rooms.
Berber carpets fit well into the contemporary lifestyle for several
reasons. Besides being good looking and stylish, they have the
advantage of not being statement rugs; instead, they blend well with
almost any style of furniture and home. This means that even when you
decide to redecorate, the Berbers can make the transition with you, no
matter what your new decorating style is.
They are also easy to clean,
so if Fido has an accident or the kids come in from playing in the dirt
and roll around on the carpet, you can get your rug clean with a
minimum of effort. Because of their looped construction, spills don’t
sink into the carpet easily; instead, they tend to remain on the
surface, so if you get to them in a reasonable time, you will probably
be able to prevent any real visible damage. The flecked Berbers are
especially good at hiding minor stains or soiling.
There are many types of modern Berbers made from various different
materials including nylon, olefin and wool. Of the newer fibers, olefin
is the easiest to clean. Well-made Berbers of any material are very
durable, and they can stand up to most kinds of family-and-pet
punishment. It usually only takes running a vacuum cleaner over the rug
to make it look great again, but make sure to turn off the rotating
brush that can pull and snag at the threads before you start vacuuming.
Berber rugs generally tend to cost less
than cut-pile carpets because they require fewer steps to make. All
carpets start out as looped, but Berbers remain that way, with no need
to do any further cutting or patterning. Other cut-pile carpets that
begin as looped need to have the tops of the looped sheared off so that
sometimes elaborate patterns and different depths can be created.
While Berber carpets can cost less than cut pile carpets, they are
available in a wide range of price points, so it is possible to spend as
much on a top of the line Berber as you would on a cut pile rug. But
the widespread idea that you get more for your money with a Berber is
generally true, since they are sturdy and easy to clean with a high
degree of stain resistance.
One disadvantage of Berber rugs is that it is possible to cause them to
snag or run, since the loop construction makes it possible for something
– like a cat’s claw – to get caught in the loop and then pull it out of
place. However, it takes a lot of force to do this, and even if it
does happen, it is very unusual for that snag to become completely
unraveled and turn into a run. To see a wide range of Berber rugs click here.