1. Start with how the space is used

• Terraces and pool areas: weather-resistant rope lounge chairs, side tables and outdoor cushions.
• Lounges and lobbies: low seating with poufs and floor cushions, layered kilims and statement brass lighting.
• Cafés and restaurants: durable chairs, repeated pendant lights and easy-to-clean textiles.
• Guest rooms: blanket ladders, rattan wall sconces, kilim pillow covers and a pouf or two.

2. Choose a colour story

The most memorable spaces use a small, consistent palette. Natural tones (sand, terracotta, olive) feel calm and timeless, while one bold accent colour repeated across chairs, cushions and rugs gives a strong identity that photographs well for social media.

3. Plan for made-to-order

Because every piece is made by hand, larger orders are produced to order. That brings real advantages: you can often choose colours, adjust sizes and keep a whole project consistent. It also means planning ahead. Share your opening date early so production and shipping fit your schedule.

4. Think about shipping early

Small items such as cushions, lamps and bags travel well by express courier. Furniture is bulky, so for larger orders road or sea freight on pallets is usually far more cost-effective than express. We ship from our workshop near Marrakech to the UK and the European Union, and can quote freight for other destinations.

5. For resellers in Europe

Concept stores, boutiques and online shops can combine different products in one shipment, from straw bags and pillow covers to poufs and lighting, and restock regularly. Ask us about mixed orders and trade pricing.

How to start

1. Send us your project: products, quantities, colours and your timeline.
2. We reply with trade prices, lead times and a shipping estimate.
3. We share photos from the workshop as your order is made.
4. Your order is packed carefully and shipped to your door.

Ready to plan your project? Visit our wholesale and trade page to send an enquiry, or contact us on WhatsApp for a quick answer.

The post Furnishing a Riad, Hotel or Café with Handmade Moroccan Pieces appeared first on Imperial Artisanat.

Brass: hammered and hand-pierced

Brass is the classic material of Moroccan metalwork. Two techniques give it its character:

• Hammering: the metal is shaped and textured with a hammer, leaving small facets that catch and reflect the light. Our brass leaf pendant uses this technique for a statement piece over a dining table.
• Piercing: tiny holes are punched by hand into the brass in geometric or floral patterns. When the lamp is on, those patterns appear on the walls and ceiling, as with our hand-pierced brass egg lamp.

Brass develops a warm patina over time. If you prefer it bright, polish it occasionally with a soft cloth and a little brass cleaner.

Rattan and palm: natural and soft

Woven rattan and palm leaf diffuse the light rather than patterning it. They suit bedrooms, reading corners and boho or coastal interiors, and they pair beautifully with wood, linen and kilims. Our tiered rattan wall sconce is a good example.

Choosing the right lamp for each room

• Dining room and kitchen: a brass pendant hung 70 to 80 cm above the table becomes the centrepiece of the room.
• Living room: layer a pendant with one or two table lamps so the room glows from several heights.
• Bedroom: wall sconces free up bedside space and give a soft, low light for reading.
• Hallway and entrance: a pierced lamp makes a striking first impression.
• Hotels and cafés: repeating the same pendant over a row of tables creates rhythm and a strong identity.

Bulbs and safety

Choose warm white LED bulbs (around 2700K) to bring out the glow of brass and natural fibres; they also stay cool, which is important inside woven shades. Always have pendants and wall lights installed by a qualified electrician, following the rules in your country.

Explore the collection: browse all our handmade Moroccan lamps and pendants, shipped worldwide from Marrakech.

The post Brass, Rattan and Palm: A Guide to Moroccan Lighting appeared first on Imperial Artisanat.

In our workshop near Marrakech, we make our own handwoven rope lounge chairs in two shapes: the classic Acapulco and the round hoop.

How each chair is made

1. The frame. A metal frame is formed, welded and finished to protect it from the weather.
2. The weave. An artisan wraps and weaves weather-resistant cord across the frame by hand, keeping the tension even so the seat holds its shape and gives a little as you sit.
3. The finish. Every chair is checked for tension, knots and finish before it leaves the workshop.

Weaving a single chair takes hours of careful work. That is why handwoven chairs feel different from mass-produced copies: the weave is tighter, more even and more comfortable.

Acapulco or round hoop?

• Acapulco: the iconic oval shape with a higher back. A reclined, lounging position that is perfect for reading by the pool.
• Round hoop: a softer, circular silhouette with a radiating weave. It feels a little more upright and works well around a table or in a café.

Choosing a colour

Neutral cords such as white, beige and black blend into any garden and age gracefully. Bright colours turn a terrace into a statement and look great in sets: try two chairs in the same colour around a rope side table, or mix three colours for a playful café corner.

Caring for your rope chair outdoors

• Wipe the cord with mild soapy water and rinse; avoid strong solvents.
• Let the chair dry fully after rain before covering it.
• Store it under cover or indoors during long wet or freezing winters.
• Add an outdoor cushion for extra comfort on long afternoons.

Delivery

Our lounge chairs travel by road freight to the UK and the European Union, and we also deliver within Morocco. Furnishing a hotel, riad or café? Ask us about trade pricing and freight for larger orders.

Shop the chairs: see all colours and styles of our Moroccan rope lounge chair.

The post The Acapulco Chair: How Our Rope Lounge Chairs Are Made appeared first on Imperial Artisanat.

To keep shipping affordable, we send poufs unstuffed and folded flat. Filling one takes about twenty minutes, and you can make it as soft or as firm as you like.

How to stuff your pouf

What you will need: old blankets, towels, pillows or clothes, and a bag of polyester fibre filling or foam offcuts. Many people use a mix: soft textiles for weight and shape, fibre filling for the final firm finish.

1. Open the zip or seam and turn the pouf so the opening faces up.
2. Start with the heavy layer. Fold blankets or towels flat and lay them in the bottom to give the pouf a stable base.
3. Fill the sides. Push filling firmly into the edges and corners first. This is what gives a pouf its neat, rounded shape.
4. Fill the centre and keep pressing down as you go. A pouf always needs more filling than you expect.
5. Close it and sit on it. If it sinks or wrinkles, open it and add more. A well-stuffed pouf should feel firm and hold its shape.

Tip: fill the pouf inside a cotton bag or pillowcase first. You can then take the filling out in one piece when you want to clean the cover.

Five ways to style a rug pouf

• Living room: pair two poufs in different colours in front of the sofa as footrests or extra seats.
• Bedroom: place one at the end of the bed or by a reading chair.
• Kids’ room: a soft, low seat that is easy to move around.
• Side table: top it with a round tray and it becomes a coffee table.
• Terrace: bring it outside on dry evenings for relaxed, low seating with rope chairs.

Mixing colours and patterns

Rug poufs look best when they echo something else in the room. Pick up one colour from a cushion, a kilim or a piece of art. In a neutral space, a single saffron or fuchsia pouf becomes an instant focal point; in a colourful room, a striped or pastel pouf ties everything together.

Care

Vacuum the cover gently, blot spills straight away, and keep it out of strong direct sun to protect the colours of the vintage rug.

Find your pouf: each of our Moroccan rug poufs is a single, one-of-a-kind piece, so when it is gone, it is gone.

The post How to Stuff and Style a Moroccan Rug Pouf appeared first on Imperial Artisanat.

How a kilim is made

A kilim is woven on a loom by passing coloured weft threads over and under the vertical warp threads, packing them tightly together. There are no knots and no raised pile, which is why a kilim is flat, thin and usually reversible. Patterns are built up row by row: diamonds, zigzags, key borders and stripes appear as the weaver changes colour across the width of the rug.

Because every row is placed by hand, no two kilims are exactly alike. Small variations in line, colour and edge are part of the character of a handwoven piece, not a flaw.

Kilim or pile rug: what is the difference?

• Kilim (flat-woven): thin, light, reversible, easy to roll and move. Ideal for hallways, kitchens, bedsides and layering over larger rugs.
• Pile rug (knotted): thick and soft underfoot, heavier and warmer. Best as a large statement rug in living rooms and bedrooms.

Many homes use both: a soft pile rug under the sofa and kilim runners and mats in the busier, harder-working spaces.

Reading the colours and patterns

Moroccan kilims are known for confident colour. Saffron and red bring warmth to neutral rooms, royal blue and emerald green feel fresh and modern, and charcoal black gives a graphic, contemporary edge. Borders matter too: a key or zigzag border frames the rug and makes it read as a finished piece on bare floors.

Where to use a kilim

• Hallways and kitchens: a long, narrow runner adds colour and softens hard floors.
• Bedsides and entryways: a small mat is the easiest way to try a bold colour.
• Layered: place a kilim at an angle over a large neutral rug for a relaxed, collected look.
• Off the floor: kilims also work as wall hangings, bench throws and, of course, as pillow covers.

Caring for your kilim

• Shake it out or vacuum it gently on a low setting, without the beater bar.
• Blot spills straight away with a clean, damp cloth; do not rub.
• Turn it every few months so it wears and fades evenly.
• Use a thin non-slip underlay on smooth floors.
• For deep cleaning, choose a professional rug cleaner rather than a washing machine.

With a little care, a handwoven kilim will last for many years and only gets more beautiful with age.

Explore our collection: browse our handwoven Moroccan kilim rugs and runners, shipped from our Marrakech workshop to the USA, Canada, the UK, Europe and Morocco.

The post What Is a Moroccan Kilim? A Guide to Flat-Woven Berber Rugs appeared first on Imperial Artisanat.