How to Make a Moroccan-Themed Dining Room

Create a cozy, relaxing atmosphere with a Moroccan-style dining room.

Moroccan-style decor features rich, jewel-tone colors and lashings of intricately patterned fabric to create a vibrant, exotic space. Moroccan dining is a very communal affair, without separate seating and place settings, which makes Moroccan decor a great choice for a dining room. It is a warm and welcoming style that is highly conducive to socializing, entertaining and relaxing.

Things You'll Need

• Paint
• Zillij tiles
• Curtain wire
• Fabric
• Terracotta tiles
• Persian-style rugs
• Communal seating
• Table
• Moroccan lamps
• Cushions

Instructions

1. Paint the walls of the dining room in rich, jewel-tone colors such as emerald green, ruby red or sapphire blue. Alternatively, use warm, spicy colors on the walls and introduce the brighter, bolder colors in the fabrics and accessories. Add texture to the walls and create an authentic rustic feel by using a paint effect such as color washing or sponging, or use a textured paint.

2. Create focal points and texture on the walls with Zillij tiles and fabric hangings. Zillij tiles are Moroccan mosaic tiles made from clay, and are used to create elaborate decorative artwork. Attach a curtain wire along the top edge of a wall and suspend a large piece of fabric from it for a rich, luxurious effect.

3. Lay terracotta tiles on the floor for an authentic Moroccan feel. If you don't want to change the current flooring, use rich, Persian-style rugs to hide it.

4. Add communal seating around the perimeter of the room. If you have a very large room, bring the seating away from the walls toward the center of the room to maintain the feeling of coziness. Very low sofas, large floor cushions and bean bag sofas are all ideal Moroccan-style seating in a dining room, or combine all of these seating options together for a luxurious and relaxing effect.

5. Place a large but very low-to-the-ground table in the center of the seating. Use a table with a mosaic tile top for extra interest and texture, or use a simple, rustic table for a calmer effect.

6. Hang Moroccan lamps around the room to create a warm and inviting glow. Pile extra cushions onto the seating areas in a range of bright colors and rich fabrics.

Tips & Warnings

• Be bold — don't be afraid to combine tiles, fabric and textured paint on the walls.

• For even more luxury, suspend fabric panels from the center of the ceiling, drape them down to the top of the walls and allow them to cascade down the walls to the floor.

References

• Themed Home Decor: Moroccan Decorating

Resources

• Etiquette Scholar: International Dining Etiquette, Morocco
• PR Log; Zillij Tile; April 2008