San Antonio buyers usually choose between two kinds of seating: a thin Afghan toshak on the floor that doubles as a guest bed, or a raised, upholstered Arabic majlis sofa with fixed backs and arm bolsters. Sofhu, the manufacturer, makes both in Türkiye to your room measurements and ships free to San Antonio. There is no local shop; ordering starts with a quote by measurement.
- Two options
- Afghan toshak or Arabic majlis set
- Made by
- Sofhu, manufacturer, in Türkiye
- San Antonio shop
- None. Made to order
- Shipping
- Free, to your door
- Covers
- Zippered and machine washable
- Majlis foam
- 32 kg/m³ (32 DNS) high-density
On this page
Two different things get asked for in San Antonio. One is the Afghan toshak, floor seating in its simplest form: a long, thin mattress that lines the walls by day and becomes a bed at night. The other is the Arabic majlis sofa, raised to sofa height and fully upholstered, with a fixed back behind every seat. Sofhu makes both to order in Türkiye and ships them free. This guide to buying a majlis sofa in San Antonio starts with telling the two apart.
Toshak or majlis: two ways to seat a room
| Afghan toshak | Arabic majlis set | |
|---|---|---|
| Seat | Thin, long mattress on the floor | Firm seat on a solid upholstered base |
| Back | Loose pillows against the wall | Tall fixed backrests |
| Armrests | None by tradition | Arm bolsters between or beside sitters |
| Also used as | A bed for family and guests | A seat only |
In Afghan homes people sit on toshaks for meals and conversation and sleep on them too, leaning on a bolster called a balesht. An Arabic majlis is closer to a sofa. It holds its line along the wall and gives each guest a defined place. Between the two sits Sofhu’s Arabic floor sofa: a thicker seat mattress on the floor with loose back cushions and armrest blocks.
Neither is the better choice. A family that hosts relatives overnight will get more from a toshak. A family that wants a formal sitting room will prefer the majlis. The article on Afghan toshak versus Arabic majlis goes deeper, and what is a toshak explains the word.
Afghan toshak San Antonio families can order to size
San Antonio has received Afghan families, along with other refugee families, in recent years. For a household setting up a new home, the toshak is often the first thing wanted and the hardest to find in a shop.
Sofhu’s premium Afghan toshak is made to the length of your walls. The filling is described by Sofhu as first-quality foam, and the covers have zips so they can be turned inside out and machine washed in cold water. The style page on Afghan toshak floor seating shows how the pieces are arranged.
Single-storey houses and garden apartments
Many homes in San Antonio are single-storey houses or garden apartments, and each shapes the order differently.
In a garden apartment the living room usually has one long wall and a patio door. A single row along that wall, or an L-shape turning the corner, keeps the door clear and leaves floor for the children. The guide to a majlis for small apartments has layouts for tight rooms.
A single-storey house often has a living room at the front and a den behind it. Either can take an L-shape or a full U-shape if three walls are free. Whatever the room, the seating must stand against a wall, because it is not freestanding. A run cannot be placed across the middle of an open plan.
Light fabric for South Texas heat
San Antonio is hot for a long season, and the fabric should be chosen with that in mind. Among Sofhu’s ranges, linen is described as porous, absorbent and refreshing in hot weather. Flat weaves stay cool to the touch. Velvet is comfortable in an air-conditioned room and is easy to clean, but a deep pile in a dark colour will feel heavy in a sunlit room.
Colour does as much as cloth. A pale set, like the sky blue one below, reflects light and makes a small room look larger.
Majlis sofa San Antonio orders: what the set is made of
An Arabic majlis from Sofhu uses 32 kg/m³ high-density foam in the seats, called 32 DNS in Türkiye. The figure is the weight of one cubic metre of foam. It is a measure of how much material is in the cushion, not of hardness, and denser foam generally holds its shape longer. The cushions have no springs. You can ask for a softer or firmer feel, and for a different cushion thickness.
On the toshaks and floor sofas the covers are zippered and come off for washing. The Arabic floor sofa hub describes the low sets.
Getting a quote without a local shop
Sofhu has no shop in San Antonio, so the tape measure does the work. Measure each wall you want to cover. Mark the doors, the windows and the air vents. Take two photos. Say whether you want a toshak or a majlis, and whether guests will sleep in the room. Then use the quote by measurement page or WhatsApp to send it. The step-by-step guide on how to order a custom majlis online shows what happens next.
The set arrives vacuum packed, with free shipping. Duties or taxes may apply on entry to the United States; ask Sofhu before ordering.
For other parts of the state, see oriental Arabic jalsah in Texas, or the city guides for Houston and Dallas.
