Sofhu builds raised Arabic majlis sets and low Arabic floor sofas to measure in Türkiye and ships them free to the Northern Territory. For Darwin's wet season the practical choices are breathable linen or woven covers that unzip and wash at 30°C, seats filled with 32 kg/m³ foam, and a layout that lets air move. Send your wall measurements and full delivery address to get a quote.
- Made by
- Sofhu, manufacturer, in Türkiye
- Order type
- Made to measure, no fixed sizes
- Wet-season choice
- Linen or woven covers, removable and washable
- Foam
- 32 kg/m³ (32 DNS) high-density foam
- Shipping
- Free worldwide; confirm remote addresses when quoting
- Next step
- Quote by measurement or WhatsApp
On this page
The train that runs north to Darwin is still called The Ghan, after the Afghan cameleers who carried goods through the outback long before the railway was finished. Muslim life in the Northern Territory is that old. Today Darwin and Alice Springs have small communities of their own, and for a family that wants an Arabic majlis in the Northern Territory there is no local maker to turn to. Sofhu builds the set in Türkiye, to your room, and ships it free.
Sofhu makes two products, and from this distance it matters to ask for the right one. The Arabic majlis, like the burgundy and cream piece at the top of this page, is a raised, fully upholstered set at sofa height with a solid base, fixed backs and arm bolsters. The Arabic floor sofa is a low cushion set: a seat mattress at floor level with loose back cushions and armrest blocks.
A small community with a long history
The cameleers are part of the Territory’s story, and their name survives on the railway. The present-day communities are modest in size and mixed in origin, so there is no single house style here. One family wants the long, soft mattresses of an Afghan toshak. Another wants a Gulf-style set with firm seats and bolster armrests. A third simply wants low seating for a prayer and reading corner.
What they share is distance. Nobody in Darwin or Alice Springs can walk into a shop and sit on a majlis before buying one. That makes the photographs, the measurements and the conversation with the designer more important than they would be in Sydney or Melbourne.
Humidity is the first design question in Darwin
Darwin has a tropical wet season, and months of damp air decide which fabric and which habits will keep a set fresh.
Sofhu does not publish a mould-resistance rating for its foam or its fabrics, and we will not invent one. What the product does offer is practical: every cover is zippered and removable, and Sofhu states it can be machine washed at 30°C. In the tropics that feature does most of the work.
| Choice | Better for the wet season | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cover fabric | Linen or flat woven | Breathes; Sofhu describes its linen as moisture absorbing and refreshing in hot weather |
| Colour | Mid tones and patterns | Show less marking between washes |
| Centre of the room | Bare floor or a light rug | Dries quickly and is easy to clean |
| Extras | Fewer loose cushions | Less fabric to keep dry |
Velvet is not ruled out. It simply suits an air-conditioned room better than a louvred one. Our guide to velvet, linen and jacquard majlis fabric compares them properly.
A few habits matter more than the fabric:
- Wash and fully dry the covers before the build-up, and again when the wet season ends.
- Keep fans or air conditioning running in the room on the dampest days.
- Stand the seat cushions on edge from time to time so the underside can air.
Arabic floor seating in Alice Springs and the dry centre
Away from the coast the air is dry, and the problem changes from damp to dust and strong light. Darker covers and patterned weaves hide dust better than pale plain fabric, and removable covers again earn their keep. If the seating will stand near a sunny window, ask Sofhu which fabrics it suggests for that position. It has not published a sun-resistance rating, so it is a question to raise before you choose a colour.
Layout: let the air move
An Arabic floor sofa is not freestanding. Each run of seats leans against a wall, and a raised majlis is planned along the walls in the same way, so the plan starts with the walls you have. In a hot climate, try to keep the wall with the main windows or doors partly clear. An L-shape on two solid walls, with the breezeway side left open, often suits a Darwin living room better than a U-shape that closes three sides.
A floor sofa can be ordered in stages of completeness: seating alone, seating with a rug, with an ottoman, or as a full set with floor cushions. The chart below shows the four versions of an L-shaped floor sofa set.
The page on Arabic floor sofas explains each part, and the main Arabic majlis page shows the wider range.
What 32 kg/m³ foam means
The seats are filled with 32 kg/m³ polyurethane foam, called 32 DNS in the Turkish trade. The figure is density, the weight of a cubic metre of the foam. Denser foam generally holds its height and support longer than light foam. It is not a measure of hardness, and on a custom order you can ask for a softer or firmer seat. There are no springs or metal parts in the cushions.
Getting a majlis sofa to a Northern Territory address
Orders are made in Türkiye and vacuum packed, which shrinks the cushions for transport. They travel by cargo carrier to the delivery address, and shipping is free worldwide. For a remote address, give the full location when you ask for your quote so that Sofhu can confirm how the carrier reaches you. On arrival, open the sealed bags without a blade and leave the foam to regain its shape. The article on how a majlis is packed and delivered walks through the process.
Taxes or duties may apply depending on the destination. Ask before you order. General information for the whole country is on the page about Arabic sofas in Australia.
Verandas and covered outdoor rooms
Much of Territory life happens outside under a roof. Sofhu’s outdoor range uses water-resistant fabric that it describes as able to handle light rain and moisture, with spills that wipe away. That is not the same as waterproof, so plan for a covered area and bring cushions in during storms. See the outdoor majlis page and the existing outdoor sofas and mats page.
To start, measure the walls at floor level, photograph the room and get a quote by measurement or message Sofhu on WhatsApp. The city page for Darwin goes further, and Queensland and South Australia have their own pages.
