For a majlis sofa in London, Ontario, send Sofhu the wall measurements of the room, most often a finished basement or family room. The manufacturer builds the set in Türkiye, as a raised Arabic majlis or a low floor sofa, in an L or U shape with 32 kg/m³ foam, then ships it free to your door. There is no local shop.
- Made by
- Sofhu, manufacturer, in Türkiye
- Typical London room
- Finished basement or family room of a detached house
- Layouts
- Single row, L shape, U shape
- Foam
- 32 kg/m³ (32 DNS) high-density foam
- Covers
- Zippered, removable; Sofhu states washable at 30°C
- Shipping
- Free worldwide, to the door
On this page
London has been hosting in Arabic for longer than most Canadian cities. Lebanese and Syrian families began settling here in the late nineteenth century, the city’s first mosque opened in 1964 and is described as the first purpose-built mosque in Ontario, and Statistics Canada’s 2021 census material lists Arabic as the most common non-official language spoken at home in the city. A majlis sofa in London, Ontario is therefore less a novelty than a familiar room finally given its proper furniture. Sofhu builds that furniture to measure in Türkiye and ships it free.
Several generations, one room
A community this old hosts across generations, and the seating has to work for all of them. Grandparents may want a firmer, slightly higher seat and an armrest to push up from. Children end up on the rug. Newly arrived relatives may expect the low floor set they grew up with.
A made-to-order set can be tuned for that mix. Sofhu offers cushions in different thicknesses and, on custom orders, a softer or firmer foam. Armrest bolsters can be placed between sitters as well as at the ends of a run. The article on floor seating for elderly guests covers what to ask for.
Where a majlis sofa goes in a London, Ontario house
The usual answer is the basement. Housing here is mostly detached homes with basements, and a finished basement gives what a majlis needs: long walls, a door that closes and space away from the kitchen traffic.
The burgundy L shape above is an Arabic majlis: upholstered runs with fixed backs and tasselled armrests, set around a cream rug. A basement adds its own complications. The guide to basement majlis ideas deals with posts, low windows and cold floors.
If the set is going upstairs instead, an L in the corner of the family room keeps the sightline to the television and the route to the kitchen clear. The grey and gold set below is a floor sofa in that position, with its rug, ottoman and floor cushions.
Choosing a layout by counting walls
Both products are planned against walls. A majlis is built to line one, and a floor sofa is not freestanding: its back cushions need a hard surface behind them. So the number of usable walls decides the shape.
| Clear walls | Layout | Suits |
|---|---|---|
| One | Single row | A spare room or the end of a rec room |
| Two, meeting in a corner | L shape | Family rooms, basements with a staircase on one side |
| Three | U shape | A dedicated guest room |
The beige majlis at the top of this page lines three walls, which is the U at its most efficient. To estimate places, see how many people a majlis seats.
Levantine habits and a Sofhu set
Families with roots in Lebanon and Syria often know two kinds of sitting room. One is the formal salon with upright furniture. The other is the jalsa arabiya, the low set of seat mattresses, backrests and armrests kept for family and close guests. In the old houses of Damascus the reception room had a raised platform lined with a low sofa and cushions, so sitting low along the wall has deep roots in the region.
Sofhu’s Arabic floor sofa follows the same logic: a low set of loose seat, back and arm cushions. If you prefer more height, the Arabic majlis is the raised alternative, a fully upholstered set at sofa height with a fixed back, and it is what most of the photos on this page show. The page on Levantine Arabic seating explains the tradition and how the sets relate to it.
The deck and the backyard
London summers are warm enough to move the gathering outside. Sofhu also makes raised wooden benches with seat, back and arm cushions.
The red kilim bench above stands on a covered deck. Sofhu describes its outdoor fabrics as water-resistant, suited to light rain. More ideas are on the outdoor majlis page.
Ordering from London
There is no shop to visit. You send measurements and photos, agree the design, and the set arrives vacuum packed at your door with free shipping. Covers are zippered, and Sofhu states they can be washed at 30°C.
Import duty or tax may apply depending on the destination, so ask how your order will be handled. Province-wide notes are on Arabic majlis in Ontario, and the existing page on Arabic majlises in Canada covers the country. Nearby city guides: Windsor, Kitchener-Waterloo and Hamilton.
To begin, get a quote by measurement or message Sofhu on WhatsApp.
