Sofhu makes Arabic majlis and floor sofa sets to order and ships them free to Malta. It is the manufacturer, based in Türkiye, with no shop or stock on the island. You measure the walls of your room, choose a layout and a fabric suited to hot, humid summers, and the set arrives vacuum packed, with 32 kg/m³ foam and zippered covers you can wash.
- Made by
- Sofhu, manufacturer, in Türkiye
- Delivery
- Free shipping to Malta
- On the island
- No shop or stock: made to order
- Sizing
- From your wall measurements
- Foam
- 32 kg/m³ (32 DNS), no springs
- Covers
- Zippered, removable, washable at 30°C
- Outdoor range
- Water-resistant sofas, benches and a folding mat
On this page
Malta sits closer to Tripoli and Tunis than to most European capitals, and its homes show it: thick stone walls, tiled floors, rooms built to stay cool. An Arabic majlis suits those rooms well. What the island lacks is somewhere to buy one. Sofhu makes the seating in Türkiye, cuts each set to the buyer’s walls and ships it free to Malta. There are two kinds: the Arabic majlis proper, raised to sofa height on an upholstered base with a fixed back, and the Arabic floor sofa, made up of seat mattresses, loose back cushions and armrest blocks that rest on the floor.
Who orders majlis seating in Malta
Malta has Libyan and other Arab residents, a reflection of its close ties with nearby North Africa, and a small Muslim community.
Libyans have their own word for the guest room: the marbouaa, the sitting room where hospitality is offered. A single large rug covering the floor is part of how it is described. Our page on the Libyan marbouaa sets out what is known about the tradition and how a made-to-measure floor sofa relates to it. Families from the Gulf, the Levant or Egypt will use other names for much the same room.
Stone townhouses, apartments and tiled floors
Maltese homes are mainly stone townhouses and apartments, with tiled floors throughout. Each has its own logic for Arabic seating.
Townhouses give you solid walls but not always wide rooms. A U-shape can crowd a narrow room, so consider two facing rows along the long walls, or an L-shape that turns at the far end. Stone walls are a solid surface for backrests to lean on, which is what a floor sofa needs. It is not freestanding.
Apartments usually have one open living area. Keep the set to a single wall or a corner, as in the photograph below: a black and gold floor sofa on cream tiles, with an ottoman and tasselled floor cushions.
Tiles are cool and hard. In summer that is an advantage. In winter a rug makes the sitting area warmer, and all year it softens the floor for children and for guests on loose cushions. The grey majlis below shows the raised kind lining an open-plan room.
Fabric for hot, humid summers
Malta’s summers are hot and humid, and that should decide the cover before colour does.
- Linen is the cool choice. Sofhu describes its linen floor sofas as breathable and moisture-absorbent, with a porous weave that feels fresh in hot weather.
- Woven and kilim-pattern fabrics are a practical middle option. Sofhu describes its woven series as non-wrinkling.
- Velvet looks rich and is durable, but it is the warmest to sit on. It suits an air-conditioned sitting room or a room used mostly in the evening.
Whichever you choose, the covers unzip and come off. Sofhu states they can be washed in a machine at 30°C. In a humid climate that is worth more than any stain treatment.
Black and gold, or light and airy
Two directions work in a pale stone interior. The first is contrast: black and gold or deep burgundy against cream walls, which makes the seating the centre of the room. See black and gold majlis ideas for rooms built this way.
The second is to stay light: beige, cream or grey fabric with a small gold or taupe pattern, so that the room feels larger and cooler. Send Sofhu a photo of the room, and the designers can suggest fabrics on a video call.
Terraces, roofs and courtyards
For a terrace, a roof or a courtyard, Sofhu has a separate range. The outdoor collection includes sofas and benches with wooden frames and water-resistant fabric, described as able to handle light rain and moisture, and a foldable, portable mat.
The folding sunbed above is the kind of piece that can be carried out for the evening and brought back in. Indoor velvet and chenille sets should stay indoors. For layouts on small outdoor spaces, see balcony, patio and rooftop majlis ideas and the outdoor majlis guide.
Delivery to an island
Shipping to Malta is free. Sofhu vacuum packs its sets, which reduces the volume that has to travel and makes each parcel easier to carry up a staircase. When the bags are opened by hand, without a blade, the foam returns to its shape. Our article on how a majlis is packed and delivered explains what to expect on the day.
Goods from Türkiye enter the EU through customs. Duties or taxes may apply depending on the destination, and Sofhu has not published terms for Malta. Ask with your quote request. The background is in ordering a majlis from Türkiye to the EU.
What to send Sofhu
For an accurate quote, send through get a quote by measurement or WhatsApp:
- the length of each wall the seating will follow
- the position of doors, windows and any stone niches or steps
- a photo of the room
- your preferred layout, fabric type and colours
- the full delivery address, including whether it is on Malta or Gozo
