A majlis sofa or Afghan toshak for a Northern Virginia home is made to order by Sofhu, the manufacturer, in Türkiye and shipped free to Fairfax, Falls Church, Alexandria, Arlington and Prince William. Sets are cut to your wall measurements, which suits narrow townhouse rooms, and come with zippered washable covers. There is no local shop; request a quote by measurement.
- Made by
- Sofhu, manufacturer, in Türkiye
- Local shop
- None in Virginia. Made to order
- Shipping
- Free, to your door
- Products
- Afghan toshak, Arabic floor sofa, raised Arabic majlis
- Fits
- Townhouses, apartments, detached homes
- Covers
- Zippered, machine washable
On this page
On Eid morning in a Fairfax townhouse the living room has to hold three generations, a tablecloth on the floor and a steady line of visitors. Chairs do not manage that. Seating along the walls does. Whether the family calls it a toshak, a jalsa or a majlis sofa, Northern Virginia homes can have it made to the room by Sofhu, the manufacturer in Türkiye, and shipped free.
Who sits on the floor in Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia is home to one of the largest Afghan-American communities in the United States. It also has large Arab, Somali, Pakistani and Ethiopian populations, and Fairfax County is a leading county for Sudanese Americans. The Skyline and Bailey’s Crossroads area is known for its Afghan and Middle Eastern shops and restaurants.
These communities do not share one way of sitting, and a buyer should not be sold one. The sections below take the main two in turn.
Afghan toshak in Northern Virginia homes
A toshak is a long, thin mattress laid along the wall. Afghan families sit on it for meals and conversation, lean back on a bolster called a balesht, and sleep on it when relatives stay. It is the simplest member of the floor sofa family, softer than an Arabic floor sofa, and by tradition it has no armrests.
Sofhu’s premium Afghan toshak is cut to the length of your walls, filled with foam and finished with zippered covers. The cream floor sofa pictured here has burgundy stitched bands and a matching rug and ottoman. For background, read what is a toshak and the style page on Afghan toshak floor seating.
Arabic floor sofa and Arabic majlis sets
Sofhu makes two Arabic products, and they are not the same thing. An Arabic floor sofa is a low set at floor level, firmer and fuller than a toshak: seat mattresses, loose back cushions against the wall, and armrest blocks that divide the run so every guest has a place. An Arabic majlis is raised to sofa height and built as fully upholstered units with a solid base and tall fixed backs, like the navy and silver set further down this page. Both use 32 kg/m³ high-density foam, called 32 DNS in Türkiye. Density is the weight of foam per cubic metre, and denser foam generally keeps its height and support longer. There are no springs, and the feel can be made softer or firmer on request.
Fabric and pattern are yours to choose. The red floor sofa below is woven with black and white sadu motifs, the Bedouin weaving of the Gulf. The green floor sofa is a medallion design.
The Arabic jalsa hub explains the terms, and toshak versus majlis compares the two side by side. Somali households will find a separate guide to Somali Arabic seating.
Townhouses and apartments: fitting the seating in
Townhouses and apartments are common across the region, and both reward a made-to-measure set.
| Home | What usually fits | Check before measuring |
|---|---|---|
| Townhouse main level | L-shape or narrow U-shape | Stairs, front window, kitchen opening |
| Townhouse basement | U-shape | Columns, utility door, walk-out door |
| Apartment | Single row or L-shape | Balcony door, heating units |
Every section needs a wall behind it, because the seating is not freestanding. In a narrow room, cutting each run to the exact wall length is what stops the set from blocking the stairs or the hallway. The guide to a majlis for small apartments has more layouts.
Covers for humid summers
Summers here are humid, and a room full of guests adds to it. Washable covers are the practical answer. Every Sofhu cover has a zip. The floor sofa covers wash at 30°C according to Sofhu, and the toshak covers in cold water, turned inside out. A second point is colour: cream looks fine in a formal room, but a busy family room is easier to live with in a mid tone or a pattern.
How to order from Northern Virginia
Sofhu has no shop in Virginia. The order is made from what you send:
- The length of each wall that will carry seating, with the unit.
- The position of doors, windows, stairs, vents and radiators.
- Two photos of the room.
- The product you want: toshak, floor sofa, raised majlis, or one of each for different rooms.
Use the quote by measurement page or WhatsApp. The set is delivered vacuum packed with free shipping. Duties or taxes may apply on import; the notes on importing a majlis to the USA list the questions to ask.
The state page is oriental sofas in Virginia. Further south, see the guide for Richmond.
