Majlis Interior Design Ideas for Qatari Homes
How to plan majlis seating that fits the room, choose between floor-level and raised, and coordinate fabric, lighting and flooring.
Updated by Al Arabia Carpets
The majlis is where guests are received, so it carries more weight than any other room in the house. Getting it right is mostly about the seating layout, and everything else follows from that.
Here is how we approach a majlis, and the decisions worth thinking about before anything is ordered.
Start with the seating layout
Traditional majlis seating runs continuously along the walls, which is what makes the room feel generous and keeps every guest in the same conversation. That only works if the seating is sized to the room.
This is the single biggest reason to have majlis seating made to measure rather than assembled from standard pieces. Standard sofas pushed end to end leave gaps at the corners and stop short of the walls, which breaks the line and wastes floor area.
Floor-level or raised?
Both are traditional and the choice is mostly practical.
- Floor-level majlis: closer to the traditional arrangement, seats more people in the same footprint, and makes a room feel larger.
- Raised majlis: easier for older guests to get in and out of, and sits more comfortably alongside western-style furniture elsewhere in the house.
- A raised majlis with a floor-level extension for larger gatherings is a common compromise.
Fabric, and why you should see it in the room
Majlis seating covers a large continuous area, so the fabric dominates the room far more than a sofa would in a living room. A colour that looks subtle on a small swatch can be overwhelming across six metres of seating.
Always look at samples in the actual room, in daylight and under the lighting you will use in the evening. Heavier fabrics wear better in a majlis that is used regularly, and mid-tones hide everyday marks better than very light or very dark ones.
Coordinating flooring, curtains and lighting
A majlis reads as one composition, so the finishes need to be decided together rather than one at a time.
- Flooring: a short dense carpet for warmth and sound, or barkia with large rugs defining the seating area.
- Curtains: full-length and lined. They control the afternoon sun and, just as importantly, absorb sound in a room with a lot of hard surfaces.
- Lighting: layer it. A single bright ceiling fixture flattens the room; wall lighting and lamps at seating level are far more comfortable for guests.
- Gypsum ceiling detail and wall panelling add depth without taking up any floor area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should majlis seating be custom made?
+
For most rooms, yes. Majlis seating runs along the walls, and standard-size pieces leave gaps at the corners and stop short of the ends. Made-to-measure seating follows the walls exactly and uses the full floor area.
What is the difference between a floor-level and a raised majlis?
+
Floor-level seating sits directly on the floor, seats more people in the same space, and is closer to the traditional arrangement. A raised majlis sits at normal sofa height and is easier for older guests to use.
What flooring works best in a majlis?
+
Either a short, dense wall-to-wall carpet, which adds warmth and absorbs sound, or barkia with large rugs defining the seating area. Both suit floor-level and raised seating.