---
title: "5 Important Tips Before Choosing an Arabic Sofa: Pre-Order Checks"
url: "https://orientalsofa.com/5-important-tips-to-consider-when-choosing-an-arabic-sofa/"
lang: "en"
dir: "ltr"
date_published: "2024-12-17T00:00:00+00:00"
date_modified: "2026-10-13T00:00:00+00:00"
author: "Kerem"
---

# Five Things to Check Before You Order an Arabic Sofa

A majlis pre-order checklist should establish the foam feel, the seam finish, zipper access, the chosen build and the cover care instructions before an order is settled. Seat height and softness are separate checks. A 4 in (10 cm) seat and a 8 in (20 cm) seat need their thickness confirmed, while close photographs help you inspect the cover details.

## Questions buyers ask

### Are your floor sofa sets handmade, and how can I judge the quality before ordering?

The foam is cut and the covers are sewn and fitted in our Istanbul workshop. Ask for clear views of the model you are considering, including its edges and cover finish. Ask us about fabric swatches and a foam sample before you order. Do not infer a fabric composition or a durability guarantee from a room photograph.

### Is the seat foam firm or soft, and can I have firm seating that doesn't sink when someone sits down?

Seat foam is firm to medium-firm, with no springs in the floor-sofa or full-foam build. Softer or firmer filling can be requested, so describe the feel you want before choosing. Seats use high-density polyurethane foam — ask us for the exact density for your build. A taller seat does not by itself identify a different firmness or establish a tested performance claim.

## Which five checks belong on a seating order?

Five checks connect a picture of a set to the pieces you actually select: foam, seams, zipper access, build and care. The room shape belongs to the buying decision, while this check is about the specified object. A 4 in (10 cm) version is not interchangeable with a 8 in (20 cm) version merely because their photographs resemble each other. Keep the model reference beside the [seating specification guides](https://orientalsofa.com/guides/) as you review the details.

## Check 1: establish the foam feel and seat thickness

1. Ask how the seat filling feels on the selected model.
2. Record the selected seat thickness separately from firmness.
3. Compare a close photograph of the cover corners with the complete seat.
4. Confirm how the cover zipper is reached.
5. Identify the build and read the care instruction for its exact cover.

Foam feel needs its own answer. A 8 in (20 cm) floor seat may use a solid block or two separate 4 in (10 cm) layers, so ask which build is listed. I keep the construction detail beside the height rather than judging it from the tallest photograph. The [foam selection reference](https://orientalsofa.com/sponge-and-foam-quality/) explains filling choices, while this checklist records the selected one.

## Check 2: identify the zipper and the removable covered parts

A zipper must be usable when the cover needs to come off. Ask for a view that shows its location rather than assuming a decorative seam is the opening. Covers unzip and can be machine-washed on a gentle 86°F (30°C) cycle, with the care label checked first. For the wooden line, ask how the covers are cleaned. The table distinguishes standard floor-sofa parts, not a promise that every photographed design has these dimensions.

| Piece to identify | Reference size | Pre-order check |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Floor seat | 75 × 27.5 in (190 × 70 cm) | Read length and depth as separate dimensions |
| Thicker floor-seat version | 75 × 27.5 × 8 in (190 × 70 × 20 cm) | Confirm the thickness selected on the order |
| Long L/U backrest | 37.5 × 16 × 4 in (95 × 40 × 10 cm) | Ask how its cover is removed |
| Corner backrest | 23.5 × 16 × 4 in (60 × 40 × 10 cm) | Check the corner piece is identified separately |
| Armrest bolster | 19.5 × 8 × 8 in (50 × 20 × 20 cm) | Locate the covered ends and their finish |
| Pouf pillow | 27.5 × 19.5 in (70 × 50 cm) | Keep its label distinct from the backrest |
| Foam ottoman | 23.5 × 23.5 × 8 in (60 × 60 × 20 cm) | Check the upper surface and covered edges |

## Check 3: inspect the seams, piping and pattern edges

Close photographs should let you follow a seam around a corner, see the piping where present and distinguish the cover edge from the design printed or woven into it. I look for a readable view of the physical join. A distant room picture is useful for the arrangement, but leaves small construction details unresolved.

![Gold velvet corner seating with plain rectangular backrests, matching armrest blocks and an ottoman on a pale rug](https://orientalsofa.com/media/go/gold-velvet-cover-edge-view-wide-01-1390.webp)

*The plain gold set exposes its seat edges, armrest faces and backrest arrangement.*

The two photographed sets illustrate different surfaces: geometric panels around beige seat tops, and a plain gold corner set. Neither photograph establishes a measured seam allowance or a test rating. On a standard 75 in (190 cm) floor seat, inspect both end corners. For a 37.5 in (95 cm) half seat, ask for the same views of the shorter piece instead of accepting a photograph of a different model.

## Check 4: separate full foam from a wooden base

| Build question | Known distinction | What to retain on the specification |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Is there an inner frame? | Floor sofas and full-foam majlis have no internal wood or metal frame or springs | The exact build selected |
| What is the depth? | Floor sofas about 27.5 in (70 cm); custom and raised majlis about 29.5 in (75 cm) | The depth of this model |
| How high is a wooden-base model? | 14.5 in (37 cm) to 16 in (40 cm) depending on the model | The model-specific finished seat height |
| Are the backs attached? | Loose foam backrests are separate from the seats | How the backs are supported |
| Does the fabric match the choice? | Cloth belongs to its chosen collection | The numbered fabric code |

A wooden base and a full-foam seat are different constructions. Neither name proves a service life by itself. Low foam options of 4 in (10 cm) or 8 in (20 cm) should not be relabeled as a low wooden base. The [fabric selection library](https://orientalsofa.com/fabrics/) helps identify the cover collection without turning a familiar fabric name into a performance claim.

## Check 5: resolve conflicting details on the order confirmation

- Do not let a photograph overrule the selected thickness on the order.
- Do not use the cover color as a substitute for its numbered fabric code.
- Do not treat a close fabric view as confirmation of the underlying frame.
- Do not assume each visible accessory is included in the selected package.
- Do not apply a general cover-washing instruction to the wooden line.
- Do not approve a custom specification while model, dimensions or build remain unclear.

For a custom majlis, we reconfirm the model, measurements, height and fabric code before production. Custom orders are photographed and filmed for your approval before they ship. A ready-size selection, extra part or sample request has its own order details, so this custom confirmation sequence should not be assumed for each. A change from 8 in (20 cm) to 12 in (30 cm) also needs an explicit written selection.

## Which details should you read back before placing the order?

Read the model reference, selected build and cover instruction back against the actual order. I would pause when a photograph and a specification disagree, even if the picture looks convincing. The answer should identify the piece you are choosing, rather than describe a general collection.

| Record | Check it against |
| --- | --- |
| Foam | Requested firmness and the named filling |
| Seat thickness | The actual selected option, such as 8 in (20 cm) |
| Cover finish | Readable views of corners, seams and zipper access |
| Structure | Full foam or the specified wooden build |
| Fabric and care | Cloth code and the instruction for that cover |

Before you order, settle any missing construction detail and keep its answer with the specification. After delivery, compare the named parts with that same record rather than expecting a photo prop to be part of the seating. Keep the written selection as the reference for those checks.

## Frequently asked questions

### Which close views are useful for checking the upholstery finish?

Request views of a seat corner, a seam or piping edge where present, and the cover opening. The same model should also appear in a complete view. These photographs help identify the specified finish but do not establish a laboratory durability rating.

### Should a seat height be checked separately from foam feel?

Record height and firmness as different details. A 8 in (20 cm) seat is higher than a 4 in (10 cm) seat, but height alone does not identify the filling selected for the model. If you want a softer or firmer feel, state that separately.

### What should I do when the selected option and photograph disagree?

Ask the team to identify the version shown and reconfirm the option written on your order. Keep the model reference, thickness and covered components together. Do not silently switch the specification to match a photograph of a different variant.

### Does an all-foam label remove the need for a backrest-support check?

A frameless foam seat has no internal wood or metal frame, but its loose backrests still need a wall or firm support behind them. Confirm the intended position and support when selecting the set. A frame-free description does not make a loose backrest freestanding.

## Related pages

- [How to Choose an Arabic Majlis for Your Home, Step by Step](https://orientalsofa.com/how-to-choose-the-perfect-arabic-sofa-for-your-home/)
- [How Thick Should a Floor Sofa Be? Seat Heights Compared](https://orientalsofa.com/guides/floor-sofa-thickness-and-seat-height/)
- [Order a sample box before you choose](https://orientalsofa.com/sample-box/)