Questions buyers ask
I live in the EU. Who manufactures the seating, and what information can I get with it?
Every majlis and floor sofa is manufactured in our own workshop in Istanbul, Türkiye, and travels with a commercial invoice that names the goods and states their value, weight and materials. Moroccan-style covers are the exception: they are handmade in Morocco. For care, the zipped covers can be machine-washed on a gentle 86°F (30°C) cycle. For other product documents, name them when you ask for a quote, and the team confirms which ones it can supply.
From the atelier
Which kinds of seating come out of the Istanbul workshop?
Most designs on our home page belong to one of four lines, and each line is built in its own way:
| Line | How it is built | Sizes and layouts |
|---|---|---|
| Arabic majlis | All high-density foam, or foam seats on an MDF and wood frame | Seat heights of 4 in (10 cm), 8 in (20 cm), 12 in (30 cm) or 16 in (40 cm), with seats cut to fit each wall |
| Floor sofa sets | Foam only, with no internal frame and no springs | Single, L or U layout, with cushions 4 in (10 cm), 8 in (20 cm), 12 in (30 cm) or 16 in (40 cm) thick |
| Wooden bench sets | Solid pine frame with a foam seat, covered in a heavy kilim-style weave | Standard bench 75 × 27.5 × 16 in (190 × 70 × 40 cm), seat cushion included |
| Made-to-measure cushions | Foam cut to your frame or nook, with a zipped cover | Window seats, reading nooks, dining benches and balconies |
Seat pieces stop at about 75 in (190 cm) in length. Along a longer wall the run is divided into matching cushions of equal size, which keeps a pattern lined up and lets every piece travel vacuum-packed.
What does 'a bridge between old and new' mean in a room we furnish?
Oriental Sofa describes its work as a bridge between the floor seating of older Arab and Turkish homes and the rooms people live in now. In practice, that bridge is a handful of choices you make when you order:
- Height: a traditional majlis sits at 4 in (10 cm) or 8 in (20 cm), while 16 in (40 cm) brings the seat close to chair height for older guests.
- Fabric: velvet, chenille, linen-look weaves and plain faux leather sit alongside medallion and kilim-style patterns.
- Covers: seat covers are zipped, so a cover can come off for cleaning without touching the foam inside.
- Stacked seats: two 4 in (10 cm) cushions can make one 8 in (20 cm) seat, and the top layer comes off as a floor mattress for overnight guests.
How does a custom order move from your walls to finished seating?
Custom orders follow one fixed sequence, and the ordering steps with their two approvals are set out in full on their own page. In short:
- You send the length of each wall, a sketch or photos of the room and the seat height you prefer.
- Custom orders start with a layout plan for your approval.
- You confirm the model, each measurement, the seat height and the fabric code a second time.
- A personal order link with your specifications written into it follows, and production starts after confirmation.
- In the workshop the fabric and foam are cut, and the upholsterer sews the covers.
- Custom orders are photographed and filmed for your approval before they ship.
- Finished cushions are compressed and vacuum-sealed, and the set leaves in several boxes, each with its own tracking number.
Whose names appear on the guides across this site?
Guides and notes on this site are signed by six editorial voices of the Oriental Sofa atelier, each named for one part of the craft: upholstery, patterns, room planning, seating for venues, culture and care.
They are writing voices that gather the workshop's know-how, not staff members with diplomas, titles or years of service to their name.
Which countries does the atelier deliver to?
Tell us your country in the quote form and we'll confirm delivery.
Any import duties that apply in your country are stated in your quote, so the cost of receiving the set is clear before you pay.
We don't have a showroom; ask us for a sample box or a video call.
A video call with the design team and photos of your own finished pieces stand in for a shop visit.
How can you reach the team, and in which languages?
Questions reach the design team through any channel shown on this site, and video calls for measuring or fabric choices are booked ahead.
Frequently asked questions
Does Oriental Sofa make anything besides the Arabic majlis?
Besides the majlis, the atelier offers floor sofa sets laid out as a single run, an L or a U, wooden bench sets, Afghan-style toshak and made-to-measure cushions. The range also includes Moroccan-style floor seating, whose handmade cotton covers come from Morocco and ship apart from the foam inserts.
Are sizes on this site given in inches or in centimeters?
Both units appear together. On this page a seat height reads 16 in (40 cm), while pages for metric countries put centimeters first. Your own wall measurements can come in whichever unit your tape shows, feet and inches or meters and centimeters.
If I write to Oriental Sofa, does one of the guide authors answer?
No. The editorial voices sign the guides, while questions, quotes and orders are handled by the design team in Istanbul. Message us and our team replies on business days. A layout question that is easier to settle on screen can be talked through on a booked video call.