Homes Abroad

Arabic Sofas and Floor Majlis for Delaware Homes

About 59% of Delaware homes are single-family detached houses, so a floor majlis often has a family-room wall to lean on. An Arabic sofa in Delaware is built from seat and backrest pieces sewn in Istanbul, so a seat of 8 in (20 cm) plus a backrest of 16 in (40 cm) stands near 23.5 in (60 cm), the sum to check against a window ledge.

Thick gold velvet corner set with square backrests and block armrests, a gold ottoman and three floor pillows

Which seat thickness keeps the backrest under a window ledge?

The seats of 4 in (10 cm) and 8 in (20 cm) keep a standard backrest under a ledge of about 24 in (61 cm), and the seats of 12 in (30 cm) and 16 in (40 cm) cover it. A backrest stands 16 in (40 cm) tall as standard and seat thickness comes in four steps, so the total is the seat plus 16 in (40 cm).

Seat thicknessBackrestTotal heightAgainst the ledge
4 in (10 cm)16 in (40 cm)19.5 in (50 cm)Clears it by 4.5 in (11 cm)
8 in (20 cm)16 in (40 cm)23.5 in (60 cm)Clears it by 0.5 in (1 cm)
12 in (30 cm)16 in (40 cm)27.5 in (70 cm)Covers it by 3.5 in (9 cm)
16 in (40 cm)16 in (40 cm)31.5 in (80 cm)Covers it by 7.5 in (19 cm)

A ledge with only 0.5 in (1 cm) of margin is worth measuring twice, and I would ask the drawing to show the sum. How one thickness compares with another is covered in the seat-height section of our hub page for American majlis rooms.

From the atelier

Questions buyers ask

A window ledge about 24 in (61 cm) high sits behind where the sofa goes. Will the backrest block it?
Add the seat and backrest heights: a seat of 8 in (20 cm) with a backrest of 16 in (40 cm) tops out near 23.5 in (60 cm), just under the ledge, while a seat of 12 in (30 cm) brings the total to about 27.5 in (70 cm) and covers it. Measure the ledge from the floor.
Is the sofa all foam, or is there a wooden base inside?
Inside a floor sofa or a full-foam majlis there is only foam: no wood, no metal frame and no springs. A majlis can instead sit on an MDF and wood frame fitted with foam seats, and photos can look alike, so ask which build a photo shows before you order.

What do you measure when a ledge, a radiator or a doorway shares the wall?

  1. Measure the window ledge from the floor, not from the seat, because that figure is the one the seat and backrest have to stay under.
  2. Give the length of the wall each run leans on, corner to corner, and mark any radiator, vent or doorway on the sketch.
  3. Say whether children will climb on the set; that decides if a run stays against a wall or needs a wooden base and back.
  4. For two rooms, send one sketch per room, so each made-to-measure layout gets its own piece list.

Feed the lengths into the majlis planner for a seat count, and the majlis measuring guide explains each step in more detail.

Where should loose backrests sit when children climb on a set?

Backrests are separate pieces. They lean on the wall instead of being sewn to the seat, which is what lets you rearrange them, so the simplest answer is a wall behind every run. Seating that has to stand in the open needs a wooden base with a wooden back, and metal back supports are worth asking about.

A spare set of covers is the calmest answer to a house full of kids. Covers unzip, and a gentle machine wash at 86°F (30°C) with a mild detergent is enough; heat can shrink them.

Deep teal and silver crushed-velvet majlis around three walls, with an octagonal ottoman on a cream scroll-pattern rug and teal curtains
Loose backrests leaning on the wall around three sides of a teal and silver crushed-velvet room, with an octagonal ottoman in the middle.

Can an L and two singles share one fabric across two rooms?

An L and two single sets can be quoted together in one fabric, so the living room and a second room match. Two singles set end to end give 150 in (380 cm) along one wall, the same run as the two seats of an L, so the pair can regroup later if you move them; the L-shaped sets page lists the sizes for two walls.

How do you keep Newark, Delaware apart from Newark, New Jersey on an order?

Write the state and the full ZIP code on every message and order, because a Newark address without them is easy to read as the other Newark. Delivery covers Delaware addresses from Wilmington and Newark to Dover, and the tracking emails, one per box, start when the order ships.

Delivery to the US and Canada is by tracked express courier — ask us for the current transit estimate.

Delivery to the US and Canada is by tracked express courier — ask us for the current transit estimate.

Ask us

Import duties for US deliveries are set by US Customs — ask us how they apply to your order before you pay.

Ask us

Import charges for Delaware addresses are stated in your quote. Eastern time puts Istanbul 7 to 8 hours ahead, depending on the season.

Delaware clock (Eastern)Istanbul during daylight timeIstanbul during standard time
10 a.m.5 p.m.6 p.m.
2 p.m.9 p.m.10 p.m.
6 p.m.1 a.m. the next day2 a.m. the next day

Which Arab groups live in Delaware, and what does the Philadelphia metro add?

ACS 5-year estimates put Delaware's Arab-ancestry population at about 5,300, with Egyptian families the largest group. The state sits inside the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington metro, and our guide to Arabic sofas and majlis in Pennsylvania covers the other side of it.

PlaceWhat the figures showSource
DelawareAbout 5,300 residents report Arab ancestry (0.52%)ACS 5-year
DelawareEgyptian about 1,500, other Arab about 1,200 and unspecified Arab about 780ACS 5-year
DelawareMiddle Eastern or North African residents counted in 2020: about 6,100 (0.61%)2020 Census
Philadelphia metro areaAbout 40,900 residents of Arab ancestryACS 5-year
Delaware homesHome ownership about 73%, detached houses about 59%, 20-plus-unit buildings about 5%ACS 5-year
Delaware homesMedian year built: 1987ACS 5-year
South Atlantic statesSlab-on-grade foundations under about 86% of new single-family homesNAHB analysis of Census data
WilmingtonMidwinter highs about 41°F (5°C), midsummer highs about 86°F (30°C); snowfall about 20 in (51 cm) a yearNOAA normals

Local questions

Is anything ready for same-day pickup, or can I see a set first?

Nothing is held for same-day pickup, because the workshop in Istanbul makes every set. Ask us about fabric swatches and a foam sample before you order. We don't have a showroom; ask us for a sample box or a video call.

Can I order a spare cover or one more backrest later?

A lone backrest, new foam or a set of covers without foam can all be ordered later. Quote the fabric code of your set so that the new piece matches the rest, and ask the team how the new fabric will sit next to the original before you confirm.

Can the set move to a patio in summer?

Living-room upholstery stays indoors; a patio set uses a water-repellent outdoor fabric, offered mostly in plain colors. NOAA's normals for Wilmington keep average highs within 64°F (18°C) to 90°F (32°C) from May to October, which is the season to plan around.

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