---
title: "Arabic Sofas in Spain: Majlis and Floor Seating for Flats"
url: "https://orientalsofa.com/arabic-sofas-in-spain/"
lang: "en"
dir: "ltr"
date_published: "2024-12-04T00:00:00+00:00"
date_modified: "2026-10-13T00:00:00+00:00"
author: "Suheyl"
---

# Arabic Sofas and Majlis Seating Planned for Spanish Flats and Terraces

An Arabic sofa in Spain can start from a salon as small as 300 × 200 cm (118 × 79 in), where an L along one long and one short wall works better than a U, which would leave only 160 cm (63 in) of floor between its side seats. The Istanbul atelier draws that made-to-measure L seat by seat before anything is cut.

## Questions buyers ask

### The courier says Spanish customs wants an A.TR document before releasing my sofa. What is it?

An A.TR is a movement document under the EU–Türkiye customs union. Forward the courier's request and your tracking number to the team, which checks what the courier needs. Import VAT, if it applies, is a separate step.

### I live in the Canary Islands. Is delivery the same as on the mainland?

Not quite. Under EU VAT rules the Canary Islands sit outside the VAT area and use their own tax, IGIC, so the customs paperwork differs from the mainland. Name your island and postal code in the first message, and ask the team to confirm that your island is covered before you pay.

## How much floor does each plan leave in a salon of 300 × 200 cm (118 × 79 in)?

According to Eurostat's EU-SILC survey, 64.7% of people in Spain live in flats, so the salon may double as the guest room. The seats below assume the usual 70 cm (27.5 in) depth.

| Plan for the salon | Seat pieces | Seating run | Open floor left |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| L: long wall plus one short wall | 2 seats of 150 cm (59 in), 1 of 130 cm (51 in) | 430 cm (169 in) | 230 × 130 cm (91 × 51 in) |
| U: all three walls | 2 seats of 150 cm (59 in), 2 of 130 cm (51 in) | 560 cm (220 in) | 160 × 130 cm (63 × 51 in) |

A made-to-measure L usually arrives in two or three boxes. The customs steps for a Spanish address, from the A.TR document to import VAT, are listed on [our delivery page](https://orientalsofa.com/delivery/), where each country has its own notes.

## What should you send when a column or a balcony door breaks the wall?

1. Start with the wall that holds a column or a built-in wardrobe, and measure each stretch beside it as its own run.
2. Treat a balcony door like a doorway: the seat stops at the frame, so only the solid wall beside it counts.
3. Note the height of any air-conditioning unit or shelf above the seat line, since backrests stand 40 cm (16 in) tall.
4. Mark each corner where two runs meet: on an L, the seat on the second wall is shorter by about 70 cm (27.5 in).

> A buyer in the Canary Islands first checked that delivery was possible, then sent a photo of the room with wall-to-wall dimensions and pointed out a structural column in one corner. Our team said the column could be worked around and asked for a close-up photo of it, since the cushions on each side are cut to stop at the column's faces. The first quote, based on a standard 70 cm (27.5 in) seat depth, felt high to the buyer, who asked for the figure in euros; the team converted it, and the buyer moved on to looking at the available colors.

From these figures the design team draws each seat with its length and corner cut, and you compare the drawing with your own measurements before production starts.

## Can the salon seating double as a spare bed: 10 cm (4 in), 20 cm (8 in) or a raised 40 cm (16 in)?

The standard seat sits 10 cm (4 in) off the floor and each cushion measures 190 × 70 cm (75 × 27.5 in), about a narrow single mattress. For regular sleepers choose a 20 cm (8 in) seat. It is built as one block or as two loose 10 cm (4 in) layers, and with two layers the top one lifts off as a mattress for a second guest. Our [floor cushion page](https://orientalsofa.com/floor-cushion/) lists extra layers and spare pieces.

Where relatives sit more than they sleep, raised majlis seats measure 37 cm (14.5 in) to 40 cm (16 in) depending on the model, close to a regular living-room sofa.

> I would put the sleeping seat's cover on its own washing schedule, since it works harder than the rest. A cover that unzips can go in the machine on a gentle 30°C (86°F) cycle.

## Majlis or sofá marroquí: how do the two compare on the same walls?

Anyone who searches for a sofá marroquí can ask for a majlis quote next to it. Moroccan-style floor sofas and a majlis are drawn on identical wall lengths. Compare three numbers. Seat height is 10 cm (4 in) to 20 cm (8 in) on floor sets and 37 cm (14.5 in) to 40 cm (16 in) on a raised majlis, and seat depth is 70 cm (27.5 in) or 75 cm (29.5 in). The third number is the run your walls allow. Our [Arabic majlis range](https://orientalsofa.com/arabic-majlis/) shows the builds, all-foam or on a wooden base.

![Champagne and gold jacquard majlis along three walls, with four cushioned cube ottomans on a white and gold rug and tied-back sheer curtains](https://orientalsofa.com/media/ch/champagne-long-room-majlis-ivory-gold-rug-angle-01-673.webp)

*A U with a white and gold rug, four ottomans and sheer curtains tied back, all in the same champagne and gold.*

## What travels with the boxes to a Spanish address?

The paperwork starts with a commercial invoice that lists what is inside, with its value, weight and materials; an A.TR movement document may be requested as well. Once the order ships, an email lists a tracking number for every box, and the boxes may reach you on different days.

Delivery across Europe is by tracked express courier — ask us for the current estimate for your country.

Import VAT applies to furniture shipped into the EU — ask us how it's handled for your order before you pay.

| Where you write from | Istanbul runs ahead by | 9 a.m. with you is |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mainland Spain, winter | 2 hours | 11 a.m. in Istanbul |
| Mainland Spain, summer | 1 hour | 10 a.m. in Istanbul |
| Canary Islands, winter | 3 hours | 12 noon in Istanbul |
| Canary Islands, summer | 2 hours | 11 a.m. in Istanbul |

## Which Spanish regions have the largest Moroccan communities?

Official statistics report two large Arab-born groups in Spain, Moroccan and Algerian; the table shows where Moroccan-born residents live, with the housing and climate figures behind the layouts above.

| Place | What the figures show | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Spain | About 1,166,000 residents born in Morocco and about 103,900 born in Algeria | Eurostat |
| Catalonia, Andalusia, Valencian Community, Murcia | Moroccan-born residents: about 252,800, 182,100, 104,500 and 97,000 | INE |
| Spain, housing | 45.9% of people live in buildings of ten or more dwellings | Eurostat EU-SILC |
| Madrid | Average highs of about 10°C (50°F) in January and 33°C (91°F) in July | 1991-2020 normals |
| Barcelona | Average highs of about 14°C (57°F) in January and 28°C (82°F) in July | 1991-2020 normals |

## How many months can a set stay on a Spanish terrace?

Climate normals for 1991 to 2020 put Madrid's July highs near 33°C (91°F), outside the 18°C (64°F) to 32°C (90°F) window, while Barcelona keeps seven months inside it. Regular upholstery fabrics are made for indoor rooms, so the cushions go inside before rain and overnight dew; for a set that stays out all season, ask about the water-repellent outdoor fabric, mostly in plain colors and a limited palette.

Strong sun fades upholstery slowly, so lighter shades and a shaded corner last longer. Outdoor cushions like to come inside when the weather turns.

## What should a company buyer settle before a project order ships to Spain?

A hotel, a rental or a property project orders the same seat pieces as a family, but the paperwork needs one more name. Ask for the invoice in the company's name before dispatch. Give the project site rather than the head office as the delivery address, and name someone on site who can sign for the boxes. Our [hotel seating page](https://orientalsofa.com/arabic-majlis-for-hotels/) lists the layouts hospitality projects plan.

> A buyer in Andalusia, Spain, furnishing a property project, wanted a full floor seating set with rug, ottoman and cushions, paid with a company card and backed by a company invoice for the accounts. She first asked whether the set arrived as empty covers to be filled and how it was packed; the team explained that the cushions come foam-filled and vacuum-packed, and shared packaging photos. A friend had planned to visit the Istanbul workshop to see the models but fell ill, so the order was placed remotely for an area of 150 cm (59 in) by 250 cm (98 in), handled as two L-shaped layouts. At delivery the courier asked for proof of payment for customs; she first sent the wrong document and had to correct it with the courier. Three packages arrived and were taken unopened to the project site for installation.

## Frequently asked questions

### How do I pay for a made-to-measure sofa when I live in Spain?

Once the plan is agreed, the team sends a personal order link with your specs written in. Accepted methods: major credit and debit cards via a secure payment link. We never ask for card numbers, security codes or one-time passcodes by chat, email or phone.

### A list of delivery regions I received only says 'European countries'. Is Spain included?

Spain is covered as an EU country, even when a short list only says 'European countries'. Tell us your country in the quote form and we'll confirm delivery. Each piece is made to order in Istanbul, and there is no shop or stockroom in Spain.

### What changes between a wooden base and full foam in a 40 cm (16 in) majlis?

Wooden-base models are built at 37 cm (14.5 in) to 40 cm (16 in) depending on the model and are not made lower, while all-foam majlis come in two main heights, 30 cm (12 in) and about 40 cm (16 in). Most designs can be built either way, so ask for both drawings.

## Related pages

- [Arabic floor sofas and floor seating sets](https://orientalsofa.com/floor-sofas/)
- [Arabic Sofa and Majlis Seating Made to Measure for French Homes](https://orientalsofa.com/arabic-sofa-in-france/)
- [Arabic Sofas and Majlis Seating for Italian Homes, Measured Corner by Corner](https://orientalsofa.com/arabic-sofas-in-italia/)
- [Arabic Sofa and Floor Seating in Portugal, from Wall Recesses to Beach Clubs](https://orientalsofa.com/arabic-sofa-in-portugal/)
- [Arabic Majlis in Germany: Floor Seating Planned for German Flats](https://orientalsofa.com/arabic-sofa-in-germany/)
- [Arabic Sofas In Mexico](https://orientalsofa.com/arabic-sofas-in-mexico/)
- [Arabic Sofas in Australia: Majlis Seating for Lounges, Sized to Your Walls](https://orientalsofa.com/arabic-sofas-in-australia/)
- [How to Measure a Room for a Majlis, Wall by Wall](https://orientalsofa.com/guides/how-to-measure-for-a-majlis/)
- [Plan your majlis from your wall measurements](https://orientalsofa.com/tools/majlis-planner/)

## Sources

- [Eurostat, EU-SILC ilc_lvho01, population by dwelling type](https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/ilc_lvho01/default/table)
- [Eurostat, migr_pop3ctb, population by country of birth](https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/migr_pop3ctb/default/table)
- [INE, Moroccan-born residents by autonomous community, as reported by El Debate](https://www.eldebate.com/sociedad/20260915/comunidad-lidera-presencia-residentes-marroquies-espana-no-andalucia-cns_458863.html)
- [Madrid climate normals 1991 to 2020 (monthly highs)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madrid)
- [Barcelona climate normals 1991 to 2020 (monthly highs)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcelona)
- [IANA time zone rules, Europe/Madrid, Atlantic/Canary and Europe/Istanbul](https://www.iana.org/time-zones)