Which piece does everything else in a set depend on?
Start from the seat cushion. One 75 in (190 cm) cushion seats two to three people. Every other piece is counted around it: two backrests per seat, an armrest at each open end and a corner backrest wherever two runs meet. Seat depth is about 27.5 in (70 cm) on floor sofa sets. Lengths for every layout and room size are gathered in the Arabic sofa size guide by room.
From the atelier
Questions buyers ask
- Will the set arrive complete, exactly like the photo?
- A ready-made set arrives with every piece on its list: seat cushions, backrests and armrests, plus pouf pillows, a rug and an ottoman on full sets. Coffee tables, lamps, curtains and wall decor in a photo are styling, not part of the set. Many photos also show made-to-measure rooms larger than a standard set, so compare the piece count.
- Are pouf pillows the same as backrests?
- Pouf pillows are separate pieces: loose 27.5 × 19.5 in (70 × 50 cm) pillows that you place on the floor or around the ottoman. Backrests are the 37.5 × 16 × 4 in (95 × 40 × 10 cm) pieces that stand on the seat against the wall. The piece list names backrests, armrests and pouf pillows on separate lines, so each one can be counted.
- Why do some L or U sets list 16, 22 or more pieces?
- Piece counts change with the build, not with the seating length. Seats of 8 in (20 cm) made from two stacked 4 in (10 cm) layers double the seat cushions, which turns a 19-piece U into 22 pieces. Some designs use more, smaller backrests along the wall, while sofa-only versions drop the rug, ottoman and pouf pillows. Compare the itemized list, not the headline count.
How do you work out the pieces a room needs?
- Count the walls that will carry seating: one for a single set, two for an L, three for a U.
- On an L or U, subtract about 27.5 in (70 cm) from the second wall at each corner, because the first run already fills it.
- Divide each remaining wall length by 75 in (190 cm) and round up to get the number of seat cushions; the wall is then split into equal seats.
- Add two backrests for every seat cushion.
- Add one 23.5 × 16 × 4 in (60 × 40 × 10 cm) corner backrest for each inside corner.
- Add an armrest at every open end of a run.
- Decide whether the ottoman, pouf pillows and rug belong on the list.
- Check your total against the itemized list on the quote or order.
I write the count beside each wall on the sketch, then add up the column. Count the guests first, then count the walls.
How many of each piece come in a single, L or U floor sofa set?
Standard sets use the same pieces in larger numbers. The full set adds the ottoman, three pouf pillows and a rug to the seating. Each layout is shown on the Arabic floor sofa sets page.
| Piece | Size | Single | L-shape | U-shape |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat cushion | 75 × 27.5 in (190 × 70 cm) | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Backrest | 37.5 × 16 × 4 in (95 × 40 × 10 cm) | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Corner backrest | 23.5 × 16 × 4 in (60 × 40 × 10 cm) | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Armrest bolster | 19.5 × 8 × 8 in (50 × 20 × 20 cm) | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Pouf pillow (full set) | 27.5 × 19.5 in (70 × 50 cm) | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Ottoman table (full set) | 23.5 × 23.5 × 8 in (60 × 60 × 20 cm) | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Rug (full set) | Flat-woven kilim style | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Pieces in the full set | 10 | 14 | 19 | |
| Pieces when sofa only | 5 | 9 | 14 | |
| Seating length | 75 in (190 cm) | About 150 in (380 cm) | About 224 in (570 cm) | |
| Seats about | 2 to 3 people | 5 to 6 people | 8 to 9 people |
How does the count change when an L is made to your own walls?
A made-to-measure layout follows your wall lengths instead of a fixed set. No seat piece runs longer than 75 in (190 cm), so a longer wall is split into equal seats.
An L on walls of 165 in (420 cm) and 138 in (350 cm) shows how it works. The first wall holds three seats of 55 in (140 cm). The second wall loses about 27.5 in (70 cm) at the corner, which leaves 110 in (280 cm), or two seats of 55 in (140 cm). That gives five seat cushions and ten backrests of about 27.5 in (70 cm). Add one corner backrest and an armrest at each open end.
On a run this long the designer may add armrests between seats. I mark those spots on the sketch where guests tend to split into groups. The layout drawing lists every piece before production starts.
When does a standard piece list need changing?
| Situation | What changes on the list |
|---|---|
| Seats of 8 in (20 cm) built from two 4 in (10 cm) layers | Seat cushions double, so an L full set counts 16 pieces and a U counts 22 |
| Sofa only instead of the full set | The rug, the ottoman and three pouf pillows drop off, five pieces in all |
| A run with no wall behind it | Backrests need a wall or another firm surface, and metal back supports are available on request |
| A wooden bench set | A U of three benches comes as 16 pieces: benches, seat cushions, backrests, armrests and a rug |
| Wider or deeper seats | The standard 23.5 × 23.5 × 8 in (60 × 60 × 20 cm) ottoman can look small, so resize it along with the seats |
| A custom majlis quote | Seats, backrests, armrests and pillows are included, while tables, rugs and curtains are separate add-ons |
Seats can be made deeper on request, up to about 33.5 in (85 cm). Scale the ottoman and the rug at the same time, or they will look small beside the seating.
Which set mistakes lead to a missing or surprise piece?
- Ordering sofa only and expecting the ottoman, pouf pillows and rug of the full set.
- Counting the coffee table, lamp or curtains in a styled photo as part of the set.
- Calling a pouf pillow a backrest, or an armrest a pillow, when asking for extra pieces.
- Judging the ottoman and pouf pillows from a photo instead of their listed sizes, 23.5 × 23.5 × 8 in (60 × 60 × 20 cm) and 27.5 × 19.5 in (70 × 50 cm).
- Comparing headline counts such as 16, 19 or 22 without reading the itemized list.
- Opening the first box and assuming the rest is missing, when sets ship in several boxes that can arrive on different days.
- Adding a third run to an L without adding a second corner backrest.
What should your piece list show before you pay?
A clear list names every piece with its size and count. Behind each 75 in (190 cm) seat there should be two backrests of 37.5 in (95 cm), so a gap on the list is easy to spot.
- Match each seat cushion on the list to a wall on your sketch.
- Check that the backrests number twice the seat cushions, plus one corner backrest per inside corner.
- Tick off the full-set pieces you chose, and only those.
For a room that is not standard, try your walls in the majlis planner and compare its piece count with your own. Each line on the list also moves the total, as the guide to what shapes a majlis quote explains.
Frequently asked questions
Are seat cushions and leaning backrests counted as one item?
They are separate components in the piece list. Check the seat count and the backrest count independently, then compare the armrests and any accessories with the selected package; a photograph of the assembled run can hide how many separate pieces form it.
Does a majlis set come with the rug, ottoman table and floor pillows?
A floor sofa set sold as a full set includes the seating plus a matching rug, a square ottoman and three pouf pillows. A custom-measured majlis quote usually covers the seating only: seats, backrests, armrests and pillows. Rugs, ottomans, tables and curtains are then optional lines that can be matched to your room.
Can a package list be checked by component type?
Group the written list into seats, backrests, armrests and accessories before checking the order. Each category has a different purpose, so a total alone does not show whether a photographed rug, table or floor pillow is part of the selected package.
