Oriental Arabic Jalsah in South Dakota: Floor Seating & Cushions

What is a jalsah, and how does it differ from a majlis or a diwan?

Jalsah comes from the Arabic word for a sitting. Many Gulf, Levantine and Iraqi families use it for a complete seating set along the walls. Majlis can mean the same seats or the room around them. Diwan names a low set that lines the walls and, in Iraq and the Gulf, the guest room itself. The names change from family to family. The walls do not, so every set is sized from the lengths you measure. Our guide to what a majlis is lists more of the names.

From the atelier

Questions buyers ask

I need two matching cushion covers for a pair of chairs. What should I send?: Send a photo of each chair, the width and height of the chair back, and how many covers you need in one pattern. A pair only works when both covers match, so ask for the two together in one order, and the team confirms what can be made before anything is cut.
Can I order a rug without a seating set, and how big does it go?: Rugs can be ordered on their own, without a seating set. Stock rugs run from 31.5 × 79 in (80 × 200 cm) up to 79 × 118 in (200 × 300 cm), though not every size comes in every design, and a rug can also be made to your room's size. The matching rug is a flat-woven kilim style, not deep-pile.

Can one seat on a single wall be a first order?

A single wall is a complete first order. One seat cushion measures 75 × 27.5 × 4 in (190 × 70 × 10 cm) and takes two backrests, each about half its length. One standard 75 in (190 cm) seat cushion seats two to three adults; capacity on a shorter custom seat depends on its usable length. The planner counts 23.5 in (60 cm) of seat per adult. A longer wall is divided into equal seats, each no longer than 75 in (190 cm).

Wall length	Equal seats	Adults seated
75 in (190 cm) or less	one seat cut to the wall	2 to 3 on a standard 75 in (190 cm) seat; a shorter seat depends on its usable length
118 in (300 cm)	two seats of 59 in (150 cm)	about 5
165 in (420 cm)	three seats of 55 in (140 cm)	about 7

L and U sets use the same seats along more walls. Our majlis layouts page shows each shape, and the floor sofa sets page lists the standard sizes.

Can a set get new covers later, and what suits a room used all winter?

A cover can be ordered without foam, for example to refresh a set in a new color. Single seats, backrests, replacement foam and covers-only sets can be ordered any time.

Covers unzip and can be machine-washed on a gentle 86°F (30°C) cycle with a mild detergent. Avoid heat, which can shrink them. I air-dry covers and put them back on the foam only when they are fully dry.

Brown and cream diamond-pattern U-shaped floor sofa set with a square ottoman and three floor pillows on a terrace above a waterway — Diamond-pattern weave in brown and cream on the seats, backrests, pouf pillows and ottoman of one U-shaped set.

Our regular upholstery fabrics are made for indoor rooms. For terraces there is a water-repellent outdoor fabric, mostly in plain colors. It earns its place only in the five warm months.

What arrives in South Dakota, and what time is it in Istanbul?

A set ships in several boxes, typically two or three for an L-shape. The boxes may arrive on different days. Every box gets its own tracking number, emailed as soon as the order ships. Cushions travel pressed, rolled and vacuum-sealed. Open the bags within about a week of delivery, then give the cushions about a day to recover their full shape.

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

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

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Where in South Dakota	Istanbul is ahead by	A 9 a.m. message lands at
Central time, most of the state, summer	8 hours	5 p.m.
Central time, winter	9 hours	6 p.m.
Mountain time, the western counties, summer	9 hours	6 p.m.
Mountain time, winter	10 hours	7 p.m.

What does the census say about Arab ancestry in South Dakota?

Place	What the figures show	Source
South Dakota	About 1,800 residents report Arab ancestry, 0.20% of the population	ACS 5-year
South Dakota	About 2,500 residents counted as Middle Eastern or North African, 0.28% of the population	2020 Census
South Dakota	Lebanese about 760, Syrian about 350, Egyptian about 225	ACS 5-year
South Dakota homes	68.6% owner-occupied, 66.9% single-family detached, 7.8% in buildings of 20 or more units, median year built 1980	ACS 5-year
West North Central division	About 62% of new single-family homes started have a basement	Census Survey of Construction, NAHB
Sioux Falls	January average high about 27°F (-3°C) and low about 9°F (-13°C), July high about 86°F (30°C)	NOAA normals

Neighboring North Dakota has its own notes on seat height and apartment layouts.

Local questions

How many backrests and armrests does one seat take?

A standard 75 in (190 cm) seat cushion takes two backrests of about 37.5 × 16 × 4 in (95 × 40 × 10 cm). For a shorter custom seat, each backrest is about half that seat’s length. Armrest bolsters measure 19.5 × 8 × 8 in (50 × 20 × 20 cm), and a corner backrest of 23.5 × 16 × 4 in (60 × 40 × 10 cm) fills the corner where two runs meet.

Which seat thickness suits someone who finds the floor hard to rise from?

A 12 in (30 cm) seat or the 16 in (40 cm) sofa-height option is easier to rise from, while 4 in (10 cm) to 8 in (20 cm) suits a classic floor-style or prayer room. The thicker cushions are usually made to order, so say early if someone at home needs them.

Can I check colors at home before I order?

Solid colors are picked by number from our fabric color card, so a set can be made in a shade we have not photographed yet. Ask us about fabric swatches and a foam sample before you order.