Majlis Interior Design Dubai

The diwan is the low platform seating unit that runs along the walls of the majlis. In a traditional majlis it is typically a built-in platform of 40 to 50 centimetres in height and 80 to 100 centimetres in depth, upholstered in the relevant fabric and with bolster cushions at intervals defining individual seating positions. In a contemporary majlis, the diwan may be a free-standing modular unit of similar proportions. The depth of the seat is culturally specific: a standard sofa seat depth of 60 to 70 centimetres is too shallow for the cross-legged and semi-reclined sitting positions that majlis seating is used for.

Low coffee tables and side tables in the majlis are proportioned for the low seating: a table height of 35 to 45 centimetres for the central table, and individual small side tables for each seating position for coffee cups and dates. Traditional tables in carved timber, mosaic tile (arabesque motif) and metal are appropriate for traditional and blended-style majlis rooms. Contemporary majlis tables in natural stone, smoked glass and powder-coated metal are specified for contemporary Arabic schemes.

Pendant lights and chandeliers in a majlis carry significant visual and cultural weight. Traditional Moroccan-style lanterns in pierced metal, hand-blown glass pendants in jewel tones, and elaborate multi-arm chandelier forms with glass or crystal detailing are all appropriate for traditional majlis rooms. For contemporary schemes, geometric-form pendant lights with LED light sources in a warm colour temperature, or custom metalwork chandelier forms incorporating geometric pattern in their structure, provide the visual drama and warmth that the majlis ceiling requires without the decorative complexity of traditional forms.

The L-shaped majlis layout places seating along two adjacent walls, leaving the remaining two walls open for the entry and any architectural features such as an alcove, a display wall or a window. This layout is well-suited to majlis rooms that are longer in one dimension than the other and to situations where the entry from the corridor requires a clear sightline into the room from the doorway. It accommodates 12 to 20 guests in a standard villa majlis of 40 to 55 square metres.

The U-shaped majlis layout places seating along three walls, leaving the entry wall open. This is the most socially encompassing configuration, allowing the host to maintain eye contact with all guests simultaneously and creating the strongest sense of a shared social space. It is most appropriate for square or near-square majlis rooms of 50 square metres or more and can accommodate 20 to 35 guests. The U-shape is the preferred layout for large family gatherings and formal reception events.

For contemporary majlis rooms where the spatial formality of the traditional full-perimeter seating is not appropriate, Kat Black Design Studio designs partial-wall seating on one or two sides with a central grouping of lower-profile occasional chairs that maintains the L or U formation at a lower visual intensity. This layout reads as a comfortable, sophisticated room first and a majlis second, which is the appropriate balance for clients who want cultural authenticity without an overtly formal atmosphere.