A modern ladies' majlis: ideas for an elegant, comfortable room

In many Emirati and Gulf homes, the ladies' majlis, or majlis al hareem, is where the women of the family receive their friends, sisters, neighbours and relatives. Visits are long and relaxed, the room is often full of several generations at once, and children come and go. It is a room for news, laughter, coffee and sweets, and it deserves as much care as any reception room in the house.

Three things set it apart:

• Privacy. Guests should feel completely at ease, so the room is screened from the entrance, the street and the men's majlis.
• Comfort for every age. A grandmother, a young mother with a baby and teenage cousins may all sit in the same room for hours.
• Atmosphere. Scent, light, flowers and beautiful serving pieces matter as much as the furniture.

For layouts and seat counts, our guide to how to arrange a majlis with sofas gives the measurements. Here we focus on the feel of the room.

A ladies' majlis suits calm, luminous colours that flatter faces, abayas and jewellery alike, with one accent to give the room character. Four palettes that work beautifully:

Keep the sofa calm and let cushions, curtains and flowers carry the accent colour. That way you can refresh the room for Ramadan, Eid or a family celebration simply by changing a few pieces.

The heart of the majlis is the seating, arranged so everyone faces the centre and can join the conversation. A U-shape works especially well. The Comfo U-shape of five modules, 343 cm wide, gathers guests on three sides, and its two ottomans can stay in place as seats, slide forward as footrests or move aside to make room for a tray.

• For older guests: a seat they can rise from easily. On every Pufflo sofa you choose the seat comfort at the same price: Classic, medium, you sit on it and get up easily; or Cocoon, very soft, you sink in. Comfo starts in Cocoon, and Classic is one click away.
• For younger guests: deep seats to curl up on, plus a few large floor cushions for teenagers and children who love sitting low.
• For everyone: firm back cushions they can tuck behind them, and a small table or tray within reach of every seat.

Our guide to choosing a sofa for a majlis or a family room compares seat heights and depths in more detail.

Layered curtains give privacy and atmosphere at the same time. Hang sheers that let daylight in while keeping the room screened, then a heavier curtain in a soft, rich fabric that closes completely in the evening. Hang the track close to the ceiling and let the curtains reach the floor: the room instantly feels taller and more elegant. Frosted film on the lower part of a window facing the street adds privacy while keeping the light.

Plan the lighting in three layers, all on dimmers:

1. A statement light, such as a chandelier or a sculptural pendant, for festive evenings.
2. Wall lights or floor lamps around the room for a soft, flattering glow, with warm bulbs of about 2700 K.
3. Small lights, such as lanterns or table lamps on the serving console, for late evenings.

Warm, low light flatters everyone and makes long visits feel relaxed. A large mirror opposite a window brings more daylight into the room, and it looks beautiful framed in gold.

Hospitality is the soul of the majlis, so give it a dedicated place. A console or a sideboard near the entrance becomes the serving corner: the dallah and thermos flasks for Arabic coffee and tea, finjan cups and tea glasses on a tray, dates in a covered bowl, sweets and fruit on pretty plates, and napkins close at hand. A serving trolley on wheels lets the hostess move refreshments around the room easily.

Low tables in front of the seating, or one long, narrow table down the centre of a U-shape, keep everything within reach. Nesting tables are lovely too: spread them out when the room is full, tuck them away afterwards.

Scent is part of the welcome. Bakhoor and oud perfume the room as guests arrive, and many families pass the mabkhara around so each guest can perfume her hair and clothes. Place the burner on a heatproof tray on a side table, and see our guide to perfuming a sofa with bakhoor and oud to keep the fabric lovely.

• Fresh flowers: white roses, orchids or peonies in low arrangements, so guests can see each other across the table.
• A beautiful rug that anchors the seating and adds softness underfoot, especially when children play on the floor.
• Calligraphy or art on the main wall, at eye level when seated.
• Cushions with detail: embroidery, tassels or a subtle sheen, in two or three colours from your palette.
• A display of serving pieces, such as a cabinet of coffee cups and family china, which is both decorative and practical.
• A quiet corner with clean prayer mats in a basket, so guests can pray comfortably during a long visit.

A separate ladies' majlis fits beautifully in an apartment too. A few ideas create a lovely, private sitting room for visits:

• Use the second bedroom. A Comfo 2-seater, 229 cm wide, with one or two ottomans facing it seats five or six guests around a small table. Arrange the ottomans as seats when friends visit and as a chaise on quiet evenings.
• Make it a guest room too. A Snoozo, 190 cm wide, is a calm sofa for visits by day and opens into a bed when a relative stays the night.
• Screen off the end of the living room. A curtain on a ceiling track or a folding screen turns part of an open-plan room into a private majlis in seconds.
• Keep it light. Pale walls, a pale sofa and mirrors make a small room feel generous, and wall lights save space on side tables.
• Choose nesting tables and poufs that tuck away when the room goes back to everyday use.

For a long majlis bench or a room of an unusual shape, ask for a custom sofa: the team replies within 48 hours with a drawing and a price.