How to design a modern majlis that still feels like home

What's changed is the aesthetic. The modern UAE living room is evolving, weaving together the generosity of traditional Arab hospitality with clean contemporary design. It's a space that can feel both grand and approachable, structured and comfortable at the same time. Getting that balance right starts with the right living room furniture sets.

Start with the seating

In a majlis, seating is everything. The arrangement, the scale and the fabric all communicate something. Traditional setups line the perimeter of the room; contemporary ones often centre around a focal point, with sofas and armchairs creating an intimate, conversational cluster.

If you're after something that leans into understated luxury, the Abigail sofa set is worth a close look. Comprising a 3-seater sofa and two chairs, its two-over-two cushion design creates a clean, tailored silhouette that suits modern interiors beautifully. Upholstered in soft usher porcelain fabric with dark brown legs, offering a refined contrast, it carries the kind of quiet elegance that doesn't shout but always gets noticed. It's a particularly strong choice for those who want their living room furniture sets to feel curated rather than assembled.

For a slightly more dramatic statement, the Canberra sofa set by Michael Amini lends the room a richer personality. The set includes a 3-seater sofa and two oversized chairs, all upholstered in plush chenille woven fabric with a sleek faux leather exterior finished with belt accent detailing and antique gold hardware. It's the kind of living room furniture set that reads as occasion-ready from the moment you walk in, which makes it well-suited to a majlis that doubles as a family gathering space.

Layers, textures and the art of finishing a room

Getting a majlis right isn't only about the sofa. It's about how every element works together: the rug underfoot, the wall behind the seating and the smaller pieces that fill the space with personality. Contemporary sectional sofas and statement chairs anchor the room, but the layering is what makes it feel complete.

Wall décor, in particular, is often overlooked in UAE living rooms. A well-chosen piece above the sofa does more than fill space; it establishes the room's mood. The New Wisdom framed canvases by Uttermost is a genuinely interesting option here. Created by artist Tara Kelley-Cruz, these nine abstract neutral canvases sit in warm white ash veneer frames and can be arranged as a single cohesive wall installation. The abstract quality is deliberate; the neutral palette works across a wide range of interior colour schemes and the modular format gives you control over the composition. It's a piece that feels both artistic and architectural, exactly what wall decor in a modern majlis should be.

When the room needs to do more

Contemporary UAE homes rarely have the luxury of a dedicated majlis. More often, the living room serves multiple purposes: a space for family, for guests and for daily life. That's where thoughtful living room furniture sets earn their place. A sofa set that seats a full family gathering, a rug that defines the seating zone (for those spending time browsing the best carpet shops in Dubai, a low-pile option works particularly well in high-traffic spaces) and an ottoman bench that shifts between footrest and extra seating are the kinds of considered choices that make a room genuinely liveable.

The Harper Bezel - sofa set by A.R.T Furniture offers impressive seating capacity without sacrificing style. The set includes two 3-seater sofas and two armchairs, making it one of the most practical configurations available for larger gathering spaces. Upholstered in tonal grey fabric with contrast welting, an exposed wood frame and a distinctive reverse half-moon cutout on the back finished in silvery metallic, it bridges the gap between contemporary sectional sofas and classic formal seating. Floor lamps placed at either end of the sofa grouping and a considered arrangement of cushions from the set's coordinating throw pillows would complete the picture nicely.

Investing in a living room that lasts

In UAE homes, the living room is one of the most actively used spaces in the house. It accommodates family routines, unexpected guests and everything in between, which means the furniture you choose needs to be as hard-working as it is good-looking. 

Whether you're furnishing a new home or rethinking a space that has stopped working for you, starting with a considered living room furniture set gives the room a coherent foundation to build on. 

The range available at Interiors in Dubai spans styles and scales to suit everything from a compact apartment living room to a larger, more formal majlis setup.

The modern majlis doesn't have to choose between tradition and contemporary design. Done well, it holds both.