Majlis and Sofa Moving in Jeddah
The majlis is the face of the home in local culture, where guests are received and gatherings are held. Sofas and large seating sets are often among the most expensive and bulkiest items in the house. They need careful moving that keeps fabric clean, leather unscratched, the wooden frame unbroken and the shape undistorted. A sofa may look easy to carry, but it is in fact large and unbalanced, and its wide corners hit door frames, marble floors and lift walls.
At Three Knights we move majlis seating, sofas, floor seating and L-shaped corner units in Jeddah. This page explains how we measure the route, dismantle, wrap, carry and load, what you should do before the appointment and the mistakes we see repeated. If your move is a whole villa, also read our villa moving page.
Types of Majlis and Sofas and What Sets Each Apart
- Arabic floor majlis: long units with backrests and cushions, dependent on order and matching, needing wrapping for fabrics and pillows.
- Standard sofas (2 to 3 seats): a wooden frame with cushions, and the legs may come off.
- L-shaped and modern corner sofas: made of units joined with clips, taken apart before moving.
- Leather sofas: scratch easily and react to heat, needing a soft cover and no dragging.
- Sofa beds: contain a mechanism that must be secured so it does not open.
- Chairs, sideboards and side tables: accompanying pieces that need protection and separate wrapping.
We ask for the type of sofa and its dimensions, how many pieces, and whether it is dismantled or a single piece. A photo of it and of the entrance is enough for us to see whether it will pass and how to carry it.
Why Sofas Get Damaged in Moves
The causes we see repeating: dragging the sofa on the floor so its legs break or the floor scratches, carrying it by the arm or the fragile wooden rail instead of the frame, wrapping in thin plastic that tears and leaves the fabric exposed, loading it on sharp items or under heavy ones, and leaving it in the truck exposed to dust. All of this can be avoided with a plan, suitable wrapping and organised carrying.
Jeddah: Dust, Humidity and Heat
In Jeddah fine dust settles into fabrics easily, fabrics absorb humidity and hold smells, and leather is affected by high heat. So we advise that sofas are clean and dry before wrapping, wrapped in clean cloth or a breathable cover, and never left in a closed truck under the sun. On a dusty day we add an outer cover. Details on protecting furniture from heat are in our packing tips article.
Measuring the Route Before the Date
The most expensive problem is a large sofa arriving at the apartment door and not passing. So we measure together: the width of the main door and room doors, the corridor and turns, the lift width and depth, the stairs and number of steps, and the ceiling height along the route. We decide whether the sofa passes upright, on its side, or after removing legs or back. If the route is impossible, there is lifting from the facade, explained on our winch and hydraulic lift page.
Dismantling and Numbering
Corner sofas and large majlis sets are made of units joined with clips or bolts. We photograph how they connect, number each unit by position and write the room name on it. Then we take off removable legs and put them in numbered bags. At assembly we put units back in the same order and check that the legs and clips are firm. For our general approach see disassembly and assembly.
Wrapping
We start with a soft cloth or a clean cover over the whole fabric or leather, then add protection for corners, arms and legs, and finally an outer cover that keeps dust out. Cushions and pillows are wrapped separately in clean bags. We never put strong tape directly on fabric or leather. For the general method see packing and wrapping.
Carrying and Loading
- Check the route and decide the truck position.
- Protect floors, door corners and lift walls.
- Carry the sofa with two or more people by the frame, not the arm.
- Rotate the sofa at the right angle at doors instead of pushing hard.
- Load it against the truck wall and strap it.
- Never place sharp or heavy items on fabrics and leathers.
- Unload in an order that makes placing the pieces easy.
Table: What We Do With Each Type
| Type | Preparation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Floor majlis | Remove backrests, wrap cushions | Number the units in order |
| Corner sofa | Separate units, keep clips | Photograph the connections |
| Leather sofa | Soft cover, no dragging | Scratches and reacts to heat |
| Sofa bed | Secure the mechanism | Never leave it open |
| Majlis tables | Wrap glass and marble | Fragile and heavy |
Cushions, Pillows and Backrests: The Small Details
Many people forget that a majlis is not just a frame; it is dozens of cushions, backrests and pillows that give the seating its look. These pieces are light but bulky, and they get dirty and absorb smells easily. We gather them in large clean bags, write the room name on each bag, and load them at the back of the truck rather than under heavy furniture. If some are embroidered or expensive, carry them in your own car. After arrival shake them out and air them before you put them in place.
Leather and Fabric: Keeping Their Appearance
Leather must not be dragged, touched with sharp tools or wrapped in sticky plastic directly, because heat can make plastic stick and leave a mark. Light fabrics need a very clean cover, because any smear from a shoe or a dirty hand shows. We ask the crew to wear clean shoes or shoe covers when handling fine majlis sets. If a piece has a stain before the move, treat it the right way before wrapping so it does not set.
Tables, Mirrors and Sideboards That Go With the Majlis
A majlis usually comes with side tables, a centre table and sometimes a sideboard, a large mirror or display shelves. These need the same care: glass and marble are wrapped with heavy cardboard or foam, edges protected, and mirrors moved upright without pressure. It is best to load them near the sofas but without friction, and to unload them in the order they will be arranged. For glass and mirrors see our packing page.
Rugs, Curtains and Lighting for the Majlis
The majlis comes with rugs, curtains and a chandelier. A large rug is rolled, tied and carried by two people, and cleaned before rolling to avoid carrying dust and smell. Curtains are taken down carefully, folded and placed in clean numbered bags. A chandelier needs an electrician to take it down, as explained on our chandelier and lighting moving page. With this coordination the majlis arrives complete and is set up in the same order without searching for a missing piece.
Occasions and Guests: When Should the Majlis Move?
The majlis is the last thing a homeowner lets go and the first thing wanted in the new home, especially if visits from family and guests are expected. So we can arrange for the majlis to be loaded last so it is unloaded first and is ready in the hall before the rest of the furniture. If you have an occasion soon, plan the move at least a week before so you can receive your guests without pressure. If the place is not ready, the majlis can go into temporary storage; see furniture storage in Jeddah.
Multi-Storey Villas
In villas where the men’s majlis is on the ground floor and the women’s majlis or hall is upstairs, the internal staircase becomes a key part of the plan. A spiral or narrow staircase may not pass a large sofa however hard we try, so we consider lowering or lifting through a large window or balcony. We measure the stair width and the ceiling height at the turn, and decide the angle at which to rotate the piece. Banisters and marble floors are protected on any stair carry, and we avoid rushing because a mistake on stairs is more dangerous than one in the hall.
Loading Priorities: What Goes First?
When a move has a large majlis and other furniture, loading order matters. Heavy solid pieces go first against the truck wall, then sofas and majlis in their covers, then glass tables upright and protected, and finally cushions and light rugs. On arrival we reverse the order so cushions and rugs come out first to prepare the hall, then the sofas and majlis, then the heaviest pieces. This sequence reduces movement in the house and protects the pieces from friction.
Protecting Floors and Walls in the Hall
Halls in Jeddah homes are usually marble or porcelain, and their entrances are decorated with frames, columns and decor. We cover the floor with boards or thick cardboard along the route, place guards on wall and door corners, and carry rather than drag. In the lift we cover the floor and walls. If the hall has a valuable carpet we fold or cover it before carrying begins. When the crew finishes we review the state of floors and walls with you before leaving.
What Affects the Cost
Cost varies with the number and size of pieces, dismantling and assembly, extra wrapping, the floor, lift and door widths, whether a winch is needed, the distance, and whether the job is part of a full move. Send photos of the majlis and entrance on WhatsApp. For general principles see furniture moving prices in Jeddah.
Common Mistakes
- Dragging the sofa on the floor.
- Carrying it by the arm or the wooden rail.
- Not measuring the door before the appointment.
- Wrapping in thin plastic only.
- Loading sharp or heavy furniture on top of fabrics.
- Leaving sofas exposed to dust and sun.
Is an Old Sofa Worth Moving?
If the sofa is very old, its foam has worn out, the fabric is torn and the frame creaks, replacing it may be wiser than paying for a move. We do not sell sofas and will not push you to buy, but we give our view honestly after seeing photos. If the sofa is good and comfortable, or has sentimental or financial value, a careful move preserves it for more years. The decision is always yours.
After Arrival: Setting Up the Majlis Again
Start by fixing the position of the largest pieces on the floor, put the units together in order, then arrange the backrests and cushions, then the tables and rugs. Check the fabric and leather and clean them gently before sitting, take off the covers and watch for any fault. If you are expecting guests, leave the majlis a day or two after the move so it airs and settles.
Checklist
- Photograph the majlis and sofas before dismantling.
- Measure doors, corridors and the lift.
- Clean the pieces and let them dry.
- Prepare bags for bolts and clips.
- Number the units and write the room name.
- Decide the majlis position in the new place.
- Tell the crew about any building restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you move an Arabic floor majlis and its cushions?
We detach backrests and cushions where they come off, wrap the fabrics and pillows separately, carry long units with two people and keep the order with numbering so the set returns as it was in the new place.
Are leather and fabric affected during the move?
Yes. Leather scratches and keeps pressure marks, and fabric gets dirty and absorbs moisture. So we wrap each piece in a clean soft cover and never apply tape directly to the surface.
Will my large sofa fit through the door?
We measure the door, corridor and lift before the appointment. Some sofas travel tilted or on their side, some have the legs or back removed. If it will not pass, we may need to lift it from the facade.
Do you move L-shaped corner sofas?
Yes, and they usually come apart into units. We photograph how they connect and number the units to reassemble in the same order.
How do you protect sofas from dust and humidity?
We wrap with clean cloth or a breathable cover, and recommend the pieces are dry and cleaned before wrapping. On dusty days we add an outer protective layer.
Do you move the coffee tables and rugs that go with the majlis?
Yes. Glass and marble tables need special wrapping, and rugs are rolled, tied and carried with care. We plan so the majlis is loaded in an order that makes unloading easy.
Get in Touch
If you have a majlis or sofas that need safe moving in Jeddah, call us or send photos on WhatsApp so we can set the plan. More services are on our apartment moving and furniture moving pages.