# Modern majlis indoor plant style for Dubai

Canonical: https://plantguide.ae/indoor-plants/styles/modern-majlis · Updated: 2026-10-07
Source: Plant Guide (https://plantguide.ae/indoor-plants/styles/modern-majlis)

**Matching palms, brass and limestone: a formal, symmetrical look for a villa majlis.** A formal look for a villa majlis or reception room: a matching pair of tall palms in brass or terrazzo planters, warm neutrals and low seating. Kentia and lady palms carry it; the olive needs the sunniest glass.

Effort 2/5 (5 = most upkeep) · grows in low–bright indirect light · rooms: majlis, living room · starter set about AED 1,200–2,900 (indicative, plants and pots)

The modern majlis keeps the room's formal order: low cream seating, limestone or marble floors, brushed brass and a mashrabiya-pattern screen that throws patterned light. The plants follow that order instead of breaking it. Think symmetry: a matching pair of tall palms either side of the entrance or the window, in large planters with a brass finish or a terrazzo look, then a second tier of [ZZ plant](https://plantguide.ae/plants/zz-plant.md) or [cast iron plant](https://plantguide.ae/plants/cast-iron-plant.md) in the corners.

Majlis rooms are often curtained and used only when guests come, so pick plants that need little light and forgive gaps in care. NC State says [kentia palm](https://plantguide.ae/plants/kentia-palm.md) requires little light and [lady palm](https://plantguide.ae/plants/lady-palm.md) grows in deep shade, with direct sun for less than two hours a day. Both grow slowly, so you pay for size up front, and the ASPCA lists both as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

[Areca palm](https://plantguide.ae/plants/areca-palm.md) and [bird of paradise](https://plantguide.ae/plants/bird-of-paradise.md) are for the bright side of the room. NC State says areca palm prefers a bright location and high humidity, and bird of paradise needs a well-lit, sunny spot, so neither suits a dim majlis. [Peace lily](https://plantguide.ae/plants/peace-lily.md) adds white flowers near a window, but the ASPCA lists it as toxic to cats and dogs.

An olive tree is a popular majlis showpiece, but not an easy plant. NC State rates olive as full sun, six or more hours of direct sunlight a day. Indoors it works only at the sunniest unshaded glass, or on a balcony or terrace outside the majlis doors. In a curtained or tinted room, put a third kentia palm or a cast iron plant in its place. Guests see the leaves, so wipe large fronds with a damp cloth when you can feel dust (Ohio State Extension).

## Key plants

- [Kentia palm](https://plantguide.ae/plants/kentia-palm.md) (kentia-palm): low–bright indirect light · pet-safe · floor-standing · dry-air tolerance 4/5
- [Lady palm](https://plantguide.ae/plants/lady-palm.md) (lady-palm): low–bright indirect light · pet-safe · floor-standing · dry-air tolerance 4/5
- [Areca palm](https://plantguide.ae/plants/areca-palm.md) (areca-palm): bright indirect light · pet-safe · floor-standing · dry-air tolerance 2/5
- [Bird of paradise](https://plantguide.ae/plants/bird-of-paradise.md) (bird-of-paradise): bright indirect–direct sun · not pet-safe · floor-standing · dry-air tolerance 4/5
- [Olive](https://plantguide.ae/plants/olive.md) (olive): direct sun · not pet-safe · floor-standing · dry-air tolerance 4/5
- [Peace lily](https://plantguide.ae/plants/peace-lily.md) (peace-lily): low–bright indirect light · not pet-safe · tabletop · dry-air tolerance 2/5
- [ZZ plant](https://plantguide.ae/plants/zz-plant.md) (zz-plant): low–bright indirect light · not pet-safe · medium size · dry-air tolerance 5/5
- [Cast iron plant](https://plantguide.ae/plants/cast-iron-plant.md) (cast-iron-plant): low–medium light · pet-safe · medium size · dry-air tolerance 5/5

## Mood, palette and materials

**Mood:** Formal, Symmetrical, Warm neutrals, Brass accents, Quietly grand

**Palette:** Limestone #E2D9C6, Cream seating #F4EEE1, Brushed brass #B28B52, Terrazzo grey #B9B4AA, Palm green #3E6B47, Umber #5B4634

**Pots and planters**
- Large matte or stone-look planters, one matching pair, 40–60 cm wide
- Brushed-brass planters, or a brass collar over a plain cover pot
- Terrazzo cylinders in cream and grey
- A nursery pot with a saucer inside each planter, so it can be lifted out

**Furniture, textiles and finishes**
- Limestone or marble floor with low cream floor seating
- A mashrabiya-pattern screen that casts patterned light
- Brass trays and lamps, with sand and cream linen
- Sheer curtains that soften the sun on the leaves

## A starter set (AED 1,200–2,900)

Plants AED 920–1,330: kentia from 349 (two for a pair), lady palm pair 475, ZZ, peace lily. Pots: IKEA ceramic AED 79–95; brass or terrazzo planters are our estimate, up to AED 400.

- [Kentia palm](https://plantguide.ae/plants/kentia-palm.md) (kentia-palm): low–bright indirect light · pet-safe · floor-standing · dry-air tolerance 4/5
- [Lady palm](https://plantguide.ae/plants/lady-palm.md) (lady-palm): low–bright indirect light · pet-safe · floor-standing · dry-air tolerance 4/5
- [ZZ plant](https://plantguide.ae/plants/zz-plant.md) (zz-plant): low–bright indirect light · not pet-safe · medium size · dry-air tolerance 5/5
- [Peace lily](https://plantguide.ae/plants/peace-lily.md) (peace-lily): low–bright indirect light · not pet-safe · tabletop · dry-air tolerance 2/5

## How to get the look

1. **Choose the pair.** Buy two matching palms for either side of the entrance or window: [kentia](https://plantguide.ae/plants/kentia-palm.md) or [lady palm](https://plantguide.ae/plants/lady-palm.md) for a dim room, [areca](https://plantguide.ae/plants/areca-palm.md) only where it is bright. Look for plants 1 m or taller, since both grow slowly.
2. **Dress the planters.** Put each plant, still in its nursery pot, inside a large matte, brass or terrazzo planter. Use identical planters on both sides. Keep a saucer under the nursery pot and empty it after watering.
3. **Fill the corners.** Add a [ZZ plant](https://plantguide.ae/plants/zz-plant.md) or [cast iron plant](https://plantguide.ae/plants/cast-iron-plant.md) in each corner or on a low console. Put a bird of paradise or peace lily only at the brightest window.
4. **Filter the light.** Let light arrive through a mashrabiya-pattern screen or a sheer curtain. NC State says kentia palm and ZZ do better out of intense direct sun, and lady palm is happy in deep shade.
5. **Water by touch.** A majlis used on and off does not follow a calendar. Check the soil two inches down before watering (University of Maryland Extension), and wipe large fronds with a damp cloth before guests arrive.
6. **Add the olive last.** If you have the sunniest unshaded glass or a terrace outside the room, put an olive there. Otherwise skip it and add a third palm.

## In a Dubai home

- Villa majlis rooms are often curtained against the sun. Kentia palm, lady palm, ZZ and cast iron plant cope with low light (NC State); use bird of paradise and areca palm only at the brightest window.
- Olive needs six or more hours of direct sun (NC State), so it suits only the sunniest unshaded glass or a balcony or terrace. For a similar shape in a dim room, use a kentia palm or a cast iron plant.
- A majlis can sit empty for days. Water by the finger test, not the calendar. If the room is shut for the summer, leave the AC running and use self-watering planters or wicks (University of Saskatchewan).
- Large palms carried home in summer heat suffer. Buy between October and April if you can, and do not leave them in a hot car or hallway: have them delivered straight into the cool room.

## Pros and cons

**Pros**
- Two or three big plants make the room look finished
- Kentia, lady palm and ZZ cope with the dim, curtained rooms a majlis often is
- Kentia palm and lady palm are non-toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA)

**Cons**
- The costliest style here: tall palms and brass or terrazzo planters add up
- Kentia and lady palms grow slowly, so you pay for size at the start
- The olive showpiece needs full sun and will not do well in a curtained room
- A room used on and off is easy to forget: dust builds and the soil swings wet to dry

## FAQ

**Can I put an olive tree in my majlis?**  
Only if the room has the sunniest unshaded glass, or you have a balcony or terrace outside it. NC State rates olive as full sun, six or more hours of direct sunlight a day, and says it is brought indoors in colder areas. In a curtained or tinted majlis, a [kentia palm](https://plantguide.ae/plants/kentia-palm.md) or [cast iron plant](https://plantguide.ae/plants/cast-iron-plant.md) gives the same quiet shape.

**Which palm suits a dim majlis?**  
Kentia palm or lady palm. NC State says kentia requires little light and lady palm tolerates deep shade, and the ASPCA lists both as non-toxic to cats and dogs. If a room gets no daylight at all, no live plant here will thrive: good artificial plants are the honest alternative.

**How much do kentia palms cost in Dubai?**  
On 2026-10-07 Plantsworld listed kentia palm from AED 349 for 100–120 cm and 150–180 cm plants, with the smaller size backordered. Plant Station listed a two-plant lady palm bundle at AED 475. Shops differ a lot in size, pot and guarantee, so compare plants of the same height.

**How often should I water plants in a room that is rarely used?**  
Go by the soil, not the calendar. Push a finger about two inches into the soil (University of Maryland Extension) and water only if it is dry. Kentia palm soil should not dry out completely, while ZZ and cast iron plant can wait longer. Before a long absence, water well and use wicks or self-watering planters (University of Saskatchewan).

## Photos

![A modern majlis in a Dubai villa with kentia and areca palms in brass planters, an olive tree and a mashrabiya screen](https://plantguide.ae/images/generated/indoor-styles/modern-majlis/a-hero-v1.webp)

![A kentia palm in a brass planter beside low majlis seating, with mashrabiya-pattern light on a limestone floor](https://plantguide.ae/images/generated/indoor-styles/modern-majlis/c-vignette-v1.webp)

![An areca palm in a brass and terrazzo planter with geometric mashrabiya light on the wall](https://plantguide.ae/images/generated/indoor-styles/modern-majlis/d-detail-v1.webp)

## Sources

- [NC State Extension Plant Toolbox: Howea forsteriana (kentia palm)](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/howea-forsteriana/)
- [NC State Extension Plant Toolbox: Rhapis excelsa (lady palm)](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/rhapis-excelsa/)
- [NC State Extension Plant Toolbox: Olea europaea (olive)](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/olea-europaea/)
- [NC State Extension Plant Toolbox: Dypsis lutescens (areca palm)](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/dypsis-lutescens/)
- [NC State Extension Plant Toolbox: Strelitzia reginae (bird of paradise)](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/strelitzia-reginae/)
- [ASPCA: kentia palm](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/kentia-palm)
- [ASPCA: lady palm](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/lady-palm)
- [ASPCA: peace lily](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/aspca-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants/peace-lily)
- [University of Maryland Extension: watering indoor plants](https://extension.umd.edu/resource/watering-indoor-plants)
- [University of Saskatchewan: watering houseplants on vacation](https://gardening.usask.ca/articles-and-lists/articles-indoor-growing/watering-houseplants-while-on-vacation.php)
- [Ohio State Extension: cleaning houseplant leaves](https://u.osu.edu/knoxcountyag/2018/12/19/why-you-should-clean-the-leaves-of-houseplants/)
- [Plantsworld: kentia palm (prices checked 2026-10-07)](https://plantsworld.ae/products/kentia-palm-howea-forsteriana-plant)
- [Plant Station: indoor plants (prices checked 2026-10-07)](https://www.plantstation.ae/)
- [IKEA UAE: plant pots (prices checked 2026-10-07)](https://www.ikea.com/ae/en/cat/plant-pots-10778/)