How multigenerational households are changing sofa design

Multigenerational households are pushing furniture buyers to prioritize accessibility, durability, and flexibility in living rooms. DreamSofa says custom seating is increasingly being specified for mixed-age families that need one sofa to support older adults, children, and guests.

Why it matters: - Multigenerational households are growing and now make up a substantial share of U.S. households, based on widely reported census analyses from research groups including Pew Research Center. - The trend changes what families need from living-room furniture, especially for older adults who need easier sit-to-stand support and younger family members who want deeper lounge seating. - DreamSofa says standard sofas were built around one able-bodied adult user, not a household with conflicting needs in one room.

What happened: - DreamSofa, a direct-to-consumer custom furniture manufacturer, says it is tailoring seating for three-generation households. - The company says multigenerational buyers are increasingly asking for sofas and sectionals that serve older adults, teenagers, children, and caregivers at the same time. - The article was released in Beverly Hills, California, on Aug. 14, 2026.

The details: - Older adults generally do better with firmer seats, higher seat heights, shallower depths and sturdy arms. - Common accessibility guidance places seat heights around 18 to 20 inches or higher, with firm support and armrests that can bear weight during standing. - Standard sofas often land in the 15-to-18-inch compressed seat-height range and are getting deeper and softer as lounge styles dominate. - DreamSofa says its FlexForm made-to-measure system can raise seat height, shorten depth and firm up cushion cores without making the sofa look like medical furniture. - Modular sectionals can combine mixed seating in one piece, including a firmer, higher end near walkways and deeper lounge sections elsewhere. - DreamSofa says mixed-specification orders were rare a few years ago but are now a recognizable customer pattern. - Buyers often describe the need in family terms, such as a parent moving in or a grandparent recovering from knee replacement. - Three-generation households put more wear on furniture because of longer daily occupancy, more meals in the living room, more spills and more pets and children. - DreamSofa says these buyers choose performance fabrics, high-resiliency cushion cores and removable, washable cushion covers at above-average rates. - The company says kiln-dried hardwood frames and a lifetime frame warranty matter more in these homes because the furniture gets used more often. - Multigenerational living also increases demand for sleeper sofas and storage because homes often lose a dedicated guest room. - DreamSofa says interest in its DreamSleeper line is strongest among these households because of a frame design that eliminates the traditional central support bar. - The company also sees demand for integrated storage as families try to make up for limited space. - DreamSofa says its guidance for older-adult households also includes solid arms for weight-bearing support, W or WS-cleaning-code fabric, removable washable cushion covers and seat sections without deep crevices. - The company says its custom builds can include those features without making the sofa look institutional. - DreamSofa’s product line includes made-to-order sofas, sectionals, modular seating systems and sleeper sofas built on kiln-dried hardwood frames. - The FlexForm system allows seat height, depth, firmness and configuration to be specified per order, including mixed specifications within one piece. - Every piece comes with a lifetime frame warranty and a 100-day home trial.

Between the lines: - The furniture industry has long designed for the average buyer, but multigenerational homes do not have an average sitter. - DreamSofa is positioning customization as an accessibility tool, not just a style upgrade. - The shift also suggests families are planning for future needs earlier, including aging parents and longer product lifecycles.

What's next: - DreamSofa expects more buyers to specify for anticipated needs, not just current ones. - The company says households are likely to keep asking for furniture that can be reconfigured as family size and mobility needs change. - As multigenerational living continues, more furniture makers may need to treat accessibility, durability and flexibility as core design features rather than add-ons.