Living Room and Seating Setup for Older Adults

Start with the main seat

Your parent probably has a favourite place to sit. Make it work.

• Height: seat about 45 to 50 cm from the floor, so the knees are level with or slightly below the hips, and the feet rest flat; see choosing a chair for an older person.
• Firmness: firm enough that your parent does not sink; avoid deep soft sofas and sagging cushions.
• Arms: sturdy, at a height that allows pushing up, extending near the front of the seat.
• Back: supportive, slightly reclined, with a lumbar curve; see lumbar cushions.
• Depth: the seat should not press behind the knees.
• Stability: no rocking or tipping; non-slip feet.
• Cushion: if needed, add a firm cushion to raise the seat or relieve pressure; see seat cushions for older adults.
• Location: near a window or the centre of family activity, with good light, away from direct draughts and heaters, and with a clear path to the toilet.
• Within reach: a side table with a drink, glasses, phone, remote and medicines.

If your parent sits for many hours, check posture and pressure care; see sitting for long hours.

Other seating

• A second chair with arms for visitors, so that guests do not take the main seat.
• A sofa with a firm seat and arms if desired, with a firm cushion to raise the height; avoid very low sofas.
• A stool or footrest for those who like to raise their feet, kept stable and out of walkways.
• A rise-and-recline chair for those who cannot stand from a normal chair; see choosing a chair for an older person.
• A dining chair with arms near the dining area.

Layout and clear paths

• Walkways: keep clear routes at least 90 cm wide, with 120 cm if a walker or wheelchair is used, between the main seat, the door, the toilet and the kitchen.
• Furniture arrangement: group seating for conversation, with a small table between chairs, not low, heavy glass tables in walkways.
• Space to turn: at least 150 cm for a wheelchair, and room beside the chair for a walker.
• Avoid obstacles: footstools, floor cushions, bags, shoes, pets' items and plants.
• Furniture against walls where possible, with stable pieces that can be used for support; avoid light, wobbly furniture that your parent might lean on.
• Fix wobbly furniture. Do not use tables or chairs that move when pushed.
• Place the most used items at easy reach.
• Keep the room consistent. Frequent rearranging confuses people with memory problems or poor vision.

Floors and rugs

• Remove loose rugs and mats, or fix them with non-slip backing and flat edges; see flooring, rugs and trip hazards.
• Non-slip floor, even and clean; avoid polishing floors until they are slippery.
• No cables across walkways; use cable covers or reposition sockets.
• Smooth transitions between rooms; fix or ramp thresholds; see stairs, steps and thresholds.
• Pets need training or placement to avoid tripping.

Lighting

• General light: bright, even, with no dark corners; several light sources are better than one.
• Task lighting: a good lamp by the main chair for reading and hobbies; see lighting for older eyes and magnifier lamps.
• Glare: avoid facing bright windows or bare bulbs; use curtains or blinds.
• Night lighting: a night light on the route to the toilet; see motion-sensor night lights.
• Switches: large rocker switches at the door and beside the chair; or touch lamps.
• Colour contrast: furniture that contrasts with the floor and walls helps people with poor vision; see lighting and colour contrast at home.

Television, hearing and communication

• Placement: at eye level, about two to three metres from the main seat, without glare.
• Remote: a large-button remote within reach; see phones, remotes and switches for arthritic hands.
• Sound: for hearing loss, consider TV headphones or a speaker, so the volume does not disturb others; see TV headphones and streamers and talking with someone who is hard of hearing.
• Subtitles if helpful.
• Phone: a landline or a mobile on a stand, with large buttons and a speaker; see amplified phones.
• Clock and calendar in view; see talking clocks for low vision and dementia.
• A bell or alert pendant within reach; see panic pendants.

Tables and storage

• Side table: stable, at a comfortable height, within reach of the main chair, with a non-slip surface. Avoid glass or sharp corners.
• Coffee table: low tables are a trip hazard and hard to reach; choose a sturdy one at a safe height, placed out of walkways, or remove it.
• A tray or lap table for meals and activities; see overbed table guide.
• Storage: items used often at hip to shoulder height; avoid high shelves; use a reacher for light items; see reachers and grabbers.
• Clutter: keep surfaces clear; see decluttering for safety and calm.

Temperature, air and comfort

• Heating and cooling: a comfortable temperature, not too hot or too cold; see temperature and ventilation at home.
• Ceiling and pedestal fans: secure, with covers and no loose cords; keep draughts off your parent's head and neck.
• Heaters: at a safe distance from furniture and curtains, never covered; see cold-weather warmth for older adults.
• Ventilation and air quality: open windows when air is clean, use air purifiers in polluted seasons; see indoor air quality for older lungs.
• A throw or shawl at hand.
• Plants and flowers in moderation, in stable pots, not obstructing paths.

Safety

• No trailing cords, and sockets in good order.
• Fire safety: smoke alarm in the room or nearby; keep incense, lamps and candles away from fabrics.
• Windows and balcony doors secure; see garden, balcony and terrace safety.
• Safe storage of medicines, chemicals and tools.
• Emergency information near the phone: 112, family, doctor.
• A plan for falls: where to call for help from, and a way to get up; see how to get up after a fall.

Living with a walker or wheelchair

• Clear 90 to 120 cm routes, and a turning space of 150 cm.
• A place to park the walker within reach of the chair but not in the way.
• Chairs with enough space beside them for a wheelchair.
• No thresholds, steps or rugs in the way.
• Furniture at transfer height.
• Doors that open wide or sliding doors; lever handles.

Social life

A living room should be welcoming. Seat visitors in comfortable chairs near your parent, with a table for tea and snacks. Arrange the room so that your parent sits where they can see and hear everyone, with their good ear towards the group. Keep a few photographs, a favourite picture or books in view. Create a space for hobbies such as a card table, a puzzle or a craft area, with good light. For people with dementia, keep the room calm, familiar and uncluttered; see dementia home setup.

A simple living room checklist

• Main chair at 45 to 50 cm, firm, with arms.
• Side table with essentials within reach.
• Clear walkways of 90 cm or more.
• No loose rugs, cables or clutter.
• Bright, even lighting and a good reading lamp.
• Large-button remote; hearing aids or headphones if needed.
• A clock and a calendar in view.
• Comfortable temperature and ventilation.
• A phone or alert device within reach.
• Visitors' seating available.

When to ask a professional

An occupational therapist can assess seating, posture and layout and recommend changes, chairs and cushions. A physiotherapist can advise on standing up and mobility. Ask a doctor about pain or difficulty sitting and standing. Our care advisors can arrange a home safety visit and help source furniture and aids.