Multi-generational houses are more common than ever as people don’t want to put their parents in a home now that people live longer and can be more active at older ages, and these houses also have kids. Grandparents can make great baby sitters giving the parents an easy way to have date night, and there has been research that shows seniors may feel less depressed when interacting with children like their grand kids.
When shopping for a couch we would normally think about ourselves, and how it can stand up to our kids. For multi-generational homes with kids and senior citizens you have to consider more than your own needs.
A couch for homes with kids needs to be:
- Easy to clean
- Withstand dirt and messes
- Durable as kids love to climb, jump, tear, and throw things
Couches in homes with senior citizens need to:
- Prioritize comfort and support for older joints and muscles
- Be made from less slippery materials to help prevent falling
- Have arms to assist with standing up and sitting back easily
If you’re looking to buy a new couch, it is easy to find the perfect sofa where grandparents and your children can enjoy watching a movie, having story time, or playing board games when you know what to look for.
It is as simple as knowing the fabrics that work for both age groups, finding a style that allows safety for both the elderly and for little ones, and the actual dimensions as you don’t want it too high or low to the ground, or too deep so it is hard to get out of.
Materials
The best couch materials for homes with both kids and elderly parents are leather, tight woven and stain treated cotton or linen, and polyester or microfiber as these materials are durable so they can take some damage, are easy to clean, and can be patched if needed. More expensive materials like suede cannot stand up to the messes kids make, or if your parents accidentally spill tea or coffee.
Covering more expensive fabrics with plastic can create a safety hazard as plastic covers can be slippery, and using a sheet won’t protect the materials from wine or food stains that leak through. This is why you’ll want to choose one of the above.
- Leather is highly durable and naturally stain resistant to an extent. It is harder to puncture than suede and loose woven linen. It is easy to clean a leather couch as there are wipes made specifically for them. The downsides are the cleaning products are pricey and leather tends to age more quickly than cottons or microfibers, but worn leather is also an appealing aesthetic.
- Polyester and microfibers have tight weaves that help them repel liquids which prevents stains from sinking in as fast, especially if it is treated. The tight weaves can make them less susceptible to tearing if your kids are playing rough, and they’re relatively easy to clean.
- Cotton and linen with a tight weave are easy and inexpensive to treat with stain repellants that help prevent liquids from staining the fabrics. They can be steam cleaned with a home cleaning machine if the upholstery is not detachable making them easy to remove odors from. Most detachable upholstery is machine washable, and tight weaves are less prone to rips and tears.
Cushions
The cushioning of the couch matters just as much as the materials as cushions that are plush and allow you to sink in also require more strength from your arms and legs to lift out of. While your kids may love it, elderly people may struggle to get up off of the couch and opt for a chair with more firm support instead.
For multi-generational homes look for cushions designed to be comfortable but also have support both in the lower section where you sit and along the back of the couch. The back cushions provide upright support and comfort, and the firmer seat cushions make it easier for you to rise when you’re ready to stand as there is likely a better distribution of pressure.
Design
There are three main things to check design wise when buying a couch for homes with kids and senior citizens including:
- Deck height
- Arms
- Depth
If the couch is too low it’ll be hard to stand up from, and you sort of need to fall into it creating an opportunity to slip or fall. Having the seating area, also known as the deck height, at a higher height anywhere from 15 to 22 inches (depending on the person’s height) can help reduce the strain on the person’s joints like knees when standing up.
Have your parents go with you to a furniture store and talk to their primary healthcare professional for guidance on the right height of the deck for them. Having them sit and stand at the store will help determine the right height for them, and you don’t have to shop at the store if you don’t like the style. You can always come online and purchase a couch or sofa bed from an ecommerce store like ours when you know the right dimensions.
If your kids are little, don’t go too high as the higher the height the further a drop if they’re playing or when you turn your head and they try to jump like a stunt person from the couch to the coffee table. You also want to consider the sides of the couch.
Sectional couches are ideal for homes with both kids and the elderly as you can have one side with arms and the other side be a lounge. Kids may find it easier to climb up and down off the couch on the side with no arms and enjoy being able to lay out. Senior citizens will use the arm rests to help rise and lower themselves on the couch on the other side. As your kids grow you can mix and match the modules to create a couch with two arms, or any other configuration that meets your future needs.
Last is the depth of the couch as short depths make it easier to rise up and stand as you can use the back padding and arm rest to your advantage. A larger depth allows you to sink in and slouch, but this makes it harder to rise back up. Shallow couch depths are roughly 21 inches where deep couches can go up to 36 inches or three feet. A standard couch will be between 21 and 28 inches, but it all depends on the manufacturer and style.
Picking the right sofa for a home with kids and elderly parents is easy when you pick a fabric that is durable and stain resistant, has the right height and depth to make it easy to sit and rise from while not being too high in case someone falls, and making sure there are arms to help the elderly sit and rise. If you’re in the market for a new couch, click here to see all of our seating options.