National Standard for Elderly-Friendly Furniture Design Guidelines Released

Recently, the State Administration for Market Regulation (Standardization Administration of China) approved and released the national standard "Elderly-Friendly Furniture Design Guidelines," which will be officially implemented on February 1, 2026. Based on the actual needs and physiological and psychological characteristics of the elderly, the standard specifies detailed design requirements from the dimensions of appearance materials, intelligence, and functional configuration of elderly-friendly furniture, aiming to enhance the adaptability of furniture products to the needs of the elderly.

The standard specifies that potential risks should be considered in the design of appearance materials. The main color of products should be soft neutral colors such as light beige, and auxiliary colors should be low-saturation warm tones such as light yellow. The colors should form a moderate contrast with walls and floors to help the elderly clearly identify edges and reduce the occurrence of collisions. The use of natural and environmentally friendly materials is encouraged, while materials with pungent odors or that are prone to causing allergies should be avoided. Soft furniture such as sofas should prioritize highly flame-retardant materials. The height and angle of products should be designed to be adjustable as much as possible, exposed parts should be smooth and streamlined, the overall structure should be stable and sturdy, armrests should have anti-slip properties, and easily soiled components such as seat cushions should be easy to replace and clean.

The standard emphasizes that intelligent design should follow the principle of simplicity and practicality. The introduction of smart designs suitable for the elderly is encouraged. The interaction forms of smart applications should be easy to learn and understand, with clear and direct operation prompts that can be adjusted according to the user's cognitive level. Controllers and control systems should be compatible with furniture functions and the usage environment, and operation processes should be simplified as much as possible to avoid dangers caused by misuse. If products have remote health monitoring functions, relevant data should be fed back in real time to authorized family members, guardians, or medical personnel.

The standard requires that functional configuration design closely align with aging-friendly needs. Product functions should be configured based on the actual needs of elderly users. If necessary, aging-friendly components for auxiliary functions can be added, such as non-slip foot pads, armrests, and backrests for seating products; auxiliary lighting, support handles, and adjustable clothing rods for cabinet and shelf products; and safety guardrails, health monitoring and warning devices, and assistive devices for getting up and turning over for bed and mattress products. Product dimensions should be designed based on the physical data of the elderly, and recommended values for the functional dimensions of commonly used aging-friendly furniture are listed.