With rapid urbanization and increasing population density, compact living has become a necessity, driving demand for space-efficient and multifunctional furniture. While recent design trends emphasize modularity, multifunctionality, and sustainability, existing research remains fragmented. Numerous studies lack a comprehensive understanding of user needs across diverse cultural backgrounds, age groups, and living contexts. There is also a lack of a unified and systematic framework to accurately measure and analyze these preferences. Moreover, the influence of emerging factors such as smart technology on user preferences has not been adequately explored This study employs a bibliometric analysis of peer-reviewed journal articles from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOS) and Scopus databases. It aims to systematically summarize the current status of research on user preferences in compact furniture design, identify research gaps, and provide new perspectives and methods for future research. The findings of this study can help designers better understand user needs, enabling them to create more user - centered furniture designs. It also provides a reference for manufacturers to develop market - targeted products and for policymakers to formulate relevant industry standards.