Co-living homes
Shared entry Materials and Finishes for Co-living homes
Select materials by where they will be installed, how they are cleaned and what can be repaired when one part wears.
Explore the ideas
Compare the options
- Set the brief
- Mark high-touch, wet and impact-prone surfaces separately before picking finishes.
- Compare
- Ask suppliers for care instructions, repair options and a full sample with exposed edges and joints.
- Before buying
- Price installation, replaceable pieces and long-term maintenance alongside the initial material cost.
Worked example
Rainwater and grit are routinely tracked into a townhouse entry with a pale timber floor.
Create a distinct, replaceable landing surface just inside the threshold and use a washable runner beyond it. Test the transition with wet shoes and verify the edge cannot catch a wheeled bag.
How to test it
Put the sample beside its adjoining materials and test the agreed cleaning method on a spare piece.
Apply it to this space
- Layout
- Keep a wide central path and place individual hooks and shoe bays along one wall.
- Detail
- Use durable flooring, clear wayfinding and a parcel shelf visible from the entrance.
- Trade-off
- More personal cubbies reduce clutter but can make the entry feel institutional.
- Test arrival with several people
- Check parcel and emergency route clearance
The Elixir portfolio
Details worth a closer look
