Co-living homes
Shared workroom 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
Imagine a desk used for drawing, video calls and hot drinks, with the front edge already showing wear from daily contact. A replacement finish must be easy to maintain.
Compare samples for glare, cleanability and repair at the exposed edge, not just the top surface. Consider a replaceable worktop or protective mat while keeping the edge comfortable for forearms.
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
- Separate call booths or enclosed call corners from shared tables and the entry path.
- Detail
- Provide task lighting, accessible power and acoustic soft finishes at conversation zones.
- Trade-off
- Enclosed call spaces improve privacy but take floor area from open desks.
- Listen during overlapping calls
- Check outlet reach and screen glare
The Elixir portfolio
Details worth a closer look
