Independent homes
Living room Materials and Finishes for Independent 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
Children and pets use the same lounge seating that hosts formal guests.
Compare removable, washable upholstery covers with repairable woven samples, and test cleaning on an offcut before choosing.
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
- Create a conversation group near the entry and a quieter edge toward the garden or family zone.
- Detail
- Use durable upholstery and more than one lighting circuit for gatherings and daily use.
- Trade-off
- A single flexible room saves area but offers less acoustic separation.
- Check views from entry and seating
- Test evening light at each activity zone
The Elixir portfolio
Details worth a closer look
