Multigenerational homes
Flexible care room Materials and Finishes for Multigenerational 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 care room where frequent cleaning has dulled a painted hand-contact area, while a glossy replacement sample creates confusing reflections.
Compare durable, cleanable samples at the actual contact points and inspect both joints and exposed edges. Follow product care guidance and ask the care team about cleaning products before specifying a finish.
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 clear furniture zone around the bed and provide a direct route to a nearby bathroom.
- Detail
- Choose movable storage, blackout control and adjustable bedside lighting.
- Trade-off
- Keeping the room ready for care can make it feel less personal as a guest room.
- Try furniture in each intended configuration
- Check night access and support-person space
The Elixir portfolio
Details worth a closer look
