Senior living homes

Entry Materials and Finishes for Senior 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
Living room seating group with a clear approach from the front of the room
Arrival inspiration: keep the first route into the room open.

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
Provide a seat and drop surface beside the door while keeping the approach free of loose items.
Detail
Use a firm bench, clear address and threshold contrast, plus bright even entry lighting.
Trade-off
A larger bench aids changing shoes but can crowd a narrow vestibule.
  • Try entry with bags and mobility aids
  • Check threshold transitions and door hardware
Entry corridor leading toward a dining area beside a glass-front cabinet
Entry inspiration: a clear approach and shallow landing storage.

The Elixir portfolio

Details worth a closer look

Photographs for design inspiration
Wood display partition between an entry-side passage and living room
Entry inspiration: a permeable divider that softens direct sightlines.
Living area with a glass partition beside a television wall
Entry inspiration: glazed separation that preserves borrowed light.

Related design guides

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