Senior living homes

Living room 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 with a television wall, wood shelving and a glass partition
Living room inspiration: media storage beside a glazed divider.

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
Keep a direct path between seating, entry and bathroom; place chairs where rising is comfortable.
Detail
Use stable furniture, high-contrast edges and layered glare-controlled lighting.
Trade-off
More open floor improves movement but may reduce the number of seating choices.
  • Walk routes with usual mobility aids
  • Check light levels and reflections at seated height
Living room arranged with an L-shaped sofa and wall shelving
Living room inspiration: seating grouped around a shared focal point.

The Elixir portfolio

Details worth a closer look

Photographs for design inspiration
Open living and dining area with a wood partition and television unit
Living room inspiration: a visual boundary between shared zones.
Living room with green and rust-colored seating around a low coffee table
Living room inspiration: conversation seating with a clear central table.

Related design guides

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