Small homes and studios
Living zone Materials and Finishes for Small homes and studios
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
- Anchor seating on a wall and preserve a central route; use a movable table rather than fixed dividers.
- Detail
- Choose a sofa with hidden storage and a rug to mark the lounge footprint.
- Trade-off
- A larger sofa improves comfort but limits hosting and sleeping flexibility.
- Mock furniture footprints with tape
- Check clear route to windows and entry
The Elixir portfolio
Details worth a closer look
