When it comes to furnishings for Senior Living facilities, commercial-grade furniture is the ideal choice. Not only does it offer supreme durability to last for the long haul, but Maxwell Thomas commercial-grade furniture features stylish trends to fit any interior design.
What is commercial-grade furniture?
Commercial-grade furniture has been engineered and built to withstand the demanding environments of commercial settings, including restaurants, stores, offices and Senior Living communities.
Maxwell Thomas furnishings leverage best-in-class factories across the globe to bring our furniture designs to life. Our furniture for elderly residents endures rigorous testing to ensure it can withstand the demands of Senior Living before it is brought to market.
As one of the top commercial-grade furniture manufacturers for Senior Living, Maxwell Thomas can create any piece of furniture to fit your vision. Learn more about our customization options.
What are the differences between commercial-grade furniture vs. residential furniture?
The biggest difference between commercial-grade and residential furniture is how the piece is constructed. Consider how each type of furniture is used: a residential piece of furniture may only be used 2-3 hours per day, while commercial-grade furniture may be used 12 hours a day. A commercial piece of furniture needs to feature more durable construction to stand up to demanding settings.
Here are some of the key differences found in commercial-grade furnishings:
Joints: The types of joints used can significantly help with durability and longevity of the product. In commercial-grade Senior Living furniture, mortise-and-tenon joints are the most popular and offer the strongest joint construction.
Stretcher Bars: Commercial-grade dining chairs, like the Kensington Dining Chair, may have stretcher bars added to the legs to help prevent them from loosening for increased stability.
Wood Selection: Commercial furniture is often constructed of more durable hardwoods, like European beechwood, while residential products may feature softer woods that can be more easily damaged.
Durable Fabrics: Fabrics made for commercial furnishings, like our wide selection of fabrics, are designed to resist stains and clean up easily, while residential fabrics may be more susceptible to stains and mositure absorption.
Seat Decking: Many commercial-grade furnishings feature special seat decking to help make cleaning easier. A residential product may have a standard mesh seat decking that can absorb moisture. Our moisture-barrier, drop-through and removable seat decking options found in our common area products all provide easier cleaning for staff and help protect the furniture.
Ideal Dimensions: Commercial-grade furniture can be constructed with a specific population in mind, meaning it’s a better fit for the setting. Maxwell Thomas furnishings feature the ideal dimensions for senior populations. Our thought-out designs infuse the proper sizes and scale to promote accessibility for most seniors.
High-Resiliency Foam Cushions: High-resiliency foam seat cushions may look like residential options, but they offer more firmness and extra support that will last in demanding, commercial settings.
Warranties: Residential warranties are void when placed in a commercial setting. For product support and repair, choose furnishings that feature commercial-grade warranties.
What are some examples of Maxwell Thomas commercial-grade senior furniture?
Our toughest products include faux-wood metal materials that provide the residential and warm look of wood but are made of metal to withstand the bumps and bangs and cleaning routines that happen around mealtime.
Thermolaminate tables are made from a flexible vinyl material that allows us to mold and heat seal the material over the vinyl substrate. It creates a seamless edge to keep out moisture and bacteria and prevents chipping and peeling from occurring. For help choosing the right product, watch our video on how to select dining tables.
For lounging, look for products with removable seat decking for easy cleanability when spills or incontinence problems occur.
Is commercial-grade furniture worth it?
In most cases, commercial-grade senior furnishings make sense for Senior Living communities. While the price tag may be higher, the quality and durability of the construction will help ensure the product lasts for much longer than a residential piece – making it a better investment in the long run.
Browse our featured commercial-grade furniture for Senior Living facilities, or contact us if you have any questions.