Material

Customers cannot touch a product on a screen. Material data is the closest thing to a tactile experience they will get before purchasing.

OVERVIEW

The Material field captures the physical materials a Home & Living product is made from. Unlike a free-text description, structured material data enables filtering ('show me all walnut furniture'), supports care guidance, informs sustainability claims, and feeds AI recommendation systems that match materials to room aesthetics and customer preferences.

This field lists materials factually — what the product is physically made from — not how those materials make it look or feel. Aesthetic character belongs in Style. Sustainability credentials belong in a dedicated field. Material here means: what substance is this thing constructed from?

BUSINESS VALUE

Why this field matters

Material is a top filter for home furniture and decor shoppers — 'solid wood', 'marble', and 'rattan' are high-intent search terms
Structured material data prevents post-purchase disappointment and returns from customers who expected different construction
Material values power care instruction logic — a linen product has different washing guidance than a marble one
Allergen-sensitive customers (nickel allergy, natural rubber allergy) rely on material data to make safe choices
AI styling tools use material combinations to make interior design recommendations
Wholesale and trade buyers require accurate material data for sourcing, compliance, and specification sheets

ACF SETUP

How to configure this field in Accentuate Custom Fields

Where

ACF dashboard → Templates tab → Product scope → Add new field

Label

Material

Name / Key

material

Namespace

accentuate (default)

Field type

Shopify >> Single-line text (List)

Multi-value

Yes — most products are made from more than one material

Note: List separate materials as individual entries. A dining table with a walnut top and steel legs needs both 'Solid wood (walnut)' and 'Metal (steel)' as separate values. This enables filtering for each material independently.

STEP-BY-STEP IN ACF

Open ACF, go to Templates tab and select the Product scope
Click 'Add new field'
Label: 'Material' — Key auto-fills as 'material'
Namespace: leave as 'accentuate'
Field type: Shopify >> Single-line text (List)
Enable 'Allow multiple selections' — multi-material products are the norm in home & living
Click Done, then Save
Populate by listing each distinct material the product is constructed from

REFERENCE VALUES

Example values — include wood species and metal types where known

Value

When to use

Solid wood (oak)

Structural timber — specify species when known; oak, walnut, pine, ash

Solid wood (walnut)

Premium hardwood; darker grain; specify where relevant to positioning

Engineered wood

MDF, plywood, LVL — manufactured wood products with consistent properties

MDF

Medium-density fibreboard; smooth finish; used in painted or laminate furniture

Metal (steel)

Structural or decorative steel; specify finish (powder-coated, brushed, raw)

Metal (aluminium)

Lightweight metal; common in outdoor furniture and minimalist frames

Glass (tempered)

Safety glass; for tabletops, shelves, cabinet inserts

Marble

Natural stone; for tabletops, decorative objects, bathroom accessories

Fabric upholstery (linen)

Natural linen weave; specify fabric type for care and allergy guidance

Leather

Genuine leather; specify full-grain, top-grain, or corrected-grain

Faux leather

PU or PVC synthetic leather alternative; note for vegan customers

Rattan / wicker

Natural or synthetic woven plant material; common in Bohemian and Coastal styles

BEST PRACTICES

Be specific: 'Solid wood (walnut)' is more useful than 'Wood'
List all structural and finish materials — don't omit secondary materials like legs, frames, or edging
Use consistent naming conventions across the catalogue — 'Solid wood (oak)' not 'Oak wood', 'Oak', and 'Solid oak' interchangeably
Update material values immediately when a supplier makes a material change — outdated data creates legal exposure
For upholstered products, always list both the frame material and the upholstery material

COMMON MISTAKES

Listing 'Wood' instead of specifying the species — 'Solid wood (oak)' and 'Engineered wood' have completely different properties and prices
Omitting secondary materials — a glass-top table with a steel frame needs both listed
Confusing material with finish: 'Powder-coated steel' — the material is 'Metal (steel)', the finish is 'Powder-coated'
Using marketing language: 'Premium leather-look fabric' should be 'Faux leather (PU)'
Copying material data from manufacturer catalogues without verifying against physical samples or test reports

IN CONTEXT

Industrial Bookshelf — 5 Tier

Room

Living room, Home office

Style

Industrial, Rustic

Material

Solid wood (pine), Metal (steel), Metal (powder-coated finish)

Assembly required

Full assembly required (tools included)

DEVELOPER IMPLEMENTATION

Liquid note: Shopify >> List — use .value for the array. Render material values as a spec list or tag strip near the product description — this is purchase-decision-critical information.

Liquid — Storefront Rendering

{% comment %}

Material — Shopify >> Single-line text (List)

Namespace: accentuate | Key: material

Display in product specifications section

{% endcomment %}

{% assign materials = product.metafields.accentuate.material.value %}

{% if materials != blank %}

<span class="spec-label">Materials</span>

{% for mat in materials %}

{% endfor %}

</ul>

</div>

{% endif %}