You’ve undoubtedly sat in your favorite chair in the early evening, astonished as the sun’s rays play tricks on the walls and surfaces that adorn your home, depending on the layout and interior design of your home. If you’re an early riser, you’ve probably marveled at the beauty of natural light flooding your house and flowing through the rooms in the morning.
The colors in your home become so rich and brilliant when the sun enters the space and drenches various pieces of furniture and things of interest. The sunshine gives depth and beauty to your home, brightening everything in its path. It creates a natural mood that is unique to your house and only your home.
Take pleasure in it.
Allowing this natural marvel of light into your house, however, has one huge disadvantage: it may damage your carpets, beautiful furniture, and wall art. Sunlight’s UV rays may break down many of the compounds included in furniture and fabric dyes, causing persistent browning and fading of wood. You’ll want to avoid the negative side effects of the sun’s gorgeous beams on your home assets by finding an effective solution to preserve them from color fading and damage.
To avoid color fading in critical sections of your home and keep your furniture in good condition for many years, you must adopt proper sun protection measures. Also, keep in mind that UV rays are prevalent even on gloomy days. The same rule applies if your skin was exposed to the elements all day.
Sun protection for your furnishings
- Abstinence. The simplest approach to conserve our furniture is to keep it out of direct sunlight. Place your furniture, especially the more precious pieces, in regions of the room that are shaded and away from direct sunlight, windows, and skylights. You could wish to rearrange your space to make more area for natural light. Most people haven’t considered this, so you’ll be ahead of the curve.
- Treatments for the windows. Use some form of window treatment. This can take the shape of hanging curtains and draperies, blinds and shutters, or sun shades and awnings. This will also be essential in keeping your home’s temperature managed throughout the hotter summer months of the year.
- Install window film. Window films are an excellent method to control the amount of sunlight and natural light in your house. Solar window films of high quality may reflect up to 99.9% of the sun’s UV radiation. Installing window films on the inside of your windows creates a protective layer that filters out dangerous radiation. They will not obstruct your view, making them an excellent tool.
- Reinvest in your property. If the house is a long-term investment for your family, you may only need to replace the windows. Modern windows are carefully engineered to prevent UV rays (they filter around 85 percent of the dangerous rays) and increase your home’s energy efficiency.
Keep Fading Furniture at Bay
You might wish to go one step further. In addition to avoiding direct sunlight, you may wish to consider a coating to protect the surface of the furniture.
Protect Your Wooden Furniture
Sealants will preserve the wood from the elements such as sunshine, heat, and water. Some sealants can also considerably increase the grain’s appearance. You have a few alternatives depending on the type of wood and the quantity of exposure.
- Varnish. Varnish will seal the wood fibers and protect them from UV radiation and water. It is constructed of resins, oil, and solvents and is available in several finishes.
- Lacquer. A lacquer will form a hard shell over the surface of the furniture, providing it with long-lasting protection. It is not suitable for coarse-grain or super-soft woods.
- Polyurethane. This is strong and long-lasting, yet it is prone to breaking under high temperatures. So, if this is your only option for keeping your piece out of direct sunlight, you should think about something different. Again, combining these goods with crucial room arrangements is the best option.
- It should be shellac-ed. It looks particularly good on walnut, mahogany, and excellent veneer woods. It may be more durable, but it only has mediocre resistance to sunshine and wear. Shellac is best used on a decorative piece of furniture that will not be used frequently.
- Wax it. Oil it. Waxes and oils require frequent maintenance but significantly improve the look of wood furniture. So, if you want beauty with a dash of utility and can commit to a monthly habit of curating your lovely house, this is the one for you.
Upholstery Fabric Protection
We can’t conceive of a cloth that isn’t prone to fading from the sun. The more “high-end” the material, such as silk or linen, the faster it will fade and deteriorate. Materials including acrylic, polyester, and nylon are less prone to fading (at least quickly). To preserve your furniture’s fabric from discoloration and premature deterioration, consider spraying it with a specific fabric protector.
Leather Conditioner
Oh, the abandoned… the deserted. We constantly discuss leather; it is purchased, put, used, and mistreated. But it doesn’t have to get so worn and battered up that it has to be replaced. The beauty of your high-end leather purchase is that it will last a lifetime.
When leather is exposed to direct sunlight, the natural oil in the leather evaporates (just like your skin does). The colors fade as a result, and the leather stiffens and breaks. The darker the leather, the faster it fades. Conditioning the leather can assist to keep it from drying out and discoloring.
If family, time, and life get the better of you and your leather furniture cracks and fades despite your best efforts, all is not lost. Sun fading may make a piece appear vintage and antique, which may be the desired effect. If portions of your leather furniture have become damaged and hopeless, you may bring them back to life with some natural items that are both enjoyable to manufacture and safe to use. Please read our article.