How to Protect Your Furniture from Sun Damage
(Product in image: Parker Knoll Boston 3 Seater Sofa)
As the heat wave continues, the nation is making the most of long summer days filled with sunshine. After all, the winter lasted for long enough, it’s definitely time for some warmer temperatures!
However, while we might be in need of catching a few rays, our furniture certainly isn’t. The sun can cause all kinds of damage to fabric, wood, and leather, so it is super important to take preventative measures to avoid it so that your furniture lasts as long as you want it to.
Wooden furniture can take quite a beating from the sun’s rays, usually ending up very discoloured. Purchasing furniture which has some form of protection e.g. lacquer or wax, will help minimise the impact, but even this will not prevent it. Covering surfaces such as dining tables with table clothes or other physical barriers will provide the best protection, if it is practical to do so.
Fabrics all react differently to sun damage, so it’s important to determine which type of fabric you are dealing with. Manmade fabrics such as acrylic, polyester and vinyl will withstand far more sun damage than natural materials such as cotton or silk. Damage will also depend on the colour of the fabric, so if you are looking for furniture for a sunny spot, make sure that it has lighter colours and is made from tougher material.
Leather does not stand up to sun damage at all, as it cracks and fades very quickly. The natural oils in the material evaporate in the sunshine, so if you have leather furniture make sure that you regularly use a quality leather conditioner on it.
Of course, where you place the furniture will also have a big impact on how much damage it will endure – keep away from direct sunlight as much as possible or use a window film designed to prevent UV rays from getting through. Rugs will also leave outlines on the floor if not moved around frequently.
Where possible, try to keep curtains or blinds pulled so that direct sunlight does not affect your furniture. You could also consider installing shutters that allow light in but prevent direct rays entering the room.
Remember that the effect of the sunlight itself is only one of the problems caused by the sun. In many instances, damage caused by excessive heat will potentially be more of an issue.
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Posted by Laurie Goldsmith
9th July 2018
