After a harsh winter and the cool spring, the warmth and sunshine that summer brings is a welcome change. To fully enjoy the heat of the sun, you need to protect yourself from ultraviolet rays that harm your eyes and your skin. But did you know that even your furniture suffer damage from the very same UV rays?
Ultraviolet is the radiation that gives 10% of the electromagnetic power of the sun. It can be beneficial to us due to its involvement with Vitamin D, but what’s really concerning is the amount of damage that it can do not only to our bodies, but to our belongings too. It is important to note that the damage that ultraviolet rays do to your carpets and furniture is irreversible. They may cause fading as well. Your favorite furniture that you would have wanted your children and grandchildren to enjoy will deteriorate from the harshness of the sun. To prevent this from happening, here are a few ways to protect your furniture and carpets from sun damage.
Practical Solutions to Sun Damage
The most effective way to prevent ultraviolet ray damage is by blocking the sun. You can’t really remove the sun’s rays from all around you, but you can always protect your home from it. In fact, blocking out the sun is a very practical solution to UV damage.
One of the most best ways to block out the sun is using window treatments. Indoor blinds, drapes, shutters, and shades all allow you to control how much sunlight you want in your room. Aside from this, they can also provide some privacy. Blinds and shades reduce the transfer of ultraviolet rays, but the amount of light they can block within an enclosed space directly affects the level of protection they can provide. Basically, you will have a lot more protection from UV rays is your blinds can block a lot of light. If you install roll shutters outside your windows, it will give you the adequate amount of protection you need against harmful UV rays. Also, metal shutters provide security, so it serves two purposes. In the end, you are not only protecting your belongings but also keeping your indoor privacy. Therefore, by deciding on installing blockout blinds you kill two birds with one stone.–
You can also add blackout linings to your window treatments. Blackout linings effectively protect furniture and carpets by preventing light from passing through your windows. You can easily add them to window coverings and drapings during construction. You can also buy them separately and attach them to ready-made coverings.
Another long-term solution to sun damage is window tinting. Tinting your windows allows you to freely decorate and furnish your room by protecting your furniture. Aside from this, there are different window film options that provide various levels of UV protection. Solar window films, for example, can reduce fading and glare with 99% protection from ultraviolet rays. It can also lower down cooling costs by up to 30%. Clear UV window blocking film, on the other hand, offers good sun damage protection, but does not prevent heat transfer.
You can actually use your windows to your advantage. You can use window glass that are made specifically to block sun rays while still letting the sunlight stream in. UV blocking coated glass can easily filter 95-99% of UV light.
All these options are practical ways to make sure the sun doesn’t destroy your favorite piece of furniture. You can choose the one that is most convenient for your family, so you don’t have to worry about sun damage.
You can keep a lovely ambiance in your home whatever season it may be. Here are some tips on how to protect key pieces in your home.
Carpets
Constant exposure to the sun will fade your carpet. To help minimize the damage of UV rays and prevent fading, you can use blinds, shutters, or shade, or any of the window treatment options. It is also a good idea to rotate your carpets twice a year. This way, you can display all of your beautiful carpets, and preserve them at the same time.
Leather
A very common problem with leather furniture that do not have a topcoat, especially dark-colored pieces that absorb more light than regular fixtures, is fading. The heat causes moisture in the natural oils of the leather material to evaporate, thus causing drying, which eventually causes fading. The only solution to this is re-dyeing and color matching the leather, since the material’s natural oils are dried up. The best way to prevent this from happening is to clean and condition your leather furniture every 6 months, or a year at max. Also, remember to keep them away from direct sunlight.
Fabrics
Sunlight damages not just leather, but fabrics too. Before choosing a type of cloth to place in a sunny spot, consider the color and content of the material. If you’re thinking of using natural fabrics, opt for wool, wool blends and cotton. Those blended with polyester, nylon, or acrylic are less likely to fade, but the ones made of linen and silk quickly lose their color. Dark-colored cloth will fade faster, so take that into consideration. You should also ask if there are treatments of stain-resistant materials available when selecting your fabrics.
Wood
Some wood species are very prone to sun damage. For example, maple wood can darken, and American walnut will lighten when damaged by UV rays. If you plan to put your furniture in places directly in the sun, you should keep the top clear of any accessories for the first few months. This is to prevent the appearance of sun rings, which appears if something sits on one spot for three to six months. If you really have to place a vase or a lamp, always move them around. Rotating their positions will help prevent visible discolorations.
Your furniture needs every bit of tender loving care you can provide for them to stay beautiful for all the years to come. Just remember that just like your skin, the sun is an enemy of your fixtures. Protect your lovely furniture from UV damage, and enjoy them for a lifetime.