5 Tips To Protect Your Furniture From The Sun
Summer is approaching and the Alberta sun is coming in strong! You just want to pull open the curtains and relish in the light. Natural light improves the look of any room, causing the room to appear larger and make colours pop! However, allowing the beautiful light into your home does have a major downside - it can ruin your furniture, carpeting, and artwork! And the powerful ultraviolet rays are just as powerful on rainy and overcast days!
With the sun and heat at full strength, you need to protect your home and furnishings. Here are 5 tips on how you can protect your furniture from the sun:
Move rugs around
Rugs kept in one location on a hardwood floor for an extensive amount of time will show its outline after a few months. To avoid this you will need to move your rug periodically. Try doing this every couple of months to even out the sunlight's impact.
Keep Fabrics from Fading
No fabric is fully safe from sun damage and depending on the fabric, it will be affected by the sun in different ways. Linen and silk fade significantly quicker however fabrics made of acrylic, vinyl, and polyester are going to hold up much better against the sun.
Another option is using outdoor fabrics as they are made specifically to stand up against the outdoor elements. It is something to consider if you have indoor furniture that sits in the sun almost all year round.
Sealants for Wood
Wood is a popular decor medium in households, providing an atmospheric quality, but the sun causes permanent discolouration to wood and, depending on the type, will cause it to fade or darken. To protect wooden furnishings and floors from UV rays, it's recommended to use a sealant. The following are a few examples:
Lacquer: Easy-to-apply polish that not only can repair small scuffs and scratches, it gives furniture an intense gloss finish along with strong protection.
Varnish: They come in a variety of finishes from matte to high gloss, and offer excellent protection against UV light, heat, water, and everyday wear.
Polyurethane: Either water- or oil-based, both kinds are very durable and offer great defence against the sun.
The sun and leather do not play well together. Over time, the leather's natural oil slowly evaporates, causing stiffening and cracking. Try limiting direct sunlight exposure, especially during the warmer months and use leather conditioners to help maintain leather pieces in your home. It's best to use in spring and fall to help prevent drying and cracking during the summer and winter.
For slightly faded pieces, a colour refresh product buffed into the leather can help breathe life back into it.
And lastly, but certainly not least:
Window Treatments!
Many window treatments can help prolong the life of your furnishings. Below are just a few examples.
Solar Shades: They effectively filter and diffuse natural sunlight and keep your rooms cooler proving to be an energy-efficient option.
Sheer Shades: They reduce glare and help block out harmful UV rays.
Window Film: Rejects up to 99% of the sun's UV rays and is available in commercial, residential and security grades for a wide variety of applications.
Home Automation: Control and schedule the positioning of your smart shades or blinds throughout the day. You can do all of this from your Smart device!