How To Protect Your Furniture From Sun Damage

You most likely have different types of furniture throughout your home, as each chair, table, sofa, etc., serves a unique purpose. Almost everyone purchases furniture with the hope that it’ll last for several decades, but that’s not always the case. Even if you think sun damage is only possible when it comes to outdoor furniture, you should also know that UV rays can reach and impact your indoor pieces. Follow along to learn how to protect your furniture from sun damage.

Cover Your Outdoor Furniture

Outdoor chairs and tables are a must, especially for those with a relaxing porch, deck, or patio space. There’s nothing better than spending time outside with friends and family, but it’s not easy to relax without a comfortable furniture set. Whether you live in a constantly warm climate or one that experiences drastically different seasons, you can make the most of your outdoor hangout space with the right furniture.

However, the sun will most likely damage outdoor pieces much faster than indoor furniture. With that said, you should consider covering it with a UV-resistant cover when you’re not using it to extend its life.

Pro Tip

If you live in a location that experiences harsh, cold winters, consider storing furniture in a garage or shed to protect it from the elements during the off-season and ensure it lasts longer.

Consider Window Film or Tint

Although outdoor furniture is at greater risk of damage from the elements, that doesn’t mean your indoor chairs, tables, and sofas are off the hook. Believe it or not, rooms with great natural light allow many UV rays to reach your furniture. That said, it may take several forms of prevention to protect your favorite home furnishings.

One way to protect your indoor furniture from sun damage is to add window film or tint to all your windows. In the same way that many people add tint to their vehicle windows to block views and sunlight, you can add different tint levels to your home’s windows to protect your furniture. It might be best to hire a professional specializing in installing window film to ensure it turns out well—the film can be pesky to install without prior experience.

Put Up Curtains and Blinds

Most people already have some form of curtains or blinds in their home, making this one of the easiest ways to protect your indoor furniture from sun damage. However, the key to curtains and blinds is actually using them. You might have them up, but always open—close them whenever possible to limit sun exposure in your house. For instance, if you aren’t home during the day, closing your curtains and blinds is a great way to ensure your furniture is safe from UV rays.

Pro Tip

Consider blackout curtains to block up to 95 percent of the sun’s harmful rays from entering your home. They’ll also allow your family to sleep in without sunlight disturbances in the early morning.

Seal Wooden Furniture

Wooden furniture is one of the best additions to any home, but it’s also subject to sun damage and discoloration. Even though it requires the most care and attention, wooden pieces will last for many decades. However, sun damage is one of the most common things to diminish the life and value of wooden furniture. Whether it’s an antique chair, your coffee table, or your bedroom set, no wood pieces are exempt from sun damage.

That said, you can seal the wood to protect it from further sun exposure. You might notice subtle discoloration in your wood chairs and tables, which is usually from UV rays. Consider applying lacquer, varnish, shellac, polyurethane, or a wax or oil finish to seal the wood and protect it from external forces of damage. Think of these materials as sunscreen for your wood furniture—you might have to reapply them from time to time to ensure their effectiveness.

Rearrange the Room Frequently

If you keep your furniture arranged in the same way forever, the sun will hit the same areas every day. With that in mind, you might notice uneven discoloration on wood, upholstery, and other furniture materials. However, rearranging your rooms as much as possible is a great way to reduce targeted sun exposure to one section or side of your furniture pieces. Consider shifting your furniture a little bit every month to ensure one area doesn’t receive more sun than others.

Choose Light-Colored Fabrics

Even though darker fabrics are great options when it comes to versatility, they might not be the best choice for those concerned about sun damage. Interestingly, darker upholstery tends to experience much more damage from UV rays, as they attract and absorb them. Therefore, choosing light-colored fabrics and upholstery is a great and easy way to reduce noticeable sun damage to your furniture. Darker colors have more potential to fade; on the other hand, light hues don’t discolor as drastically.

Condition Your Leather

Leather furniture is a popular choice, but sunlight is not its friend. In fact, sun and leather don’t mix well at all. Even though you might think your indoor leather furniture is safe, UV rays can still cause extensive damage. You might notice that your leather sofa develops creases and cracks after a few years. Unfortunately, the sun can cause the leather to dry out and eventually crack.

However, you can help your leather sofa last longer by applying leather conditioner at least twice each year. This product is great, as it acts as a moisturizer for leather furniture—it delays sun damage by reducing the time it takes to dry out.

Consider Spray Protectants

Even though many furniture materials have specific care instructions from the manufacturer, you might be able to use spray protectants to ensure sun exposure doesn’t cause extensive damage to your modern chairs and sofas. Most sprays are suitable for any fabric upholstery, but you should always read the can for specific claims and instructions to ensure it’s safe for your particular furniture.

Now that you know how to protect your furniture from sun damage, you can take action as soon as possible. You might not think sun exposure is a big deal when it comes to indoor furniture. However, it may not be long before you notice undesirable discoloration on your favorite furniture pieces—start protecting your home furnishings now.