There are several forms of protection that you might be considering for the fine wood furniture in your home, and one of the top examples here is protection from the sun and its UV rays. While small amounts of sun exposure through your windows (or even outright, when windows are open) isn’t necessarily a problem for most furniture, prolonged such exposure can have some real negative impacts — and avoiding this is important for long-term care.
At Amish Crafted Furniture, not only are we proud to boast a massive showroom of the finest Amish furniture in Tulsa and nearby areas, from solid wood furniture bedroom furniture to office furniture and more, but we’re also here to provide basic tips on long-term care and upkeep of all your fine furniture. Why is sun damage a risk to your wood furniture, and what can be done to reduce or even eliminate these risks? Here’s a simple rundown.
WHY THE SUN IS A DANGER TO FURNITURE
As we noted earlier, occasional sun exposure to certain pieces of wood furniture will not be the end of the world. However, in cases where such exposure is more prolonged — for example, if a piece of furniture is placed near a sunny window where it will receive direct sunlight for hours every day — this can cause some real damage.
The sun’s rays can cause the wood to warp and discolor over time, and in some cases, this warping may even be irreversible. As a result, it’s important to take steps to protect your wood furniture from direct sunlight whenever possible.
This is particularly true for pieces made of lighter woods, such as cedar, pine, and fir; these woods are more susceptible to sun damage than darker varieties like cherry, walnut, and oak. Even if your home’s windows are always closed, UV rays can still penetrate the glass and cause damage, so it’s important to take steps to protect your furniture even in less-than-sunny conditions.
Our next several sections will go over some basic tips for protecting your furniture from these risks.
AVOID THE SUN IN THE FIRST PLACE
The single simplest and most effective way to ensure your most important wood furniture pieces don’t get damaged by the sun? Don’t allow the sun to hit them in the first place.
The sun’s rays are most intense during the middle of the day, from around 10 AM to 4 PM; as a result, it’s best to avoid placing furniture near windows during these hours whenever possible. If you’re especially concerned about certain furniture pieces and their exposure, you can track the sun’s rays within the room they’re placed in for an entire day — in most rooms, there will be at least some areas that do not receive any sun whatsoever, even during the peak hours, and these can be used to your advantage.
In some cases, simply rearranging a room’s furniture can make a big difference in terms of sun damage avoidance; for example, placing a piece that would normally sit near a sunny window instead along an exterior wall where it will receive no direct sunlight at all.
USE CURTAINS OR BLINDS
Another simple approach that can be effective in many cases is to make use of curtains or blinds to filter out the sun’s rays. In most rooms, there will be at least some windows that cannot be avoided; by using curtains or blinds, you can ensure that direct sunlight never hits these windows and, as a result, any furniture placed near them.
Curtains and blinds come in all sorts of colors, styles, and materials, so it should be easy to find a set that matches the aesthetic of your room; in some cases, you may even be able to find sets that are specifically designed to block out UV rays, which can provide additional protection for your furniture.
WINDOW FILM
There may be some cases where curtains either don’t make sense or can’t be used effectively — for example, if you have a window that’s placed very high up on a wall, or if you simply prefer not to use curtains in your home. In these cases, another option to consider is window film.
Window film comes in a variety of styles and can be applied directly to your windows; in many cases, it will significantly reduce the amount of UV rays that enter your home, and as a result, it can provide protection for your furniture against sun damage.
There are even some types of window film that are specifically designed to block out UV rays, which can offer even more protection; however, these may also be more expensive than other options.
WOOD CLEANING AND CONDITIONING
If your wood furniture does get exposed to small amounts of sunlight from time to time, it’s important to take care of it properly to ensure that any damage is minimized. In particular, you should make sure to clean and condition your wood furniture on a regular basis.
Cleaning helps to remove dirt, dust, and other debris that can lead to scratches or other damage; conditioning helps to keep the wood hydrated and prevent it from drying out, which can lead to cracking.
There are a variety of wood cleaners and conditioners available on the market; in most cases, you should be able to find one that’s specifically designed for the type of wood your furniture is made from.
For more on how to protect your fine wood furniture from sun damage of any kind, or to learn about any of our solid wood Amish furniture options, speak to our team at Amish Crafted Furniture today.