Sun Damaged Leather Chair

Now that summer has arrived, we may be slathering on a bit more sunscreen before we venture outside; and while protecting our skin from direct sunlight is imperative, we don’t need to be outside in order to be subjected to direct sunlight, and neither does your furniture.

Windows provide much needed light and beauty to our homes, but they also allow direct sunlight to shine harshly on our furniture and floors. Fabric, leather, and wood are all susceptible to sun damage that in some cases can be irreversible. So while having that favorite cushy chair or beloved credenza by a window may work great with your lifestyle and décor, it may not be great for very long. Here are some tips to keep in mind as you decorate.

Fabric

As we all know, fabrics fade in strong or repeated sunlight. You can help reduce the severity of fading by choosing wisely with your fabric selections that are destined to spend time in the sun.  When choosing colors, avoid dark colors as they will fade faster than light colors.  For fabric content, those blended with acrylic, nylon, or polyester are less likely to fade. If you want a natural fabric consider cotton, wool, and wool blends, and forgo high end fabrics such as linen and silk which fade easily.

Wood

One of the more complicated materials to work with is wood. Wood can fade like other materials, but it can also darken. For example, American Walnut and Natural Cherry will bleach out, while Cherry and Maple react to ultraviolet light by darkening. One way to achieve even lightening or darkening is to keep table tops and chairs free from accessories and cushions. This will prevent your wood from changing at different rates and creating dark and light spots. If a table must have items on it, regularly move the items around so that all areas are allotted equal sun exposure. Fortunately, you may not have to do this forever as many woods find their natural patina in just a few months.

Leather

Leather is one of the most susceptible materials to sunlight, as it can be damaged in two ways. First it can fade from sunlight, particularly if it has not been treated with a protective top coat such as semi aniline or aniline leather.  Darker leathers can be more problematic as they absorb more light. Second, the sun’s heat evaporates the natural oils within the leather causing it to dry out and crack. This can happen with any type of leather. Unfortunately, once leather has faded, the only way to repair it is an expensive re-dying and color match. Once it had dried out however, there is nothing that can be done.  The best way to keep your leather furniture and accessories looking and feeling great is to simply keep them it out of the sun.

While you may be able to keep one or two pieces of furniture completely out of the sun, shading all your furniture is next to impossible.  Installing window treatments however, can significantly reduce the sun’s glare and heat.  Treatments such as light filtering shades work great to lessen sun damaging rays while still allowing in light. Roller shades can also serve as secondary window treatments behind heavier drapes and swags.  Of course there are many options, but whatever window treatment you choose, your windows will be armed against the sun allowing you to decorate freely.