How to Protect Your Furniture from the Sun

How to Protect Your Furniture from the Sun
If your furniture could talk, it would probably be begging for some sunscreen right about now. Sunlight might look lovely streaming through the windows every morning, but your couch, rugs and wooden tables are slowly screaming on the inside.
This is why many homeowners turn to home window tinting as an early line of defense.
But this is just one of several ways that you can keep your deck off from turning into a faded, sun washed version of itself.
We’ve got some ways that you can protect your furniture from the sun without having to rearrange your entire house like a vampire avoiding daylight.
Rotate Your Furniture
You’ve heard of a Lazy Susan, right? That is how you should rotate your furniture. Sunlight doesn’t fade things evenly.
Instead, it picks favourites.
One corner of your couch will look perfectly fine while the other starts fading like an old pair of jeans.
The fix is to rotate your pieces every few months. Think of it as giving your furniture a mini vacation from UV exposure. Everyone deserves a break, even your sofa.
Curtains and Blinds Are the Sunglasses of Your Home
If you want an easy win, start with your curtains or your blinds. They act like sunglasses for your living room, blocking out the harsh rays while still letting that cozy, filtered glow filter through.
Go for blackout curtains if you really want to shut the sun down, or choose light filtering options that soften the brightness without making your home feel like a cave.
Protect Wood Like It’s a Precious Artifact
Wood furniture gets cranky when it sits in direct sunlight for too long. Overexposure can cause warping, drying, and color changes that make your coffee table look like it’s been sunbathing without sunscreen.
You could use wax or polish that’s designed to protect wood finishes, and try to avoid placing wooden pieces right next to windows unless they’re protected.
Rugs Need Love Too
We often forget that rugs fade just as dramatically as upholstery. If you ever lifted a rug and noticed that the floor underneath is a completely different color, congratulations, you’ve discovered the joys of sun bleaching.
To prevent this from happening, rotate your rugs periodically and use carpet protectants. You can also place a protective mat underneath to reduce the UV exposure.
Use Blankets and Covers
It’s fashionable armor, but throw blankets aren’t just cozy, they double as sun shields. Drape one over the back of your couch or the arm of your favorite chair to protect the most exposed areas.
Plus, you get bonus style points every time you switch them out.
Be Strategic In Your Rearrangement
Sometimes the easiest solution is moving your furniture a few inches back or shifting it out of the sun’s direct path.
A small change can make a big difference, and your guests will assume you just had a burst of interior design inspiration.
The sun may be great for your plants and people, but your furniture isn’t quite as enthusiastic.
With a mix of smart shading, protective products and rearranging, you can keep your home looking fresh, not faded.
How do you protect your furniture from the sun?
Leave a comment, below!
—Matt
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I am a contractor and just a DIY guy in my spare time. I love building things and sharing my knowledge with other DIY’ers. You can do anything you set your mind to! When I am not building or fixing something, I am all about baseball. Go Tigers, go!

