Whilst natural daylight may be very welcome in a commercial property, it can have one very noticeable side effect. Fading furnishings – such as furniture, floorings and upholstery – unfortunately go hand in hand with sun exposure. This is a particularly big issue for modern buildings such as office blocks, as floor-to-ceiling windows that let in a lot of light are incredibly popular.
Fading interiors can be frustrating, as it can be expensive to replace or repair them. Although nothing short of blocking all light sources will totally stop your furniture from fading in the sun, thankfully there are ways to minimise it.
What causes furniture to fade in the sun?
Although some types of rays are more harmful than others, the whole solar spectrum is actually to blame for fading furnishings!
If you notice your furnishings are looking like they have been bleached by the sun, the main culprit behind it is ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV light causes dyes and pigments to break down in materials such as fabrics, leather and wood, and even paint. Over time, this leads to a loss of colour, hence the ‘bleached’ look.
As well as UV light, visible light – the light that we can see – is also part of the problem. Prolonged exposure to sunlight can also contribute to fabric fading, as the intensity of the sunlight can also break down colour pigmentation.
The heat from the sunlight also plays its part – if you think back to your science lessons, you might remember that higher temperatures can increase the rate of chemical reactions. This speeds up the fading process, meaning the coloured pigments can break down even faster.
Plus, the speed at which the materials fade depends on the type. Items made from natural fibres such as cotton and wool typically fade faster than synthetic fibres, whilst wood and leather can dry out in the sun, leading to colour loss. Fabrics that are dyed with low-quality dyes also degrade faster in sunlight, as they don’t tend to be UV-stable.
It’s worth noting that it’s not just sunny days that can fade your furnishings either – UV rays are present even on overcast, cloudy days, so your furniture is at risk of damage all throughout the year.
How to stop your furnishings from fading
Thankfully there are ways to keep furnishings in good shape that don’t just involve storing them in a windowless room – here’s how to minimise the impact of sunlight on your furniture.
Rearrange the room
On a sunny day – ideally when the sun is at its highest – take note of what the sun hits in a room to see what could be most vulnerable to fading, and move it to a more shaded area of the room. Prioritise pieces that are made of natural materials, as these are more vulnerable to sunlight.
This method can help in rooms with smaller windows, or rooms that don’t tend to get flooded with light, but otherwise it can be tricky to find spots that aren’t affected by sunlight. This can be especially difficult in rooms such as offices or boardrooms, where the furniture takes up the majority of the floor space. It also won’t help to protect floorboards or carpets from sun damage.
Pick your colours wisely
As we know, darker colours absorb more light, whilst lighter colours reflect more light. Because of this, light colours will fade more slowly and also lose pigmentation less obviously, so they tend to look better for longer.
If you have a room that gets a lot of natural light, consider picking furnishings, paint and floorings in a lighter colour to allow for this – although, of course, this will limit your design choices, especially if you need to stick to brand colours for your interiors.
Install solar window film
As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure! The easiest and most convenient solution is to stop the harmful rays coming in in the first place. Unlike curtains and blinds, window film doesn’t stop light getting in, or block the view – it just filters out the rays that cause issues.
Window Film to Prevent Fading
Although window film can’t totally stop your furnishings from fading, as visible light and heat can still come in through your windows, window film is still the most effective way to reduce it. It can stop up to 99% of all UV light, which can not only reduce damage from sunlight, but can also stop irritating glare and also save money on energy bills.
Solar control window film – also known as UV protection window film – can be installed on existing windows, blocking out potentially harmful UV rays whilst still letting in natural visible light and warmth, and without obstructing your view.
Solar window film works as anti-fade window film by reflecting or absorbing certain wavelengths of sunlight before it has a chance to penetrate the glass. It allows visible light to pass through, but unwanted wavelengths like UV are rejected. In cooler months, window film works to conserve warmth, as a significant amount of heat is lost through windows.
Professionally Installed Anti-Fade Window Film
Some things are better left to the professionals, and installing window film is definitely one of them. Having correctly installed window film means that you will be able to enjoy all of the benefits it comes with it for longer. The OVAGLAS team has worked on projects of all scopes and sizes, so there is no job too big or complex for us. To find out more about our solar window film, get in touch with the team.
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