13 Smart Ways to Minimise Sun Damage in Your Interiors
Don't let UV rays fade your curtains, upholstery or art. Here are 13 smart ways to minimise the sun's effect on your interiors
Suzanne Barker
15 August 2016
Houzz New Zealand Contributor. Interior designer. I share my property development and home design lessons learned, to help you make better design decisions as a DIY decorator. Access to my free library of resources, or sign up for my free course http://www.inhowzer.com
Houzz New Zealand Contributor. Interior designer. I share my property development... More
New Zealand is notorious for its harsh sunshine. The combination of low ozone, distance from the sun, lack of pollution and high surface reflections (all that water!) means that our peak UV rays are some 40 per cent greater than comparable latitudes in the northern hemisphere.
When you’ve spent good time and money on window treatments, upholstery and great art, you don’t want pieces fading and rotting too quickly. Here are some simple ways to help prevent your home decor from fading in the sun.
When you’ve spent good time and money on window treatments, upholstery and great art, you don’t want pieces fading and rotting too quickly. Here are some simple ways to help prevent your home decor from fading in the sun.
1. Make good fabric choices
Some natural fibres, especially sturdy ones like cotton and linen, have a good resistance to fading. On the other hand, silk is delicate and particularly at risk of sun damage and rapid disintegration, so don’t use it where it’s exposed to strong sunlight such as near north- or west-facing windows.
Many manmade fibres including acrylic, polyester and rayon are great fade-resistant choices.
Browse more curtain fabrics
Some natural fibres, especially sturdy ones like cotton and linen, have a good resistance to fading. On the other hand, silk is delicate and particularly at risk of sun damage and rapid disintegration, so don’t use it where it’s exposed to strong sunlight such as near north- or west-facing windows.
Many manmade fibres including acrylic, polyester and rayon are great fade-resistant choices.
Browse more curtain fabrics
marciosuster.com
2. Use sheer curtains to soften and protect
Sheers never go out of fashion. As well as providing privacy at street- or neighbour-facing windows, they are perfect for softening the glare of the sun. Soft sheer curtains are so versatile; they sit right at home in traditional and modern settings and work beautifully on their own or layered under a solid drape. Look for double curtain rods so that you can open and close sheers and solid drapes independently.
TIP: Glam up your rooms with sophisticated grey sheer fabric, paired with gold and metallic accessories.
Sheers never go out of fashion. As well as providing privacy at street- or neighbour-facing windows, they are perfect for softening the glare of the sun. Soft sheer curtains are so versatile; they sit right at home in traditional and modern settings and work beautifully on their own or layered under a solid drape. Look for double curtain rods so that you can open and close sheers and solid drapes independently.
TIP: Glam up your rooms with sophisticated grey sheer fabric, paired with gold and metallic accessories.
3. Embrace linen fabric for sheer curtains
Sheers are usually made with a synthetic fabric such as polyester, which tends to yellow and deteriorate with sun exposure. Instead, choose a lightweight gauzy pure linen for your sheer curtains, as it will stand up to the sun well.
Sheers are usually made with a synthetic fabric such as polyester, which tends to yellow and deteriorate with sun exposure. Instead, choose a lightweight gauzy pure linen for your sheer curtains, as it will stand up to the sun well.
4. Install a curtain tie-back
Sweep your curtains to the side to keep them out of the strongest sun during the day. Hold the fabric in place with a stylish tie-back. Try a metal curtain holdback to keep your curtains out of the direct glare of the sun, and provide a tidy look.
Sweep your curtains to the side to keep them out of the strongest sun during the day. Hold the fabric in place with a stylish tie-back. Try a metal curtain holdback to keep your curtains out of the direct glare of the sun, and provide a tidy look.
5. Stack your window treatments right back
The leading edges of curtains –the ones facing the windows – are particularly vulnerable to degradation from the sun. To avoid this, make the curtain rod long enough to allow the curtains to open completely and clear the window and frame.
TIP: Rotate your curtains every year by swapping the left-hand curtain with the right-hand one to further minimise fading to the leading edges.
The leading edges of curtains –the ones facing the windows – are particularly vulnerable to degradation from the sun. To avoid this, make the curtain rod long enough to allow the curtains to open completely and clear the window and frame.
TIP: Rotate your curtains every year by swapping the left-hand curtain with the right-hand one to further minimise fading to the leading edges.
6. Make curtain lining your friend
Choose a good quality blackout fabric as the curtain lining. This not only creates a good, dark room for sleeping, it also protects the curtain fabric from degradation and ultimately disintegration. Thermal-backed fabric is a great curtain option as it also minimises sun damage. For the ultimate solution, best for those really expensive curtains, layer a blackout lining behind a thermal-backed fabric for maximum UV protection.
Where to find the best fabric
Choose a good quality blackout fabric as the curtain lining. This not only creates a good, dark room for sleeping, it also protects the curtain fabric from degradation and ultimately disintegration. Thermal-backed fabric is a great curtain option as it also minimises sun damage. For the ultimate solution, best for those really expensive curtains, layer a blackout lining behind a thermal-backed fabric for maximum UV protection.
Where to find the best fabric
7. Install a solar blind
A solar roller blind is an unobtrusive way to protect your room from ultraviolet light and the glare of the sun. Layer a roller shade behind existing fabric window treatments to protect the fashion fabric, or hang them on their own like Clover and Thorne have done here.
Solar shade fabric comes in a huge array of colours and styles to fit into your home. The amount of sheerness or block-out you need will either help you enjoy the view or create privacy or shade.
A solar roller blind is an unobtrusive way to protect your room from ultraviolet light and the glare of the sun. Layer a roller shade behind existing fabric window treatments to protect the fashion fabric, or hang them on their own like Clover and Thorne have done here.
Solar shade fabric comes in a huge array of colours and styles to fit into your home. The amount of sheerness or block-out you need will either help you enjoy the view or create privacy or shade.
8. Apply solar film to your windows
Window film is a powerhouse for sun protection as it can block up to 99 per cent of ultraviolet rays, reduce glare and heat, all while keeping your view clear. Don’t be confused between tinted windows and window film though. A tinted window is simply dyed glass and doesn’t provide the solar protection of window film. Window film can be applied to clear or tinted glass.
Window film is a powerhouse for sun protection as it can block up to 99 per cent of ultraviolet rays, reduce glare and heat, all while keeping your view clear. Don’t be confused between tinted windows and window film though. A tinted window is simply dyed glass and doesn’t provide the solar protection of window film. Window film can be applied to clear or tinted glass.
9. Use indoor-outdoor fabric for upholstery
By definition, indoor-outdoor fabric is a lot more durable and fade resistant than regular indoor fabric. The beauty of these synthetics is that UV-resistant pigments are mixed into the fibre before it’s woven into fabric, unlike regular fabric which is dyed after it’s woven. This process secures the colour, so that it can’t be faded by the sun.
These days, indoor-outdoor fabric comes in a multitude of gorgeous colours and patterns, with some that are woven on jacquard looms to give the fabric the same soft hand-feel of a typical indoor fabric. Indoor-outdoor fabric will look as right at home in the living room as it does on the deck.
Great indoor-outdoor furniture options
By definition, indoor-outdoor fabric is a lot more durable and fade resistant than regular indoor fabric. The beauty of these synthetics is that UV-resistant pigments are mixed into the fibre before it’s woven into fabric, unlike regular fabric which is dyed after it’s woven. This process secures the colour, so that it can’t be faded by the sun.
These days, indoor-outdoor fabric comes in a multitude of gorgeous colours and patterns, with some that are woven on jacquard looms to give the fabric the same soft hand-feel of a typical indoor fabric. Indoor-outdoor fabric will look as right at home in the living room as it does on the deck.
Great indoor-outdoor furniture options
10. Use a stain protector with UV coverage
An upholstery fabric protector is a great idea for preventing stains, and lessening the general wear and tear of fabric. Now you can get a protector that is specifically designed to reduce the effects of ultraviolet light on your fabric too. It’s a win-win!
An upholstery fabric protector is a great idea for preventing stains, and lessening the general wear and tear of fabric. Now you can get a protector that is specifically designed to reduce the effects of ultraviolet light on your fabric too. It’s a win-win!
11. Choose your colours carefully
Avoid using red on expensive pieces, as this hue fades the fastest. Red absorbs the harmful, energy-rich light more than other colours. If you really love the shade, use it in easily-replaceable accessories like cushions, rather than on an expensive sofa.
Avoid using red on expensive pieces, as this hue fades the fastest. Red absorbs the harmful, energy-rich light more than other colours. If you really love the shade, use it in easily-replaceable accessories like cushions, rather than on an expensive sofa.
12. Flip your cushions regularly
Remember to flip your upholstery cushions every few weeks so that they wear and fade evenly. This will also help to maintain the shape of the cushions, keeping your scheme looking fresher for longer.
Remember to flip your upholstery cushions every few weeks so that they wear and fade evenly. This will also help to maintain the shape of the cushions, keeping your scheme looking fresher for longer.
13. Use Plexiglass to protect art
Plexiglass now provides all the benefits of glass plus the added bonus of protecting your art from up to 99 per cent of harmful UV rays. Look for plexiglass that has an added dye that protects against UV light and has anti-reflective properties. The fact that it’s lightweight and virtually impossible to break are added bonuses.
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What have you done in your home to minimise sun damage? Share your pics and tips in the Comments section below.
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Plexiglass now provides all the benefits of glass plus the added bonus of protecting your art from up to 99 per cent of harmful UV rays. Look for plexiglass that has an added dye that protects against UV light and has anti-reflective properties. The fact that it’s lightweight and virtually impossible to break are added bonuses.
TELL US
What have you done in your home to minimise sun damage? Share your pics and tips in the Comments section below.
MORE
Browse more stories from NZ
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Another consideration for protection from harsh sunlight, if you do opt for blinds, is that some fabrics can release harsh chemicals into the home. While the Australian building standards protect against such fabrics, we're not so lucky in NZ, so it's worth finding a supplier for sunscreen blinds that uses fabrics made with a non-toxic bio-based plasticizer.
Any recommendations for stain protector with us protection? Thanks Gretchen
I bought a very expensive sofa in a medium grey. My lounge can get a lot of sun but I kept blinds down a lot. However in less than a year my sofa has faded dramatically. I couldn’t believe the company used such a fabric that faded so quickly & they mustn’t have used any protector. I am getting them recovered, I’ll get a protector with uv but will sheer curtains keep sun out enough to stop fading so I don’t have to have my blinds down all the time?