Most of us wouldn't spend hours sitting in direct sunshine without protection – yet many homes are exposed to UV rays every single day. In a sense, your home can get 'sunburnt', too. While standard window glass blocks UVB rays, it allows much of the longer-wave UVA radiation to pass straight through. Over time, these rays can quietly bleach fabrics and leave furniture looking tired long before its time.
Below, we explain why 'naked' windows could be harming your interiors, and the simple changes that can help protect everything from sofas to flooring.
Why are ‘naked’ windows damaging your furniture?
Many homeowners assume their windows protect everything inside from the sun, but that's only partly true.
Standard double-pane window glass can allow up to 75 per cent of UVA rays to pass through unfiltered. Unlike UVB rays, which are largely blocked by glass, UVA radiation makes up around 95 per cent of the UV radiation – even on cloudy days and during autumn and winter.
Without suitable window coverings, these rays trigger a process known as photodegradation. This gradually breaks down fabric dyes and weakens materials, leaving upholstery, flooring, and soft furnishings permanently faded.
'Shading can help keep homes comfortable, reduce energy use, and limit the effects of sunlight on interiors, such as fading of furniture and flooring,' explains Dr Zoe De Grussa, head of technical and scientific affairs at the British Blind and Shutter Association.
Choosing the right solar-shading solution is key and, as every window performs differently, careful selection can help protect and enhance your home.
Why does UV damage happen even outside summer?
Unlike heat, which peaks during the warmest months, UV radiation is a year-round issue. That means your favourite armchair by the window, your wooden dining table or even your bed frame can all be exposed to damaging rays every day, regardless of the season.
Over months and years, this repeated exposure slowly strips colour from fabrics and can leave materials looking worn. ‘The UV light breaks down the dyes in the fabrics and causes a bleaching effect, often leaving the fabrics in our home permanently damaged,’ says Karen Burke, upholstery expert at Abbey Upholstery.
This is why it’s best to go for lighter colours, as these help to make the bleaching a little less obvious. Making a cover in the same fabric to put over the back of the furniture is also a clever solution.
How to protect your furniture from UV rays
The simplest way to reduce sun damage is to stop UV rays reaching your furniture in the first place – and these tips from 247 Blinds will help you do just that:
- Install your home's SPF – Think of your window dressings as sunscreen for your interiors. UV-rated solar blinds can block up to 99 per cent of UVA rays, dramatically reducing fading while still allowing natural light into your home.
- Automate your blinds – If you have smart blinds, programme them to close automatically during the sun's strongest hours, typically between 11am and 3pm. This limits prolonged exposure without you having to remember to adjust them each day.
- Be strategic with delicate materials – Some materials are more vulnerable than others. Silk, velvet, and fine leather are particularly susceptible to UV damage, so it's worth positioning these pieces away from south-facing windows or other areas that receive prolonged direct sunlight.
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