How To Protect Custom Oak Furniture From The Sun

Oak is without a doubt one of the best furniture materials. It not only looks good, but it also lasts a long time. That said, custom oak furniture is going to require some care if you want to keep it looking good.

One common problem with wood furniture is the fading that can occur from sun exposure. Regardless of the time of year, sunlight can cause fading. If you have oak furniture in your home, you can make the finish last longer by taking a few of the following steps to protect it from the sun.

Positioning

Placement is one of the most important factors when trying to protect oak furniture from the sun. If it is in a location that receives a lot of direct sunlight it is going to fade faster. To protect your oak furniture, one of the best things you can do is to place it in a location where it is not going to be exposed to as much direct sunlight.

If the piece can be turned around, you may want to consider rotating it once in a while so the different sides receive the same amount of sunlight. Additionally, if you have ornaments or other objects that are on the table, you might want to move them occasionally. That way you won’t have areas with different levels of fading on your oak furniture.

UV Finish

If it is time to refinish your custom oak furniture, you should consider the quality of the finish. While most people focus on the look of a wood finish, there are special finishes that will provide additional protection from the sun’s rays. Applying a UV finish may not mean that you don’t have to worry about sun exposure at all, but it can make it so it takes more time for the fading to occur.

Hang Blinds or Curtains

Hanging blinds or curtains can be another way to protect your oak furniture. Thinner curtains won’t do much, but if you hang thicker blinds or curtains, this can be an effective way to prevent sun exposure. You could even look for curtains or blinds that are designed to block more of the sun. Many of these products will have labels that tell you how much of the sun’s rays they can block.

Install Window Film

Window film can be an effective way to reduce the amount of solar radiation that comes into the home. Newer types of window film can block more than 99% of the harmful solar radiation that comes through windows, and it can also help to keep your home cool during summer. That said, it can be tricky to install the film yourself, so you may need to hire a professional installer to get the job done right.