Outdoor furniture is a great way to enhance the time you spend in your outdoor spaces, but it does require some degree of care in order for you to get the most out of your furniture over its lifecycle. One of the biggest threats to outdoor furniture is sun damage. The sun can quickly dull the colour of your furniture, dry out the material, and cause cracking and peeling. This can be somewhat distressing if you’ve only recently purchased your furniture or outdoor setting, and especially so if the furniture was expensive. Fortunately, there are ways to protect your outdoor furniture. This article will go over some tips to protect your furniture from the sun.
How the Sun Damages Outdoor Furniture
The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays are particularly harsh on outdoor furniture materials, especially if the furniture is left out in the sun for extended periods of time. These harsh UV rays eventually lead to colours in your furniture fading, materials drying, and cracking of certain outdoor furniture materials. The UV rays can also break down the bonds between fibres, causing the material to degrade over time and leading to a rough or coarse feeling on the skin when using the furniture.
Ways to Protect Your Furniture from Sun Damage
There are a few common ways to protect your outdoor furniture from sun damage. Each method is relatively inexpensive, and when combined with other methods, they can help your furniture look and feel brand new for years to come. Some of the most common methods for protecting outdoor furniture from sun damage include:
Shading Furniture
One of the easiest ways to protect outdoor furniture from sun damage is by shading it with an umbrella or shade sail. Umbrellas and shade sails provide protection from the sun’s UV rays and can help to keep furniture cool in the summer heat. They also provide a great deal of utility, as shades and umbrellas can generally be placed anywhere in your outdoor area, so when not using them to protect your furniture, you can simply move them to another area that you would like to shade.
Using Furniture Covers
Another great way to protect outdoor furniture from sun damage is to simply cover it when not in use. Furniture covers can help to shield furniture from the sun’s rays, and can also help to keep furniture clean and dry. Furniture covers are relatively inexpensive and there are some made specifically to reflect harsh UV rays, providing an added layer of protection to your outdoor furniture.
Storing the Furniture Indoors When Not in Use
If you’re not intending to use your outdoor furniture for extended periods of time, the best way to protect it from sun damage is to simply store it indoors. While a furniture cover will generally do a good job of protecting your furniture from sun damage, it may not be enough to withstand some other harsh weather conditions. If you’re going to be away from your property for an extended period of time or won’t be using your outdoor areas, storing your furniture indoors can provide superior protection.
