If you are investing in good quality furniture it is imperative that you know how to take care of your pieces to ensure you get to enjoy the longevity that they are designed to provide. New Zealand homes tend to be built around the sun with floor plans designed to maximise light to create the sun-drenched homes we all love. However, the New Zealand sun can be particularly harsh allowing for damage from UV rays.
Choosing fabrics, flooring and furniture that are suited to resist the (damaging) effects of the sun is recommended. However, if these do not fit with your interior scheme then other options should be considered. Soft (UV resistant window) furnishings are a great solution for homes prone to overheating (heavy sun exposure to ensure our soft furnishings and flooring are protected). Luxaflex have a great range (of blinds) to meet your shading requirements. Roller Blinds and Sunscreens (Blockout and Sunscreen Roller Blinds) can be used during (all hours of the day with blockout, light filtering and sunscreen fabric options). If you require a combination of these fabrics, Luxaflex have a twin bracket system which allows for the best of both worlds. (Motorised roller blinds allow for total control even when you are not home. At a press of a button through your smart phone, you can set your blinds to close when the sun is at its peak exposure to your home. Battery systems allow for an easy upgrade to existing homes with no electrical work required).
Shutters and Venetians give you plenty of possibilities to balance your view with the amount of light you desire. There are many options whether you are a lover of natural timber, lacquered timber, or Polyresin. They all have their benefits against UV rays and gives your home the protection it needs. Honeycomb blinds are well regarded for keeping your home warm during the winter but their insulating properties also help keep your space cool during summer. Fabric Awnings can provide great protection from the outside. They can be used outdoor or inside and have an option of being motorised to respond to the sun, wind or rain.
Lastly, Sheer curtains can be used to diffuse light in a gorgeous way and also minimises heat build-up. Privacy can be achieved with a double track and separate black out lining, if made from a man-made fibre like polyester they will perform better exposed to UV rays than natural fibres.
With so many options and information this process can often be overwhelming, our Interior Designers are highly trained on finding the perfect soft furnishing option for your home in terms of functionality and design aesthetic.
Often looking after your sofa and furniture can be overlooked however, there are some simple steps you can take to ensure you maximise the life of your pieces. Let’s start with leather, it is one of the most durable, low-maintenance surfaces for home furnishings. Leather should be treated like skin, if you do not moisturise it, it will crack, if you leave it in the sun it will get sun damage and it needs cleaning regularly. Simply use your vacuum cleaner with brush attachment to remove any dirt, then using a soft microfibre cloth use distilled water with a mild neutral – PH nondetergent liquid soap to work into the leather gently. Pat the leather dry and then apply a commercial leather conditioner, It is recommended that this is applied every six to 12 months as it will help your leather maintain its own natural oils keeping it soft and supple. The final step is ensuring that it is kept out of direct sunlight and heat sources which can cause drying and cracking. If the climate is dry your leather will require more conditioning because there is less moisture available.
We recommend Microseal a non-toxic, non-allergenic fabric protection formula that has permanent stain and sun fade protection for linen and fabric. It dramatically increases the life of all natural and synthetic fibres. It can be applied on wool, fabric, linen and leather. We recommend this treatment to all of our clients, you can read more about Microseal here. It is just as important to keep your linen and fabric out of the harsh New Zealand sun as leather.
If you need advice on how you can protect your furniture from the sun with soft furnishings our Interior Designers offer free in-home measure and quotes to get your journey for soft furnishings off the ground. Simply visit our website to book an appointment here https://www.frobisher.co.nz/interior-design/
