The right window treatments can make a powerful statement in your home and transform the look of a room. After going through the trouble of finding the right window treatments to fit your windows, decor, and budget, the last thing you want is to discover that your shutters or shades don’t hold up to the sun and they’ve started to fade within just months.
Window treatments are an investment in your home’s function, design and worth. The last thing you want is for your investment to lose its luster in Florida’s famous sunshine. In the same way the UV rays from the sun can be harmful for your skin, the sun can also damage your window treatments. Even on a cloudy day, the sun’s UV rays can gradually fade the vibrancy of your shutters or shades.
One reason window treatments are so important is that they help protect the inside of your home, including rugs, furniture, and bedspreads, from fading in the sun. However, without the proper protection, the sun may actually begin to deteriorate the material in your window treatments too, leaving them dull and damaged.
There’s not much use in trying to fight the sun, but you can outsmart it, with fade-resistant window treatments.
Plantation Shutters
The timeless look of plantation shutters and their ease of matching hard-to-fit window shapes isn’t the only reason for their appeal. Plantation shutters are also a great way to keep the UV rays from fading your room, and they themselves can be treated with a UV-resistant paint called Polysatin to keep them looking as fresh and new as the day they were installed. Not only can these shutters come in any color to match your decor, the specialize paint formula won’t chip, fade, or crack in the sun.
Blinds
Faux wood blinds are an excellent window treatment choice for many reasons. They block the most sunlight, are very resistant to fading, and are a great way to protect your home from UV rays because they are UV resistant themselves. Unlike blinds made from real wood, which can fade over time, faux wood is much less likely to fade and lose its color. While real wood blinds certainly have their appeal and provide a beautiful aesthetic, we recommend real wood blinds in windows that get less sun exposure if you’re worried about fading and discoloration.
Another great blind option is a cellular blind, which are designed to be fade-proof and can be made in any opacity to allow as much light in as you need. These honeycomb-style blinds are a great way to let light in without fading your home decor or ending up with faded window treatments.
Curtains
According to energy.gov, the best way to prevent heat gains in your home with draperies is for them to be medium in color and lined with a white plastic backing. This can strategy can actually limit heat gains by 33% (necessary in a hot, humid climate like Florida). It’s also a great way to keep your drapes from fading as well. Fully-lined curtains not only keep heat and light out, the lining also protects drapes from losing their color, by filtering exposure to UV rays.
Natural fabrics like cotton and linen will be fade resistant to a degree, but dye that’s added to the fabric can fade over time. Man-made fabrics like acrylic, polyester and rayon are always dyed, and are more resistant to fading. These synthetic fabrics can also be chemically treated to specifically resist fading in the sun.
A heavily-lined curtain, like a blackout curtain that’s lined with white fabric, will look clean and polished from the outside, and keep its vibrancy on the inside. Professional stylists can work with you to find curtains in a pattern and color that match your home, with a lining and fabric that ensures you can enjoy them for years to come.
Shades
Solar shades are a beautiful and modern way to block damaging rays from any room. Similar to a roller shade in construction, they allow light in while still protecting you from 99% of UV light. Although they can come in many different opacities, in all forms, solar shades are fade-resistant, and won’t yellow over time.
Curious to talk with a stylist about options for your windows that will remain as beautiful as the first day, no matter how much sun they receive? Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you find window treatments that will stay vibrant and gorgeous for years to come.
