How Motorized Shades Prevent UV Damage to Floors and Furniture

Is your favorite artwork looking a bit drab lately? Are there areas in your hardwood floor that look lighter than the rest of the house? You’re not going crazy or developing vision issues. The likely culprit is UV damage. With bright summer sun and reflective winter light, homes in Portland, OR, get their fair share of UV rays. Part of the issue is that sun damage is gradual. Fading is slow and minimal, so by the time you notice it, it’s too late.

One solution is to make sure vulnerable furnishings or artwork are kept away from windows. But that can be extremely limiting. Especially if your flooring is at risk. Another option is to always close window shades when sunlight is hitting directly, but it’s easy to forget. The best option is motorized shades that close automatically in response to the sun’s patterns. 

SEE MORE: Add Beauty to Your Home With Motorized Shades 

How Does Sunlight Affect Your Interiors?

Sunlight is great for your wellbeing, and its beautiful rays make your home look its best. However, in the long run, UV rays are a major contributor to fading and damage. This total exposure time to even indirect sunlight over days, months, and years slowly wears down color in particular. And don’t think those overcast Pacific Northwest days will save you, cloudy days can also be damaging. The most at risk are hardwood, upholstery, or artwork near south- or west-facing windows. 

Why Are Manual Shades Not Enough Protection? 

You might be telling yourself, I don’t have to worry about UV rays since I have thick shade fabrics on my windows. But unless you’re trying to live with the shades drawn at all times, it’s easy to forget to close them when needed to protect your items. In contrast, motorized shades follow repeatable schedules or respond to photosensors. That way you get peace of mind knowing even if you opened them earlier in the day, your window treatments will close when needed to provide valuable UV protection. 

What Schedules Work Best to Protect Your Home?

When we install your motorized shades, we’ll help you set up schedules that help to keep those pesky UV rays at bay. There are a few go-to schedules that we recommend: 

• Morning: Shades–particularly in north and east windows–can open to let in soft daylight. 
• Midday to Late Afternoon: Shades on South and West-facing windows close during peak sun exposure time. 
• Sunset: West-facing window treatments should tilt or lower to avoid low-angle glare that can affect floors. 

What Shades Are the Best Option for You?

People often underestimate the many options available when installing motorized shades. From the fabric (light filtering vs. blackout) to the control options (app vs. remote), there’s a lot to choose from. Here are some questions we recommend asking to help figure out what will work best for you: 

• Which rooms get the strongest afternoon sun?
  
  
• Which surfaces fade first: wood, rugs, art, leather, upholstery?
  
  
• Do you want view preservation or maximum light block?
  
  
• Do you want app control, keypad control, voice control, or all three?
  
  
• Do you want schedules tied to scenes in a whole home system? 

Protect your floors and furniture from ongoing sun exposure. Call our team or fill out our contact form to get guidance on motorized shade fabrics and control options for your home.