To protect wood furniture from heat damage, it’s important to understand how even indoor conditions can impact its longevity. Solid wood furniture, especially handcrafted or Amish-made pieces, is built to last (which is one of the top reasons to buy Amish furniture), but like any natural material, it needs proper care. Investing in wood furniture is a smart choice for timeless beauty and durability, and with the right protection from environmental stressors like heat, humidity, and sunlight, your furniture can look great for generations.
Does Heat Damage Wooden Furniture?
Yes, heat can damage wood furniture, but did you know this also includes indoor wood furniture? Over time, high temperatures can not only cause the wood to dry out, crack, or warp, but it can also affect the structural integrity of your furniture. The heat isn’t the only thing that can affect your wood furniture. Let’s take a look at some of the most common environmental factors that can damage your furniture.
Environmental Effects on Solid Wood Furniture
Whether it’s dining room furniture passed down through the generations or a new piece you love, wood furniture requires thoughtful care to withstand even indoor elements. Heat, humidity, and sun, which often go hand-in-hand, can take a toll on your favorite pieces over time. Learning how to protect wood furniture from heat damage, as well as humidity and sunlight, will help preserve both your furniture’s beauty and durability.
Heat
There are a number of reasons why you should protect wood furniture from heat damage. When temperatures fluctuate, it causes the wood to expand and contract, which strains the wood. This can lead to warping, cracking, and splitting. Your wood furniture can also crack or split if the heat causes it to become too dry. The biggest culprit we often hear is when people are traveling for extended periods and they turn the heat/AC up or down to save money and energy. General rule of thumb is that you want to maintain your house between 68-76 degrees year round to avoid extremes which could cause your wood to be damaged.
If your wood furniture has been constructed using adhesives, you also need to think about how the heat can affect the adhesives. Excessive heat can weaken the adhesives that hold your furniture together, causing it to become unstable.
Humidity
Humidity, whether it’s too low or too high, is the bane of wood furniture’s existence. Excessive humidity causes the wood to expand, leading to cracking and warping. Excessive humidity can also cause mold and mildew to develop if your home is not well ventilated.
Humidity protection for furniture also includes making sure the humidity doesn’t drop too low. If the humidity level is too low, your wood furniture can dry out and crack, especially around the edges and joints.
Sun
You might think we’ve already covered how the sun can damage wood because if there’s sun, there’s heat, right? Not necessarily. Even when using the best wood species for furniture, prolonged exposure to the sun can cause the varnish and coloring of the wood to fade or become discolored. UV rays can also cause the wood fibers to break down, which can cause the wood to become brittle, crack, or warp.
Knowing that your furniture can be damaged by even indoor elements can be intimidating, but there are plenty of ways you can incorporate wood furniture protection into your home. In the following section, we’ll walk you through effective strategies to keep the structure, appearance, and value of your wood furniture intact.
Heat Protection for Wooden Furniture
Knowing the different ways to protect wood furniture from heat damage prolongs the life of your investment. Keeping the indoor humidity between 30-50% is ideal when wanting to protect your furniture from heat damage. You can use a hygrometer to measure the humidity, which will allow you to determine if you need a humidifier or dehumidifier. You’ll also want to control the heat in your home, both by maintaining a consistent temperature and keeping wood furniture away from radiators and vents.
While controlling the humidity and the heat in your home may seem like the only options you have to protect your furniture from the heat, they’re not. Proper maintenance of your wood furniture can extend its life. Protect wood furniture from heat damage by applying wood oils such as lemon oil a few times a year to keep your wood furniture moisturized.
Taking these proactive steps to control the heat in your home, along with regular wood maintenance, can go a long way in protecting your furniture from unnecessary damage. With a little attention and care, your wood furniture can remain strong, stable, and beautiful for decades.
Humidity Protection for Wooden Furniture
Luckily, protecting your wood furniture from humidity is as easy as measuring the humidity levels and investing in a humidifier or dehumidifier. Humidifiers help add moisture to the air and are typically used if you live in a dry climate or during the winter, especially when running the furnace constantly. Dehumidifiers are often used in the summer or in locations where it rains a lot to remove excess moisture from the air.
Controlling humidity may seem like a small detail, but it plays a major role in preserving wood furniture. Now that you’ve got humidity covered, it’s time to explore how to protect furniture from sun damage.
UV Protection for Wooden Furniture
The easiest way to protect furniture from sun damage is to arrange it so it’s out of direct sunlight, but that’s not always possible. Luckily, you can still protect your furniture without having to rearrange the room. Curtains and blinds are easy ways to protect your furniture from UV damage, but you can also use UV-protective films on your windows. These protective films come in many designs, from no decoration to extravagant details. So, you can incorporate UV protection for wood furniture into your home in a stylish and aesthetically pleasing way.
Even if you can’t avoid placing furniture in sunny spots, there are plenty of stylish and effective solutions to block harmful UV rays. These simple solutions can make a big difference in preserving the color, texture, and integrity of your wood furniture over time.
Wood furniture is an investment worth protecting, and thankfully, protecting your wood furniture doesn’t have to be complicated. From managing indoor temperatures to shielding pieces from harmful UV rays, a few small adjustments can make a big difference. With these strategies in place, you can feel confident that your wood furniture can last for generations.
How to Preserve Your Solid Wood Furniture for Years to Come
When investing in the best sustainable Amish furniture (or any wood furniture), learning different wood furniture protection methods is key to making your investment last. You now know that protecting your furniture from the sun and other sources of heat, as well as humidity, is an important part of extending the life of your furniture, but are there other ways to protect wood furniture from heat damage that we haven’t covered?
Furniture coatings are another way to protect your furniture. There are special sealants and protectants designed for wood furniture that offer protection from heat, humidity, and the sun. However, when you use oils, polishes, and sealants to protect your wood furniture, be sure to use products specifically designed for your wood furniture’s type and finish and follow the manufacturer’s directions. Improper application or using the wrong product may result in damage.
Preserving your solid wood furniture doesn’t require expensive tools or major lifestyle changes – just consistent care and a bit of awareness. By managing heat, humidity, and sun exposure, and practicing routine maintenance like moisturizing the wood, you can protect your furniture from premature aging and structural damage. Whether you’ve invested in heirloom-quality Amish made furniture or a new favorite piece, these simple steps will ensure it stays beautiful, durable, and functional for decades to come.
When you protect wood furniture from heat damage, you’re doing more than extending its lifespan. You’re preserving the craftsmanship, beauty, and value of every piece. At Room Concepts, we believe quality wood furniture is an investment worth protecting. That’s why we offer a wide selection of solid wood and Amish-made pieces, from bedroom furniture to customizable furniture, that’s built to last. With the right care and the right furniture, your home can reflect timeless comfort for years to come. Get in touch with our team today or visit us in South Hills or Wexford to explore your options and start creating a space you’ll love coming home to.
