Does Leather Furniture Fade in the Sunlight?

Causes of Leather Fading

• Leather is made from natural materials and, even if protected from elements such as sunlight, will undergo changes in its appearance and consistency over time. Leather is dyed and, through the normal course of time and usage, that dye will gradually fade. When the leather is placed in the path of direct sunlight or exposed to high levels of heat, such as sitting in sunlight for long periods, the color of the leather will be bleached out by the sun and lose its vibrancy.

Protecting Your Leather

• One of the best ways to protect your leather furniture from fading in the sunlight is to keep it out of the sunlight, which means that you should avoid putting leather furniture where it will get direct exposure to the sunlight through glass doors or windows. If you cannot avoid sunlight exposure altogether, you should cover your leather furniture with a slipcover or block the windows with heavy curtains to keep the light away from your furniture.

Products to Prevent Fading

• Certain leather products are designed to help protect leather against fading. Often these products work by including a UV-protectant that helps block the actual leather from the harmful light that causes it. These products often also help condition the leather and protect it against stains.

Finished Versus Unfinished

• Two primary types of leather are used to make leather furniture and goods. Finished leather is the term used for leather that has had a resin or acrylic coating put over it to help protect it from staining, fading and other wear and tear, which causes the leather to lose a significant amount of its soft feel but does make it last longer in terms of appearance. Unfinished leather is very soft and smooth to the touch, but the leather is far more prone to staining and fading due to light or heat. When buying a piece of leather furniture, you should ask the salesperson if the leather itself is finished or unfinished to help you determine how likely it is to fade.