How to Protect Area Rugs From Fading in Sunny Dallas Homes

It is the vertical surface which is usually the object of attention for architects and interior designers. Most of the focus is on wall painting, wallpaper, and custom window drapery selection. Yet, world-class designers can see beyond that and find a neglected aspect of architecture—the floor. Your flooring is the fifth wall, and can cover up as much area as your ceiling!

In large houses throughout North Texas, this large horizontal surface determines the comfort of the rooms, the flow of space, and the balance of the views. By knowing how to keep the area rugs from fading in sunny Dallas homes, you'll help to keep your luxury investments looking great while also enjoying enduring elegance. They are also a beautiful material on bare hardwood floors and on polished stone tiles, but can be quite cold and echoey without using floor art. In addition, furniture layouts that do not have a focal point seem cluttered in open areas. Fine hand-knotted textiles are able to handle these space issues with ease.

Welcome to Rencollection, a family of 30 years' worth of mastery in textiles that's coming to the Dallas Design District. We work with design professionals, architects, and discriminating homeowners on a daily basis. Here are some of the tips that we can provide you with when it comes to protecting area rugs from fading in sunny Dallas homes. Learn how to protect your hand-knotted rugs from the effects of intense UV rays and the sun's heat.

To Recognize the Amount of Solar Radiation in North Texas

More than two hundred sunny days per year are experienced in Dallas. Large walls are made of glass and let in lots of sunlight in an open floor plan. But there are two harmful parts of the sun's radiation – ultraviolet light and infrared heat.

Window Treatments and Solar Control Solutions

The first step in battling dye fading is to control the amount of daylight that gets into your home. Solar control does not require you to live in the dark to keep your floor art safe – today's solar control solutions will allow you to enjoy bright interiors without giving your art the same treatment.

Here are some of the best solar window treatments to use:

Low-Emissivity Glass Coatings

Apply spectrally selective window films to floor to ceiling glass walls. These low-e films will block up to ninety-nine percent of the harmful ultraviolet rays, but won't obscure your views from the room.

Automated Solar Shades

Set the motorized shades to roll down during the hottest part of the day in the afternoon. Shielding floors between 1-4 o'clock (before and after the peak heat periods) will reduce strong heating throughout open living areas.

Natural Dyes vs. Synthetic Dyes in Light

The difference between natural dyes and synthetic dyes in light is as follows. Choosing the right materials is a key element to great floor art and can make a huge difference in its ability to withstand bright Texas sunshine. In contrast to the cheap, chemical dyes which do not age well over decades, the organic vegetable dyes age well.

High-grade natural dyes are able to withstand the sun's rays better:

Organic Vegetable Dyes

Natural dyes are made from madder root, indigo leaves, and walnut husks. Vegetable dyes will not fade to gray with sunlight, but will fade to a lovely antique finish with use over time.

High-Altitude Mountain Wool

The natural lanolin wax is rich in sheep wool produced from high mountain areas. Lanolin is a natural coating on the yarn strands which protects the vegetable dyes from sun glare, and keeps wool fibers supple and springy.

Synthetic Dye Degradation

Machine-manufactured synthetic rugs are prone to fading easily in the sun's rays when dyed with chemicals. Synthetic dyes don't hold up to intense UV rays, and result in uneven fading with pale streaks that form throughout synthetic polypropylene fibers.

The 180° Seasonal Pivot, a Strategic Pivot

When the rugs are stationary, they distribute the solar wear unevenly. When one side of a fine, hand-knotted textile is left in the same position for many years, one side will be in a lot of sun, and the other side will be in complete shade.

• Faded Fibers: The floor art can be rotated so that faded fibers have time to gain visual balance under the softer ambient light in a room.

Understand and Use Proportions and Sizing Rules

How big or small your rooms are can instantly kill room proportions. The small rug seems to be a postage stamp floating on a large wooden floor. In luxury design, large size and accuracy are required.

According to Dallas designers, there are formulas to follow when it comes to living room fabrics:

The All-Legs-On Rule

The all-legs-on pattern works best in large living rooms, those that are more than 20 x 20 feet. Sit all sofas, sectionals, and club chairs so all legs of each chair are firmly upon the pile of rugs. The seating group is unified as one visual unit without a weight imbalance.

The Hardwood Margin Rule

The rule of nature for hardwoods. Do not allow textiles to come in contact with baseboards or cabinetry. Keep 12 to 18" of bare hardwood around the perimeter of the rooms. If you are framing your textile in monumental great rooms, don't remove more than 18 to 24 inches of wood.

Custom Hybrid Rug Pads for Subfloors

This hybrid mattress pad for subfloors is an essential product. Even the most successful hand knotted floor art will need a suitable foundation underneath the bright windows. The wool fibers absorb the heat from the sun and heat the subfloor below.

Do not use waffle pads that have been sold from local hardware stores. Synthetic plastics are easily degraded in Texas summer heat. They dissolve and run off onto white oak finishes, thus permanently staining them.

Dallas designers believe in all custom-cut hybrid pads under all fine textiles:

• Non-Staining Defense: Pure natural rubber will not stick or damage to or mar polyurethane wood finishes.
  
  
• Perimeter Trimming: Trims the rug's edge 1 inch in from the edge to give a smooth and clean appearance to the edge.

Experience the Rencollection Difference in Dallas

Parties are in dire need of the Rencollection Difference in Dallas. Fine floor art can be susceptible to sun damage, and the right provenance, curation, and expertise are necessary. Rencollection has been the leading source of information and knowledge about fine hand knotted textiles in North Texas for more than three decades.

The 18,000-sq.-ft. showroom gallery at 1007 Slocum St in the Dallas Design District boasts a number of large natural skylights. This kind of format will certainly let you preview thousands of original rugs with a genuine Texas daylight. Each day we are buying directly from the master families of weaving around the world to guarantee the museum quality of artistry and longevity at affordable prices.

All of our showroom services include:

• Designer Trade Program: Exclusive Trade Discounts, Custom Sizing Options and Trade Support for local DFW interior designers by the Designer Trade Program.
  
  
• Master Restoration and Conservation: Our in-house artisans are experts in the art of master restoration and conservation of fringes, edges, and other sections with native vegetable-dyed wool yarns.

Stop by Rencollection today to discover our collection of lighted under natural gallery! Leave your floor art in safe hands and in perpetuity with our experts!

Frequently Asked Questions

Will sun affect hand-knotted wool area rugs?

Organic dyes degrade into chemicals over time through direct exposure to UV rays. But the real and true vegetable-dyed wools are more durable than synthetic rugs—few antiques will be as soft and have such a nice old shiny look as wool that is dyed with authentic vegetable dyes.

How many times a year should you change an area rug in a sunny room?

Turn over rugs 180° every half year. Rotation will distribute the light of the sun and foot traffic evenly across the pile, which will prevent strong faded lines.

Which type of rug pad is suitable for white oak flooring in sunny rooms of Texas?

This is going to be a custom-cut hybrid pad, which is specifically created with dense needle-punched felt and pure natural rubber. Don't use PVC waffle pads as they will melt down when hit by the sun and will permanently stain hardwood finishes.

Elevate your space. Honor your heritage. Experience Rencollection.