Summer brings with it the joys of sun-drenched rooms and breezy afternoons spent on the patio. But for our beloved wood furniture, this season can be a period of silent, relentless assault. Cue: Horror movie soundtrack. The same sun, warmth, and air that we so eagerly welcome can inflict irreversible damage on everything from your favorite floating shelf to that allegedly sturdy outdoor dining set. But there are steps you can take to ensure your wood furniture lasts through the summer. Let’s get into it.
The Science of Summer's Attack on Wood
Wood is a natural, porous material that remains in a constant state of interaction with its environment, even long after it has been crafted into furniture. As you might expect, this makes it particularly vulnerable to the atmospheric changes that characterize the summer months. In particular, the following can wreak havoc on our favorite wood pieces:
UV Rays
The sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays are the primary culprit behind the fading and discoloration of wood furniture. And this isn't just a surface-level cosmetic issue. UV radiation penetrates the wood and breaks down lignin, a complex polymer that provides rigidity and strength to the wood's cellular walls. As the lignin degrades, the wood fibers begin to loosen and can even slough off, leading to a gray, weathered appearance and a weakened structure. Different wood species react differently; some may lighten, while others, like cherry, can darken with sun exposure.
Humidity
Wood is hygroscopic, meaning it naturally absorbs and releases moisture from the air to reach an equilibrium with its surroundings. Summer's high humidity introduces a significant amount of moisture into the atmosphere. Remember, your wood furniture was once a plant? As plants are wont to do, your furniture will eagerly soak up this excess moisture, causing its fibers to swell.
This expansion can lead to a host of problems, including warped tabletops, sticking drawers, and immense pressure on joints, which can ultimately lead to cracks. On the flip side, when the air is dry, such as in an air-conditioned home, the wood releases its moisture, causing it to shrink. You really can’t win, huh?
Temperature Fluctuations
The heat of summer days followed by cooler nights creates a cycle of expansion and contraction in wood. As temperature rises, the wood expands, and as they cool, it contracts. While these movements are subtle, over time they can weaken the joints of your furniture, causing them to loosen or even fail. This is particularly stressful for pieces that are constructed from multiple pieces of wood, as each component may expand and contract at a slightly different rate, putting strain on the overall structure.
How To Protect Interior Wood Furniture
Freaked out yet? Don’t be. While there may be a few extra concerns you’ll have to consider in the summer, all is not lost. In fact, it presents a fantastic opportunity for you to prolong the longevity of your shelves, and other wood furniture. Here’s how:
Think About Placement
The simplest and most effective measure is to keep your wood furniture out of direct sunlight. Identify the paths of the sun's rays throughout the day and arrange your furniture accordingly. But let’s say that you’ve purchased a floating shelf from NookWoodworking and it's smack dab in the middle of the sun. What do you do then? Luckily you have some options. Consider utilizing the power of window coverings. During the peak hours of sunlight, draw the curtains to prevent your shelves from experiencing the full gamut of UV rays.
It may also be important to understand how your wood of choice reacts to these rays. For example, if you love the look of rich, dark mahogany, you’re in luck. Your mahogany wood shelves will actually continue to darken by exposure to sunlight. This is because mahogany is photo reactive. Just a heads up though, this usually happens over a period of time so if you’re really looking forward to tanning your wood maybe give it a few summers.
Oak wood shelves, however, experience the opposite. Here, continual exposure to UV rays will lighten the wood. Again, this can be a pro if you love light wood. But not so much if you’re set on the color you have. Fortunately, like mahogany, it takes some time to really develop the lightning effect.
Control Your Climate
Remember, large fluctuations in heat, cold, and humidity, can have disastrous effects on your wood furniture. In general, the ideal humidity level for wood furniture is between 40% and 60%. If you’re in humid climates, or experiencing a particularly swampy summer, a dehumidifier can help remove excess moisture from the air, preventing your furniture from swelling.
Alternatively, if you live in a drier climate or use air conditioning heavily, a humidifier can add necessary moisture back into the air, preventing the wood from drying out and cracking. But what about the heat? Thankfully, internal AC can help you set a temperature and stick to it.
Clean, Clean, Clean Your Wood
Everyone and thing benefits from a regular clean. Your wood shelves are no different. To clean your shelves and have them looking spiffy, be sure to regularly dust them with a lint free cloth. Looking for a deeper clean or maybe even more protection? Consider a high-quality furniture polish that contains inhibitors. You can even make your own at home with 2 parts olive oil and 1 part lemon juice or white vinegar. Just know that neither lemon juice or vinegar protect against UV rays, they do, however, offer a deep clean!
NookWoodworking’s Shelves Can Stand Up To Summer’s Heat
With all of the above in mind, you can rest easy knowing that your mahogany or oak shelves will outlast summer’s onslaught. And if you buy a sturdy and stylish shelf from NookWoodworking, you’ll be sure that they’ll look good while doing it. From bracketed to bracketless, oak to mahogany, wooden floating to home goods, NookWoodworking offers a variety of wood items for every aspect of your home. Discover our collections now and easily make this summer your home’s most stylish one yet.
