From Burning to Fading Your Upholstery — Here Are 4 Ways Your Winter Heating Is Damaging Your Sofa
An expert reveals the impact your home heating could have on your luxurious furniture

The cold season is upon us, and nothing sounds better than snuggling up on the sofa with warm blankets, surrounded by even warmer winter heating.
However, while you're getting toasty under the covers, your furniture could be experiencing irreparable damage due to your home's heating systems. Especially if your couch is too close to your radiator — you're going to face terrible repercussions.
After learning about sofa layout mistakes, I spoke to a HVAC expert to delve into the reasons why winter heating can bring ill health to your furniture. You'll be shifting your seat once hearing what this expert has to say.
1. Drying out materials
There are lots of different types of sofas out there, so the way your particular material will respond to heat may vary from the home of someone else's.
Leather sofas, being soft, shiny materials, will especially suffer if they are placed too close to or up against a radiator. This could result in irreparable scorching, discoloration, and cracking.
Josh Mitchell, HVAC technician at Air Conditioner Lab, says, "The heat from radiators can dry out natural materials like leather or wood, leading to cracks, discoloration, or warping over time. For leather sofas, the heat pulls out natural oils, leaving the surface brittle and prone to splitting."
If you have leather furniture pieces that you care about a lot, to be on the safe side during winter it's worth investing in a leather protector (like this Guardsman Protect & Preserve Leather from Amazon) to coat the leather in, as well as keeping leather furniture at least 12 inches away from any radiators or fireplaces.
The leather honey complete leather care kit from Amazon includes a bottle of solution designed for cleaning a leather sofa, conditioner and a soft applicator to keep your leather sofa in top form year-round.
2. Burning or fading your upholstery
If your fabric sofas' upholstery is kept too close to or up against your radiator, it could burn or fade, causing damage and a fire risk in your home.
"Fabric sofas can fade or change color when exposed to constant heat," says Josh. "Dark or vibrant fabrics are especially vulnerable, as the heat can cause dyes to degrade unevenly, leaving noticeable patches."
The areas of your sofa directly touching your radiator will experience the full heat for prolonged periods of time. These spots are especially prone to burning, but if burning doesn't occur, discoloration and a deterioration of the fabric's fibers certainly will, shortening how long your sofa should last.
3. Shrinking and warping
Wood and natural fibers like wool and linen are prone to warping and shrinking if exposed to prolonged periods of heat.
"Your wooden furniture pieces can shrink or warp under prolonged exposure to the heat from radiators," says Josh. This is because, similarly to leather, the wood's natural oils will be extracted from the surface of the material. Contracting will put more strain on your sofa's fabric, encouraging the development of holes, tears, and the overall weakening of its fibers.
Synthetic fabric blends, like polyester and acrylic, are also often flammable, so be diligent about monitoring how large the gap between your sofa and radiator is on a frequent basis. You may not notice your sofa being pushed back closer to the radiator over time before it becomes dangerous.
4. Weakening foam and cushions
Excess radiator heat can affect more than just the exterior of your sofa — the inside can also be harmed, causing damage that may be invisible but all too real.
"The heat from radiators can break down the foam inside of your sofa's cushions, leading to a loss of firmness and sagging," says Josh. "Foam degrades faster when exposed to heat, as the heat alters its structure and elasticity."
If your sofa isn't moved away from your radiator, it will rapidly become less comfortable and more saggy, but turning your sofa cushions regularly to help prevent uneven wear is still good practice.
"You can also add a heat-resistant cover or barrier on the side of the sofa closest to the radiator," says Josh.
FAQs
Is it OK to have a sofa against a radiator?
It's rather common to have your sofa relatively near a heater but not against it or too close to it. This way, you can relax and lounge in the warmth of your radiator without straining your furniture.
Josh Mitchell, HVAC technician at Air Conditioner Lab, says, "No, it's not ideal to have your sofa against a radiator. Placing a sofa directly against a radiator restricts airflow, making the radiator less efficient at heating the room. It also increases the risk of material damage or, in rare cases, overheating.
Consider installing radiator reflectors [like this Radiator Reflectors with Radstik from Amazon priced at $44.62] to make your heating more efficient while protecting your furniture. These inexpensive tools direct heat into the room rather than letting it escape toward walls or furniture. Also, maintaining proper humidity (30-50%) in your home during winter can help reduce the drying effects of radiators on furniture and other materials."
Be The First To Know
The Livingetc newsletter is your shortcut to the now and the next in home design. Subscribe today to receive a stunning free 200-page book of the best homes from around the world.
Ciéra is a writer and regional laureate with particular passions for art, design, philosophy and poetry. As well as contributing to Livingetc, she's an Editorial Assistant for Design Anthology UK and a Contributing Editor for Homes & Gardens. When not writing about interiors Ciéra can likely be found getting lost in a book, charity shop "treasure hunting", or getting excited about Christmas regardless of what month it is. Previous commendations of hers include being Highly Commended by The Royal Society of Literature and receiving a prestigious MA Magazine Journalism scholarship to City, University of London.
-
Away Just Launched a 'The White Lotus' Collection That Will Immerse You in the Series' Paradisiac New Setting From Only $55
Inspired by the HBO phenomenon's anticipated third season, the collaboration packs the vibrancy of Thailand into nine lavish travel buys
By Gilda Bruno Published
-
I'm Tempted by Wood Countertops for My Kitchen, But Are They Hard to Maintain?
Torn between stone and wooden kitchen countertops like I was? Well here's your answer to whether they're easy to care for, or not
By Faiza Saqib Published
-
I'm Tempted by Wood Countertops for My Kitchen, But Are They Hard to Maintain?
Torn between stone and wooden kitchen countertops like I was? Well here's your answer to whether they're easy to care for, or not
By Faiza Saqib Published
-
I Tried Out the '1-3-5 Decluttering Method' — And It's Such a Clever Way to Break Down Big Organizing Jobs
You'll be surprised how effective this method is... just try it for yourself and see
By Ciéra Cree Published
-
How to Organize a Vanity — Because You Can't 'Get Ready With Me' in a Cluttered Space
Perhaps an organized vanity (and these brilliant tips) is all you need to finally become a morning person
By Amiya Baratan Published
-
How to Clean Shutters Properly, Without It Feeling Like Your Home's Most Tedious Chore
Here's an easy guide to cleaning your window shutters that won't have you dreading this regular task
By Seraphina Kyprios Published
-
3 Places You Just Have to Have a Rug, According to Feng Shui — Or Else Risk Your Home's Positive Energy
Introduce vibrant energy into different parts of the home using these easy rug tips from our experts
By Maya Glantz Published
-
"I'm a Plant Stylist, These Are the Mistakes Making Your Houseplants Look Messy, Awkward, and Lifeless"
If you're guilty of any of these houseplant styling faux pas, now's the time to switch it up
By Amiya Baratan Published
-
How Often Should You Declutter? How to Tell If You're Doing Too Little, or Way Too Much, According to Professional Organizers
A regularly decluttered home is a space filled with less clutter anxiety and more focus and clarity, say experts
By Ciéra Cree Published
-
The Ultimate Weekend Decluttering Guide — This Is the Reset You Need to Fix a Chaotic Home
Here's how experts use two reset days to cut clutter from every room in a busy home
By Amiya Baratan Published