I don't think you have any recourse. It is the nature of certain fabrics. Woods can also be affected. There are sunblock products available. I've used this one successfully:

Here is a link that might be useful: Forcefield sun block

No, and silk, I think will actually dry out and rot if not protected from the sun. Ticking, particularly if it is true woven pattern all the way through will be a little more resistant. As will solution dyed leather. But fabrics for the interiors will fade as will leather and everything else if exposed to direct sunlight.

I would be really suprised if the rug hasn't faded, but it may be doing it in a way that is less noticeable

Thanks! That is very helpful to know. I just wondered if it were a possibility since, for example, color fastness in clothing is a sign of quality.

I guess i must reluctantly venture into the world of window treatments ...

You don't need window treatments if you don't want them. All you need is UV blocking coatings on the glass. You can DIY some of them, or just have a professional window company apply them. They can be slightly tinted, to help cut glare and heat gain, or they can be clear. This will also help your HVAC load in both summer and winter.

My living room has two walls of windows and most of my stuff has faded - fortunately my upholstered pieces are mostly beige so it is not too noticeable and they seem to have faded evenly. I have the shades that sit between the glass and I try to lower them in the summer but I hate to do it year round as it shuts out the view. I think that UV block coating on your windows can void the manufacturer's warranty with some windows -- you might want to look into that if you are thinking of going that route.

No we can't do any sort of film on our windows.

I will be back next week for help with window treatments ... I am at my office today and sans photos.

Or you could just embrace the "patina" of fading... We have an open kitchen/sitting area with a lot of windows, and my red leather loveseat has faded quite a bit over 6 years but with leather, I sort of like the imperfections. After these 6 years I've finally noticed that the rug is also fading, but at least it's fading consistently! As in, one end isn't more faded than the other.

We have a window seat with lots of pillows but because I knew they'd fade and also because we eat there (kitchen table), I've never had pricey pillows there.

And now, I want to know how you have 8 walls in one room. ;)

Shutters on the outside? Awnings? Bahamian shutters?

A brise-soleil? I am trying to figure out if I can put a brise-soleil outside my third floor which is all west-facing glass (and some of it is triangular) :/

It's an octagon .... is that what you meant?

I might embrace fading if it were more even..... nahh, too zen for me!

Most of my windows are west-facing and I have fading on my hardwood floors and fabrics, but I don't want window coverings. I'll live with the floors, but I plan to use fabrics with polyester or linen content when I reupholster the furniture. I'll also choose light colors so any fading won't be so evident. My current upholstery is mostly made from silk and has started to shred badly. My wool oriental carpets, however, don't seem to be fading at all. I'm wondering if it has something to do with the dyeing process.

Colorfastness is not necessarily a sign of quality with respect to leather. If you look at any of the sites that sell leather furniture, eg. Hancock & Moore, their descriptions of the various leathers make it clear that some of the most supple, soft, beautiful expensive leathers such as the aniline leathers, are dyed, not pigmented. And they will fade. Don't ask me how I know. Leathers that are pigmented will not fade, or not fade nearly as quickly as leathers that are dyed.

I chose my leather loveseat without understanding this, and chose aniline. i do love it, but it did fade (it is in my sunroom - I mean really, how stupid is that?). But I bought some aniline dye and recolored it.

Syyde,
could you explain how you dyed your leather? I have a sofa that turned from caramel to greenish.

I purchased aniline dye and leather conditioner/finish coat online -- I think it was Leathercraft -- there are several that sell aniline dye. I wiped it on with soft rags. It dries quickly -- you have to be careful to get it on evenly. It is transparent so you can control the depth of color by adding more coats. It did not come out "perfect" but overall it is greatly improved and the faded areas are now the same depth of color as the areas that did not fade. You have to know whether your sofa is dyed or pigmented. If it is pigmented you might still be able to recolor, but I was advised that often the pigmented leathers would be sprayed to get a uniform color. The color does not penetrate -- it is more like painting an auto.

I purchased aniline dye and leather conditioner/finish coat online -- I think it was Leathercraft -- there are several that sell aniline dye. I wiped it on with soft rags. It dries quickly -- you have to be careful to get it on evenly. It is transparent so you can control the depth of color by adding more coats. It did not come out "perfect" but overall it is greatly improved and the faded areas are now the same depth of color as the areas that did not fade. You have to know whether your sofa is dyed or pigmented. If it is pigmented you might still be able to recolor, but I was advised that often the pigmented leathers would be sprayed to get a uniform color. The color does not penetrate -- it is more like painting an auto.

the problem with window treatments is you've got to use them for them to work!! i have wood blinds in the family room which i have tilted abit almost all of the time and manage light easily with window txs in our bedroom since i'm not in those rooms very often during the day, but in my very sunny kitchen, i have fading of the wood floors, the rug, and the table and chairs because i love the shades up during the day..... oh well!

i have a leather chair that has suffered some sun damage... not only has the color faded, but the leather itself is drier and less soft and smooth than it was years ago, i liked it better before but i don't dislike it now...