How to Store Artwork
Collecting artwork is a wonderful way to invest in valuable pieces, support artists you have a personal connection to, and express yourself through interior design. If you are serious about collecting art, you may own more pieces than you have room for on your walls. For this reason, it's essential to understand the basics of art canvas storage and how to store a lot of paint art.
The storage of art can be challenging, but it’s crucial to preserve its value and integrity. Without proper painting storage, your pieces could fade, crack, or become otherwise damaged.
In this guide about how to store artwork, Stop & Stor discusses best practices for preparing and packing art, plus choosing the right storage place and tips for long-term storage.
Preparing Artwork for Storage
Before moving your pieces into artwork storage, it is important to prepare them with a few important processes that are worth the time and effort.
Handle Your Art with Care
Avoid touching unframed pieces of art with your bare hands to prevent oils and dirt from transferring onto them. Instead, wear cotton gloves as you handle delicate pieces, especially ones that feature charcoal or pencil drawings.
Clean Your Artwork Properly
The process of how to store paintings and other art involves a pre-storage cleaning with a soft duster or microfiber cloth to remove dust. However, avoid water or harsh chemicals when cleaning art, and consider hiring a professional for extensive cleaning jobs.
Label and Catalog Your Art
Painting storage benefits from good organization, such as creating an inventory with details about the artists, mediums, and value. You can also place labels on storage containers so that you don't compromise the authenticity of original creations.
Packing Your Artwork
When considering what to wrap paintings in storage, it is important to choose materials wisely to protect the frames and glass.
Use the Right Packing Materials
The best packing materials for art are acid-free paper and bubble wrap for protection. Unfortunately, acidic materials and newspapers can damage artwork in a storage unit. For framed pieces, pack art in sturdy mirror or picture boxes.
Protect Frames and Glass
Secure frames with painter's tape during storage to prevent them from breaking. You can also protect your artwork's glass by keeping it clean and using moisture-resistant backing.
Choosing the Right Storage Environment
Stop & Stor offers units and lockers with ideal conditions for art storage. Here are the key factors to look for when you need to store art.
Avoid Direct Sunlight
UV rays can cause artwork to fade and become yellow. Therefore, you should store art in a dark place, such as a cabinet, solander box, or storage unit.
Maintain Ideal Temperature and Humidity
Artwork can become ruined if exposed to extreme heat, cold, or moisture. The best recommendation for how to store artwork is in a cool, dry space with a consistent temperature of 70 to 72 degrees and humidity level of 50 percent. Our climate-controlled storage units are perfect for long-term art preservation.
Prevent Contact with Floors
It's best to store artwork elevated off the floor to avoid dirt, dampness, and accidental damage. You can use shelves, easels, or painting racks to keep art raised from the floor.
Tips for Long-Term Storage
As a family-owned and operated storage business since 1980, we’ve helped many people store their beloved treasures for extended periods of time. Here are our tips for the long-term storage of art.
Keep Paintings Separate
Are you wondering how to store oil painting on paper? Use acid-free paper or conservation matboard between stacked art pieces to prevent sticking and chemical reactions. You also shouldn't stack paintings directly on top of one another.
Avoid Rolling Canvases
You might be tempted to roll up art canvases to save space. However, this practice can cause permanent creases and cracks in your art. Instead, art canvas storage should involve storing pieces flat or upright.
Use Specialized Storage Options
Where can I store artwork and photography pictures that are unique and or oddly shaped? You might need to invest in specialized solutions for rare pieces, such as solander boxes for small, unframed works. It may be worth consulting professional art storage services for high-value specialty collections.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
If preserving your artwork is a priority, avoid these common mistakes at all costs:
- Touching artwork with your bare hands
- Using DIY materials like newspaper or duct tape for packing
- Storing art in basements, attics, or other areas prone to moisture and temperature fluctuations
- Not taking the time to thoroughly document and catalog stored pieces
We hope that you've found this discussion of how to store artwork helpful and that you now feel more confident about preserving your favorite pieces without damage or risk of theft.
We offer secure, climate-controlled storage options in New York to help you maintain and grow your art collection. To give you peace of mind that your artwork is safe in our facilities, we offer 24/7 surveillance, electronic coded access, a live-in caretaker on site, and a tenant protection plan.
If you have decided to place artwork into storage, Stop & Stor offers climate controlled storage units, perfect for your art storage. Reserve your storage space online by contacting us by email, call by 718.898.9000. Established in 1980, Stop & Stor is a family owned and operated business that has become New York’s Self Storage Leader by offering cutting-edge facilities in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island.
TO FIND ONE OF OUR LOCATIONS NEAR YOU, SELECT YOUR BOROUGH:
Storage prices our competitors can’t beat. Act fast, these storage deals last for a limited time only. Reserve now and lock in the best storage price for a FULL YEAR – GUARANTEED. Contact Stop & Stor today to learn more about our storage options.