You may be an artist or someone who loves collecting paintings or artwork. Maybe you are in a circumstance where you have to put some items from your collection in storage. You may no longer have space for some of your paintings, or you are planning to put some artwork away to make room for new ones.

Whatever the reason, these are delicate things, so you want to ensure that they are stored properly. Artwork should be handled with care, and you want to make sure that they remain in good condition even if they are kept away. Here’s a guide on how to store artwork.

 A Guide to Storing Artwork

To store artwork and protect it in storage, you have to make sure that it is wrapped properly. You should also store them in the right location to prevent damage. You have to choose the right storage environment and packing materials to protect your artwork.

Preparing Your Artwork for Storage: Cleaning Before Storing

You have to prepare your artwork for storage, and part of the preparation includes cleaning it first. Gently clean all the dust or dirt on your paintings with a microfiber cloth or an artist’s paintbrush. You have to make sure that what you use to clean your artwork is also clean.

Also, remember to clean gently, as artwork is delicate. Brush over painted surfaces with slow, careful strokes. Cleaning your artwork first will help keep it in good condition during storage. Also, ensure that they are dry before you store them.

Additionally, it’s important to remember not to touch your artwork directly. You would not want to leave fingerprints on your artwork or cause any damage by accident. You can wear gloves before touching them to prevent any accidents or damage.

Protecting Your Artwork

After cleaning your artwork, the next thing to do is to ensure that it is protected in storage by wrapping it. For framed artwork, wrap with acid-free tissue. Then, roll it into a padding, such as bubble wrap, to secure the frame. For unframed artwork, use glassine paper.

Once you are finished wrapping the artwork, put them inside boxes. It is better to pack artwork separately or individually, especially if they are large pieces of art. Find the appropriate boxes for your artwork and make sure that the boxes are clean.

Now, remember that you should fill empty spaces in the boxes to protect your artwork from moving. You can fill empty spaces using shredded paper or old clothing.

Remember that you will be transporting your artwork into storage, so you should ensure that they are protected by preventing them from moving or breaking.

Additionally, never forget to label all your boxes. Apart from writing what’s inside the boxes, make sure to write warning labels or signs such as “FRAGILE”.

 Storing Your Artwork

You have to make sure that your artwork is stored properly, in the right position, and in the right location. Here are important things to remember when storing artwork:

Handle Them Carefully

Now, remember that artworks are fragile things. They need to be handled carefully. So, when moving your artwork into storage, make sure to do it one piece at a time, or one box at a time. And again, be careful when carrying all these art pieces.

 Keep Your Artwork Off the Floor

You want to make sure that your artwork is safe in long-term storage. So, make sure that you do not put them directly on the floor. Leaving them on the floor makes them more susceptible to dust, dirt, and pests. They can also get damaged during a flood.

Additionally, concrete floors and walls are capable of absorbing moisture. So, protect your artwork and avoid keeping them on or against these kinds of surfaces. For their protection, keep them off the ground.

Don’t Stack Paintings Flat

Now, it is important not to put pressure on your paintings when they are in storage. One mistake that you should avoid is stacking your paintings horizontally or on top of each other. Doing this will only cause damage to your paintings, especially the ones at the bottom of the pile.

Store paintings correctly by making them stand on their sides. You can place them next to each other like you were putting books on a bookshelf. The important thing is not to stack artwork on top of each other. Remember, artworks are delicate things, so you should not store them in a position where they are more susceptible to damage.

Check Your Artwork Regularly

Now, you can store artwork for a long period of time, but you should remember to check them regularly. It is not necessary to check for artwork once a week. You can do it every few months. The goal is just to make sure that they remain in good condition while they are in storage.

When putting things in storage, we tend to just leave them there and forget to check how our things are doing. But this cannot be the case for delicate artwork. Keep checking them to catch any issues early. Also, look for signs of any pests or unwelcome visitors.

Choosing the Right Location to Store Your Artwork

One of the ways of ensuring that your artwork is protected in storage is choosing the right location to store it. When choosing where to store your artwork, take note of the following:

Avoid Direct Sunlight and Heat

To protect your artwork, make sure to keep them away from direct sunlight and heat. Sunlight can cause fading, while heat can cause paint to become soft and peel off.

Do Not Store Your Artwork in Attics and Basements

Now, attics and basements are places where we store things. However, they are not ideal places to store delicate artwork. The conditions in places like these can cause damage to your artwork.

Choose a Climate-Controlled Storage Unit

The perfect place to store artwork is in a climate-controlled storage unit. Temperature and humidity are crucial factors to consider when storing your artwork, as fluctuating temperatures and humidity can cause damage to them.

Climate-controlled storage units have regulated temperature and humidity; items stored inside them will not get damaged because of extreme or rapid changes in temperature.

Final Thoughts on Storing Artwork

Storing delicate items such as artwork requires preparation. Make sure to get rid of all dust and dirt before packing them. Pack them with materials such as acid-free tissue and glassine paper. Make sure to store them in a proper position and in the right location. Choose a climate-controlled storage unit for your artwork.