If you have paintings, photographs or other wall art that you can't fit in your home, you might be wondering about the best way to store it. After all, you probably want it to be in the best shape possible when you take it out of storage. Luckily, following these tips can help.

1. Store in a Climate-Controlled Storage Unit

If you store your artwork in an attic, basement or storage unit that is not climate-controlled, you can likely expect for your art to become damaged over time. Humidity in the air can cause mold or mildew to grow, and extreme temperatures can cause the canvas to stretch or tighten. For best results, you'll want to store your art in a storage unit that is climate controlled and kept at a steady temperature all the time.

2. Focus on Pest Control

Mice, rats and other pests can chew on photographs and paintings, and their droppings can leave stains. Make sure that you choose a storage company that takes pest control seriously, or consider putting out your own traps or poison to help prevent pests from becoming a problem.

3. Keep Them Covered

Additionally, you will want to cover up your art with a light, clean cloth, such as a sheet. Choose a light-colored cloth so that you do not have to worry about the color "bleeding" onto your art, and make sure that the cloth is clean and completely dry. Periodically, pull the cover off of your art to allow it to "breathe" so that you can get rid of any humidity that might have built up underneath the cloth. This will help provide a layer of protection against dust and dirt that could cause staining. Additionally, it will help prevent the color from bleeding from one piece of artwork onto another.

4. Protect Frames

For artwork that is in frames, cover the frames with cardboard or bubble warp. It can be easy for the edges of frames to get "bumped" against other things in the storage unit, which can cause damage. Consider storing framed art upright rather than stacking, since the weight of the additional art that is stacked on top could cause the glass to break.

If you are looking to store your artwork in the right way, following these tips can help. Then, you can help ensure that your artwork is still in good condition when you remove it from your storage unit.

For more storage information, visit sites such as http://www.northstarministorage.com.

Share