{"id":6280,"date":"2020-01-30T14:18:48","date_gmt":"2020-01-30T20:18:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/3.146.49.248\/?p=6280"},"modified":"2025-02-24T14:53:39","modified_gmt":"2025-02-24T20:53:39","slug":"how-to-store-paintings-like-an-expert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thelockup.com\/blog\/how-to-store-paintings-like-an-expert\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Store Paintings Like an Expert"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"How<\/a>Art is one of life\u2019s greatest pleasures. It helps us decorate our homes, unleashes a myriad of emotions, and is a hobby that unites many people. Because of this, it\u2019s not uncommon for households to accumulate a collection of art over the years. Whether your collection is expensive or simply irreplaceable, you\u2019ll want to take the proper precautions to keep them safe. For whatever reason, if you need to put things into storage, it\u2019s important to understand the ins and outs of storing paintings. In this article, we\u2019ll go over everything you need to know about how to store paintings like an expert.<\/p>\n

Know Your Risks<\/h2>\n

Before you start wondering about how you\u2019re going to store your paintings, you need to be aware of the risks that are associated<\/a> with doing so. If the painting is rare, expensive, or one-of-a-kind, you might want to consider talking to a professional painting storage expert. Doing so will reduce the chances that damage is incurred and will help elongate the life of your painting. This doesn\u2019t mean that you\u2019ll need to store your painting in an expensive warehouse, but the preliminary packing and preparations are important and might be specific to your art\u2019s medium.<\/p>\n

\"HowWith that being said, some of the most common risks to storing paintings include tears, breakages, fingerprints, stains, and environmental damage. Your painting could also be subject to having elements come loose, pests, or the damages of fluctuating climates if not stored properly<\/a>. This isn\u2019t a comprehensive list, but should be considered as an introduction to the risks of storing a painting. To reduce these things from happening, you need to adhere to the following suggestions for packing, preparing, and storing your paintings.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Pack and Prepare<\/h2>\n

As we mentioned, the packing and preparations are going to be the biggest way to deter damages from happening during storage. Most of the risks of storing your paintings come from a combination of people, accidents, and poor storage conditions. To reduce your risks, take the following precautions.<\/p>\n

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1. Reduce Overall Outside Contact<\/h3>\n

The more people that touch or handle your painting while moving it into storage, the more chances there are for something to go wrong. Try to minimize overall outside contact and do the packing and preparations yourself. While it\u2019s a great idea to contact a professional, there might not be one located in your city so you\u2019ll have to take control of their recommendations. When moving the painting, consider transporting it in your car or hiring a moving van to take care of it yourself. While most movers handle your things with care, certain paintings aren\u2019t worth the risk of accidental damage.<\/p>\n

With that being said, minimize your own physical contact with the painting until it\u2019s protected. The dirt, oil, and acidity from our fingertips can ruin a painting and should be avoided at all costs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

2. Protect the Painting<\/h3>\n

The first thing you\u2019ll need to do when storing paintings is to protect it<\/a>. Start by cleaning the painting with a microfiber cloth to ensure that all of the dust is cleared from the surfaces before putting it into storage. If you\u2019re storing your painting in a frame, use the appropriate polish to make sure that rusting doesn\u2019t occur. If the piece is expensive, consider getting it professional cleaned to make sure that everything is in the best condition possible for storage.<\/p>\n

Next, you\u2019ll need to wrap your painting. While many people think that \"How<\/a>plastic will work for this step, you need to avoid using it. Even if you wrap your painting with 100% precision using cardboard and Styrofoam, plastic gives humidity a chance to fester, which can lead to mold. It\u2019s simply not worth the risk. Instead, seal your painting with an acid-free Styrofoam or crescent board. This gives your painting the chance to breathe and stay protected during transit and storage. If you\u2019re planning to use anything else to help store your painting, make sure that it is acid-free to avoid premature aging and damage from dye transfers.<\/p>\n

If possible, consider putting your wrapped painting into a wooden box for optimal protection<\/a>. This will create a safeguard during transit and while in your storage space so that if something falls, it won\u2019t damage the painting.<\/p>\n

3. Choosing Your Storage Options<\/h3>\n

For most people, a simple self storage unit will suffice for storing paintings. Renting out an affordable, monthly unit is much better than putting your beloved paintings into a basement or attic, as the conditions are usually more controlled. Therefore, if you do choose to rent out a self storage unit, make sure that you find one that is climate controlled, not just temperature controlled. Climate controlled storage allows you to achieve the perfect conditions for storing a painting. Climate controlled storage units reduce direct sunlight, keeps temperatures constant<\/a>, and regulates humidity levels 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.<\/p>\n

\"How<\/a>The absolute best temperature to store paintings in is about 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit with a humidity level at about 40-50%. Rapid changes in both temperature and humidity are detrimental to the longevity of your painting, so a climate controlled environment is highly recommended and well worth the investment. The Lock Up Self Storage offers climate controlled self storage units in a range of sizes for all budgets.<\/p>\n

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4.\u00a0Putting Your Painting in Storage<\/h3>\n

Now it\u2019s time to put your painting into your climate controlled self storage unit. Here are some simple steps to follow to ensure that your painting stays in great condition for years to come.<\/p>\n