Art belongs on a wall, no doubt about that. The beauty of art lies in being able to appreciate them every day and show them off to your guests. Art can make any home look more sophisticated and enjoyable.
But circumstances change and you may have to take the art off your walls and store it someplace safe for a prolonged time period. But do you know how to properly store art and avoid damaging your valuable pieces?
There are many guides online trying to answer that question, but some may lead to unfortunate results. For example, while some self-proclaimed experts suggest using plastic, any art storage expert will tell you plastic covers may lead to mold developing on your precious art pieces as it traps humidity inside the wrapped painting.
When storing art there are a lot of risks to consider. Even though it can be frustrating, especially knowing both the financial and emotional worth of your artworks, but if you know what you are doing, storing art is not that difficult.
Alternatively, companies like Museo Vault can help you store your art, using secured storage facilities with ideal conditions, resistant to even the most catastrophic weather conditions. In this article, we’ll guide you through some of the factors you have to consider if you plan on storing art on your own.
How to Choose the Right Room
In most cases, homeowners adapt a room they rarely use into an art storage unit. However, you need to know what the ideal conditions for storing art are in order to choose an appropriate room.
First of all, the room needs to be finished. People usually store art in the attic or the basement, but unless these rooms are climate controlled, that is a bad idea. The room should have no vents or air leaks. If there are, you need to talk to an expert about sealing them. Whatever you do, the air must never blow directly into the artwork.
You also need to consider protecting your alt from mold, dust, pests and other issues. If there’s a musty smell in the room, you have to find the source.
Finally, avoid using a room with an exterior wall. The ideal room for art storage should be somewhere inside the house. This will help protect your artwork from sunlight, weather, and moisture which can all damage your artwork.
How to Prepare My Art for Storage
There are some procedures you need to take before storing away your art pieces. These procedures involve proper cleaning, wrapping, and inspecting the wrapping materials.
Clean the Art
First of all, make sure to clean the dust off your art using a microfiber cloth. Use a wood or metal polish if necessary to avoid scuffing and rust. Consult the employees at a local hardware store to find the best polish. The polish will prevent dust, rust, and damage from affecting your art while stored.
Find the Appropriate Wrapping Technique
Collectors use saran to wrap their art, but unless they are very careful they could invite humidity inside, which can lead to a mold infestation. Make sure to use the appropriate Styrofoam and cardboard to isolate the art from the saran wrap.
Make Sure You Use the Right Materials
The framing materials you use before storage need to be acid-free. Materials that are not acid-free age faster and can damage the back of the canvas by coloring it, affecting the value of your art piece.
How to Keep the Right Temperature?
The ideal humidity for storing your artwork is ideally between 40 to 50 percent. The temperature should be anywhere between 70 and 75 degrees. You can use a humidifier to control both conditions.
Less than ideal conditions can lead to cracked paint damaged wrapping and yellowed paper. The main concern with storing art is sudden changes in temperature or humidity, which is why you need to have a humidifier to control these conditions. Ideally, the humidity levels should not change by more than 5% during a single day.
Hopefully, these tips helped you get a clearer picture of what art storage entails and where to start. With a little help from a professional, your art will stay impeccable for generations to come.
By Lara Janssen