{"id":14048,"date":"2024-06-17T13:33:30","date_gmt":"2024-06-17T20:33:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/?p=14048"},"modified":"2024-06-17T13:33:31","modified_gmt":"2024-06-17T20:33:31","slug":"how-to-store-artwork","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neighbor.com\/storage-blog\/how-to-store-artwork\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Store Artwork When Not In Use"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Artists, collectors, and designers all know that the process of storing paintings<\/a> is an art form — pun intended<\/em>. If you have pieces of artwork that you want to store, it’s important to consider how best to preserve the art so that it maintains its original form. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It all comes down to understanding the do’s and don’ts of art storage. If you keep reading, you’ll learn all about the protocols that you should follow when looking for a place to store your art that won’t alter its current condition (or ruin it entirely). <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Do’s of Storing Artwork For Longevity <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To ensure the longevity of your artwork<\/strong>, always store it in an upright position and handle it with care (and don’t forget to inspect its condition regularly). <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preservation when storing art is of the utmost importance, and the following tips will help you maintain the quality of your art when in storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoid Placing Art in Direct Sunlight<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Has anyone told you about the importance of storing artwork in cool, dark, and dry places<\/strong>? There’s a reason for this suggestion, and the advice holds true when storing art pieces for long periods, too! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take it from Park West Gallery<\/a> when they warn you that direct sunlight can cause irreversible damage to your artwork<\/strong>. If ultraviolet radiation comes in contact with artwork, the light can lead to faded, warped, bent, or cracked art pieces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interestingly enough, paper-based art pieces are far more sensitive to sunlight,<\/strong> especially when compared to canvas art or metal artwork. However, this doesn’t mean you can get away with leaving your canvases or metalwork exposed to direct sunlight. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make Sure Humidity Levels Are Not Too High <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Do you know what happens if you store artwork in places where the humidity exceeds art-safe levels? Austin Galleries<\/a> explains that environments with incompatible humidity levels can be a breeding ground for mold, mildew, and moisture.<\/strong> These three factors pose a serious risk to the preservation of your art. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the blog of the Julius Lowy Frame and Restoring Company<\/a>, a safe humidity range for artwork is between 40% and 60% relative humidity.<\/strong> Any value above or below that range will likely result in the deterioration of your art pieces. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep Artwork in Cool Environments <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Similar to how humidity levels must remain within a safe range, you also need to be mindful of the temperature. When storing artwork, the Artwork Archive<\/a> says the best temperature range for artwork storage spaces is between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit<\/strong> — this is equivalent to anywhere from 21 to 24 degrees Celsius. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why renting a climate-controlled storage<\/a> unit is an absolute must when storing artwork. You might wonder what the main difference is between climate-controlled storage versus non-climate-controlled units<\/a>, and it all comes down to the presence — or lack — of an HVAC system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HVAC is an abbreviation for heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning — so essentially, with a climate-controlled storage space, the temperature and the humidity won’t fluctuate. As a result, you can always trust that your artwork is kept in consistent conditions day in and day out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Typically, a climate-controlled storage unit will cost anywhere from 25% to 40% more<\/a> than storage options without this feature. However, it’s undoubtedly worth paying for, especially when storing art. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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