If you’re an art enthusiast and love decorating your home with new and original pieces of art occasionally, you know there’s a certain amount of care and maintenance that accompanies it.

Moreover, when you’re moving, you need to take your valuable paintings with you which means storing them away carefully.

You would think packing away paintings to store them is similar to how you would pack any other commodity. However, wrapping up a painting in bubble wrap can be potentially harmful for it and might even decrease its value.

If you don’t know the right way to store your artwork, then don’t worry! We can help you learn more about the correct way to store your artwork in a way that doesn’t compromise its quality.

Potential risks of storing art work

Here are some of the potential risks you want to avoid when storing your art work:

  • Smudges, or other damage like breakage, and tears can occur to the paper.
  • Skin contact can cause stains and marks if there is contact with cosmetics and sweat
  • Any polished surface can be tarnished with fingerprints
  • Storing under conditions which are not ideal such as under high intensity lighting, humidity and damp conditions.

Tips for packing art work

Here are some things you should keep in mind when storing art work.

  • Avoid human contact by ensuring there is a protective covering on the painting.
  • Wrap the painting in plastic to keep it clean and protect the finish.
  • Keep the painting in a Styrofoam box which custom made to the size of the art work so that it stays in place and doesn’t have room to move about.
  • If there’s any space left in between the storage box and the painting fill with bubble wrap to cushion it. This helps keep the art work safe while it’s in transit.
  • Make sure you seal the entire box with packing tape or duct tape so it doesn’t break easily.

tape and scissors

Storing art work

  • Here are tips to help you store your artwork properly.
  • Where you decide to store artwork is important. Avoid putting it in a basement or attic because these tend to be the driest or the dampest places in your home.
  • Don’t pile the paintings in a column because this means they’ll be on top of each other. Keep them in a rack so they have some space between them.
  • Keep them in a place where the temperature stays consistent throughout. Too many fluctuations in heating and cooling can damage your art.
  • Avoid exposure to direct sunlight as it can impact the colors.
  • Remember that storing your painting should be temporary. Forgetting about the painting for too long simply increases the chances of ruining it.

Looking for the best original art work such as figurative art or acrylic on board? You can buy original paintings online at Artd4. For more information, please contact us at 212 969 9660.