There is a reason why painting storage is better handled by professionals. When you keep your collection stored in your home, the chances of it getting damaged are extremely high. If you want to organize an art storage space in your home, you should be aware of all the risks that come with it. Here are some of the most common mistakes you should avoid.
Painting Storage Mistakes That Could Cost You Your Collection
Putting paintings on top of each other
Do not store your paintings like you would store dishes. Stacking paintings for storage might seem like a good way to save space, but it is the worst thing you can do. The constant pressure will eventually reflect on your precious pieces, resulting in the canvas breaking or stretching. The best art handler-approved way to preserve paintings long-term is by storing them vertically and placing sheets of acid-free paper between them.
Cleaning your artwork with water
You should clean your paintings from dust and check their condition from time to time, but never use water for these purposes. Paintings are highly sensitive to humidity, and direct contact with a wet cleaning cloth will cause them to mold. Instead, carefully get rid of any built-up dust using a soft duster.
Organizing a painting storage space in the attic or basement
You must avoid storing your collection in the attic or basement for the same reason you should never wipe your paintings with a wet cloth. Attics and basements are breeding grounds for mold and other unpleasant and harmful things, which makes them the worst possible place for painting storage. To protect your pieces from excessive humidity, choose a room where the levels of humidity can be controlled.
Letting direct light into the art storage space
Another dangerous mistake you might make when storing artwork at your place is putting it in a room with windows: sunlight might make the paintings fade or mess with the temperature in the room. If you do not have a room without windows, use blackout curtains to block all light from the outside.
Using not acid-free materials
When storing unframed canvases, you should only use acid-free materials to pack them. Regular supplies are not suitable for art preservation because the acid that they contain might cause paintings to age faster.
In the end, the best painting storage option is undoubtedly a specialized art storage facility where your art collection will be safe from any outside influences in a controlled environment.