Top 5 Tips to Store Your Art Collection

Table of Contents

1. Taking into consideration the Environmental Conditions
2. Keep a Digital Archive
3. Clean Regularly but Carefully
4. Keep Every Piece Separate
5. Check the Condition of your Artwork from Time to Time
6. Final Words

Store your art collection in a safe place to protect its value. Art collections are priceless, and every art lover knows this well. Whether it’s a statue or a painting, placing it in the right corner can light up the entire room. However, it requires extra protection; you can’t keep your precious artwork just anywhere, as it might get ruined.

If you have a hobby of collecting beautiful pieces of artwork, you will know how much care they require. From transportation to storage, you must be careful at every stage. An artist spends hours creating a masterpiece, and a minor mistake destroys it in seconds.

So store them in a safe place. Even if you wish to display a painting, make sure its surrounding atmosphere is favorable. Without proper storage, your artwork will be a threat. The following tips will help you secure your collection and avoid unwanted accidents.

Taking into consideration the Environmental Conditions

Every piece of art is delicate. Therefore, it needs protection from excessive light, wind, and humidity. If a painting is kept in excessive sunlight, its colors will start to fade. Even the details will be affected.

Similarly, too much heat or humidity will result in creases, breakages, and deformations. If cracks start to form on the painting, you won’t be able to save it.

According to the experts of art storage in New York at Classic F.A. Packers & Shippers, “Shipping high-value products is more than getting objects from point A to point B. There is an art to providing the protective means to ensure everything arrives in the condition it is received.” Thus, having a supportive environment is an absolute must, or else you might not be able to keep the artwork in its original condition.

It’s not just the chemical reactions that are damaging your artwork, but also the humidity. Maintaining a humidity level of about 55% in a gallery should yield the greatest results. If you need to know how much moisture is in the air inside a closed space, a hygrometer is a tool to use. Condensation-reducing air conditioners and air blowers are also advised.

That is why it is recommended not to place any heat sources near your precious artwork. It’s better to keep the paintings in a room with moderate humidity and low temperature. It’s

Keep a Digital Archive

Art collectors tend to collect multiple paintings, statues, and masterpieces. However, you might misplace some of the pieces without maintaining any record. So, it is better to have a digital archive. An archive keeps the collection sorted at every step.

Digital archives help document and preserve information. For art collectors, it comes in handy when storing artwork. You could use these digital records to catalog each item in your collection.

The best part is that these records won’t require any physical space. So, you can keep all the information on a hard drive and use it to check on everything timely. From acquiring artwork to selling it, these digital archives come into use at every stage.

Clean Regularly but Carefully

Art collectors must not forget that they should regularly clean every item in their collection. If you let the dust settle on your goods, they will start to wither away. Moreover, a filthy atmosphere might damage the surface and quality of the painting. So cleanliness is a must.

When you check on your artwork, wipe off any dust and residue you see. One of the best ways to clean a dirty painting without damaging the paint or removing any loose fragments is to use a soft duster and delicate, careful strokes.

Furthermore, be attentive to the cleaning products you use. One cannot use any ordinary cleaner for such delicate pieces. You need dedicated dusters and vacuums which suck the dirt without harming the artwork.

Since you will spend a massive amount of money on your collection, you don’t want it to be harmed due to negligence. If possible, wear gloves before touching anything to prevent leaving behind fingerprints.

In case you have glass or acrylic cases, clean them with a microfiber cloth. It’s the perfect choice in both cases.

Keep Every Piece Separate

While storing an art collection, keep everything separate. Several individuals make the mistake of cluttering items together. It might negatively impact the exterior of each piece. You might think it will save extra space, but the reality is the opposite.

It is okay to stack unframed artwork as long as you use two-inch-long conservation matboards on each side of your artwork to prevent any unintended chemical reactions, creasing, or chemical reactions.

If there is no space between various pieces of artwork, they will rub with one another. It could lead to unwanted creasing or a chemical reaction. So add a separation between everything.

Moreover, keep your paintings and other valuables above the ground. Don’t put anything directly on the floor because it could come under anyone’s feet. A much better option is to keep it on a shelf or a table.

Check the Condition of your Artwork from Time to Time

Storing your artwork in a cool and dry place will help protect it. However, it doesn’t mean you should forget about your collection. No matter how secure and environment-friendly your storage space might be, you should regularly check everything.

At times, owners do not set foot in their storage units, which is a huge mistake. Always visit your collection after every few weeks. Review each item in your list and update your records about its condition. If something is damaged, have it repaired in time.

Even when you take all preventive measures, unforeseen circumstances can occur. So it’s necessary to keep an eye on your valuable collection.

Final Words

If you follow the recommendations mentioned in this article, rest assured that your collection will continue to look great for years to come. Remember that art is a wise investment, the value of which could increase considerably in the future. Never underestimate the power that owning a piece of art has the ability to transform your life and the lives of those who have seen it.

Thank you for reading!