How To Store Artwork In A Storage Facility
Fine art is more than a visual delight - it's a reflection of culture, personal expression, and sometimes, a valuable investment. Whether you're an artist, collector, or someone preserving cherished family pieces, ensuring the safety of your art during storage is crucial. Understanding how to store fine arts items properly in a storage facility helps protect them from damage, environmental changes, and deterioration over time. Using the right packing materials, maintaining stable temperature and humidity, and choosing a trusted fine art storage provider can make all the difference in preserving the beauty and value of your collection for years to come.
In this blog, we'll walk you through artwork storage ideas, what to look for in a storage facility, mistakes to avoid, and why urBin is the ideal partner for storing fine arts and safeguarding your treasures.
How to Prepare Your Art for Storage?
Proper preparation is the foundation of safe and secure fine art storage. To ensure your art remains protected, it's important to understand how to store artwork in a storage facility correctly. Start by thoroughly examining each piece for any existing damage before packing. Address any issues such as fading, scratches, or cracks before placing the artwork in storage to prevent further deterioration.
Inspect Your Artwork Before Packing
Thoroughly examine each piece of art for any existing damage before you start to pack them. Before sending the artwork into art storage, address any damage issues like fading or cracks to prevent further deterioration.
Clean and Prepare Art Pieces
Clean the art pieces with lint-free cloths or soft brushes. Avoid using harsh cleaning agents, as they can harm delicate surfaces. Proper cleaning ensures your artwork remains in optimal condition during storage.
Protect Glass and Fragile Surfaces
Use corner protectors for artwork made of glass. There should be no direct contact between the glass and the artwork to avoid scratches or breakage.
Cushion Sculptures and Three-Dimensional Art
Wrap sculptures and three-dimensional pieces with soft padding to provide protection against shocks, bumps, or accidental damage during handling and transportation.
Label Boxes Clearly for Safe Handling
Not all storage facilities are designed to handle the unique needs of fine art. When selecting a space for artwork storage, it's important to focus on features that ensure the safety, preservation, and security of your pieces.
Things You Should Look in a Storage Facility Before Storing Fine Arts
Not all storage facilities are created equal, especially when it comes to fine art. Here are the features to prioritize when it comes to artwork storage ideas -
Climate Controlled Storage
The climate should be carefully considered when securing art in storage. Avoid keeping artwork in overly damp or dry environments, as these conditions can cause paintings to warp or crack. Renting a climate-controlled storage solution helps maintain consistent temperature and humidity, providing the ideal conditions to preserve your collection. To learn more about how these solutions safeguard valuable items from environmental damage, visit the benefits of climate-controlled storage.
A secure storage locker
One of the artwork storage ideas is to get a secure storage locker which will prevent your art from being stacked or exposed to other items, thereby reducing the risk of damage. Before getting the locker on rent, just check if the facility offers secure lockers to protect your belongings.
A security system
Your fine art's value necessitates top-tier security. Choose a secure art storage facility equipped with 24/7 surveillance cameras, motion detectors, and access control systems to deter theft and ensure safety. In addition, many modern facilities offer advanced alarm systems, restricted access areas, and professional monitoring to provide an extra layer of protection.
Some even allow remote monitoring, giving collectors peace of mind by letting them check on their artworks anytime. Ensuring your storage environment is both secure and well-monitored is essential for preserving the integrity and value of your collection.
Professional Handling and Packaging
When it comes to storing artwork in a storage facility, relying on professionals is one of the safest options. Specialized fine art storage facilities not only offer climate-controlled units but also provide expert art handling and packaging services. This ensures that your paintings, sculptures, and other valuable pieces are carefully packed, transported, and stored, minimizing the risk of damage during storage or transit.
Access and Location
Convenient access to the smart storage facility is essential, especially if you need to retrieve or add items frequently. Additionally, the facility should be in a safe and easily reachable location. Some fine art storage facilities also provide you with the facility of delivering your stored items to your place. You just need to contact them and mention the stored items you want, and the storage team will do the needful for you.
Experience with Fine Arts
Not all storage facilities have the expertise to handle fine art. Choose the storage facility with a proven track record of storing, packaging and moving priceless pieces, ensuring their staff is knowledgeable about the unique requirements of fine art storage.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Storing Fine Art in a Storage Facility
Proper storage of fine art requires attention to detail and care. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:
1. Not Insuring Your Artwork Skipping insurance may seem like a way to save money, but it exposes your art to financial risk in case of theft, fire, water damage, or other unforeseen events. Ensure your artwork is fully insured for its current market value before storing it in a facility.
2. Using Low-Quality or Non-Archival Packing Materials Packing materials matter. Using cheap or non-archival materials can cause long-term damage, such as fading, warping, or chemical reactions. Always use acid-free paper, padded crates, and other high-quality materials designed for fine art storage.
3. Stacking Multiple Pieces Avoid stacking artwork, as this increases the risk of scratches, dents, or bending. Each piece should have its own dedicated space, ideally supported or mounted safely to prevent accidental pressure or movement.
4. Skipping Regular Check-Ins Even in a controlled storage environment, it's important to periodically inspect your art. Regular check-ins help detect early signs of moisture, mold, or pests and ensure that your art remains in optimal condition.
5. Handling Artwork Without Gloves Natural oils and dirt from your hands can damage delicate surfaces over time. Always wear clean, lint-free gloves when handling artwork to protect it from smudges, fingerprints, or other deterioration.
6. Ignoring Climate and Humidity Control Fine art is sensitive to temperature and humidity fluctuations. Ensure your storage facility maintains consistent climate conditions, ideally between 65 - 75 F with 45 - 55% humidity, to prevent warping, cracking, or mold growth.
7. Storing Artwork in High-Traffic Areas Placing your art in areas where it may be bumped or exposed to frequent movement increases the risk of accidental damage. Choose storage units with secure, low-traffic spaces and proper shelving.
By avoiding these mistakes and following professional art storage guidelines, you can ensure your fine art remains safe, preserved, and ready for display or sale in the future.
Why Choose urBin for Safe and Secure Fine Art Storage
urBin is setting the gold standard for protecting and securing your fine art. With top-notch storage facilities and expert services, our team ensures that your treasures are safe in our art storage for the years to come.
We offer climate-controlled storage facilities maintaining stable conditions for your items and protecting them from environmental changes.
We offer 24/7 storage solutions to give you round-the-clock access to your belongings.
The team at urBin is trained in handling and packaging fine art, ensuring every piece is treated with care and precision.
Final Thoughts
Storing fine art is a meticulous process, but the rewards are worth the effort. Proper preparation, a carefully chosen art storage facility, and attention to detail can preserve the beauty and value of your artwork for generations.
When choosing a storage partner, trust urBin to deliver exceptional service and peace of mind. With our specialized facilities and commitment to excellence, your fine art is in the safest hands.
Preserve your art with the care it deserves-choose urBin, and rest assured your treasures are always protected! Contact us for more information.
FAQs
What is the best way to store fine art at home?
Store artwork in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, humidity, and temperature fluctuations. Use acid-free materials and protective coverings to prevent damage.
Should I use a professional art storage facility?
Yes. Professional art storage facilities offer climate control, security, and expert handling, which are ideal for preserving valuable or delicate pieces.
How should I pack fine art for storage?
Use acid-free paper, bubble wrap, and custom crates for sculptures or framed paintings. Avoid plastic coverings that can trap moisture and cause damage.
Can I stack paintings or sculptures in storage?
No. Each piece should have its own space to prevent scratches, dents, or warping. Vertical storage with padding is recommended for paintings.
How important is climate control for storing art?
Very important. Fine art is sensitive to temperature and humidity. Maintain stable conditions (ideally 65 -75 F and 45 - 55% humidity) to prevent warping, mold, or cracking.
Should I insure my artwork while in storage?
Yes. Insurance protects your pieces against theft, fire, water damage, or accidental mishandling, giving you peace of mind.
How often should I check on stored art?
Periodic inspections are recommended, ideally every few months, to ensure the pieces remain in good condition and detect early signs of damage.