When moving or downsizing your home, you may need to store paintings and other artwork temporarily. The delicate nature of these items can make it challenging for homeowners to know how to protect them carefully. Thankfully, with some forethought and planning, you can secure short-term storage and ensure that your art is safe. Below are several strategies to help you accomplish this.

How to Prepare Paintings for Storage

1. Cover Them With Plastic

Any direct contact with the painting can fade its appearance, whether this comes from natural oils or indoor humidity. To prevent this, cover the picture with a sheet of plastic to protect it. Carefully fold the corners behind the frame and tape the plastic onto itself to prevent the edges from coming loose. This will ensure that any humidity or dust in the unit will not touch the delicate paint.

2. Position Face-to-Face

Paintings tend to have hooks and wires along their backs that can damage another piece if they scrape against each other. However, you can avoid this issue by placing the paintings so that they face each other. Always match paintings that are a similar size, as matching smaller frames with larger ones will increase the risk of a dent or scratch.

3. Use Appropriate Boxes

When packing your paintings, only place one or two in the same box, and ensure that there is minimal open space. If you do not have any that are the appropriate size, you can make your own.

First, find extra cardboard and use a box cutter to create the correct size. Then, line the interior with packing foam and place the paintings inside. Surround them on all sides with smaller pieces of foam to prevent movement. Ensure the paintings are secure before taping the box.

4. Store Vertically

After finishing the boxes, lean them vertically against the wall of the storage unit or other items in the space. This is better than stacking them on top of each other, as the weight at the top can potentially crush the paintings at the bottom. Make sure that the vertical paintings are stable so that they do not fall over.

If you need high-quality short-term storage, contact Tom Thumb Mini Storage in San Marcos, TX. They are a family-owned and -operated facility that offers a wide range of self-storage options. They offer many different unit sizes, and feature climate-control options for those who have sensitive items. For a full list of storage units and rates, visit their website. Call (512) 396-3434 to request a rental.