How to Store Paintings the Right Way

You can never have enough artwork! Not only do paintings liven up a room, but they are great family heirlooms that can be passed down from generation to generation. That’s why it’s important to know how to store paintings properly. Make sure to check out our 5 tips on how to store art properly.

#1 Handle and Pack Paintings Correctly

Boombox - How to Store Art

You might not be storing the Mona Lisa, but to ensure you're storing framed art correctly, follow these helpful tips to handle and pack your paintings.

To keep the painting in the best condition possible, it’s important to minimize the amount of direct human contact with the painting surface itself. Oil and other types of paint can be sensitive to human contact, especially over long periods of time, so it’s important to wrap the paintings appropriately before transporting them to storage.

The best way to pack an oil painting for moving would be to first wrap it in clean plastic, seal it in styrofoam, and place into a box. If the box isn’t snug around the painting, make sure to add packing peanuts or other packing material to ensure the painting doesn’t rattle around inside the box.

If you need help packing your paintings before you begin storing art, then we recommend checking out Taskrabbit. They have plenty of great packing specialists to hire that can do all your painting packing for you. They’ll make pcanvas painting stoarge easy after they take care of all the packing for you.

#2 Transport Paintings with Care

Boombox - How to Store Art

When it comes to learning about how to store paintings effectively, getting them to the storage unit is half the battle, and can be the source of the most damage.

Whenever you are transporting paintings make sure to drive carefully, and take turns slowly so your paintings don’t shift in your car or truck. When you pack your vehicle make sure to place your paintings vertically. If you stack paintings, there is a chance the paintings or frame on top could shift and rip through a painting that is placed on the bottom. If the painting is vertical the canvas of the painting is protected and is less likely to be ripped by another object or painting in the car. That said, make sure the paintings are snug in your vehicle during transport so they won’t tip over during your drive to the storage unit.

If you are nervous about transporting your paintings yourself, then give Boombox a call. We know how to store canvas paintings properly, using the utmost care and attention befitting a masterpiece. Our full-service storage solution manages the pickup, inventory, and delivery of your storage items so you never have to hassle with a storage unit again. We’ll pick up your paintings, take a photo of each one, inventory them online, and deliver your paintings when you need them. We provide great storage for paintings, and our climate controlled warehouse will ensure your paintings are stored safely and securely.

Also, if you are looking to store valuable books while maintaining the integrity of the paper and text, be sure to check out our tips and tricks to ensure your books are stored safely while in long term storage.

#3 Stick to Temperature Controlled Storage Units

Boombox - How to Store Art

The number one rule of how to store paintings, especially oil paintings, is to make sure you store them in a temperature controlled space. Storing your paintings in an attic or basement will eventually damage the artwork, due to the fluctuations in temperature and humidity. Oil and paint are very sensitive to temperature and warp, crack, or peel when exposed to inconsistent temperatures, forming the recognizable ridge "tent: lines of cracked paint.

Climate controlled storage has a lot of benefits to it, not the least of which being able to store your paintings safely. Make sure to check out our 5 Benefits of Climate Controlled Storage Units Article

#4 Avoid The Sun

Boombox - How to Store Art

Paintings are like vampires; they hate direct sunlight, especially in long term storage. Direct sunlight will fade paintings, photos, and other pieces of artwork which can’t be repaired. This is partially why it is recommended to store your paintings in cardboard boxes. At the very least, paintings should be wrapped in some type of covering.

If you are looking for a good way to protect your paintings from the sunlight, check out these painting boxes from Uline. Not only will the padding be great for transporting your paintings, but the box will protect it from any dust or sun damage.

#5 Don't Stack Paintings on Top of Each Other

Boombox - How to Store Art

Storing paintings on top of each other is not the best idea. Always make sure the paintings are stored vertically, not flat, so your paintings won’t stretch or rip the canvas of the paintings placed on the bottom of your stack of paintings.

There are a lot of great shelving options to keep your paintings organized and stored properly. We recommend checking out these fantastic storage shelving ideas on Pinterest if you are up for a DIY challenge for storing your artwork properly.

Lastly, If you are looking for other alternatives to storing your artwork, there are great disposal and donation options available. We recommend services like St Vincent De Paul, or a junk removal service like Hire a Mover

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Boombox arrives at your storage pick up location with a vehicle and a team of movers. We apply unique codes to each storage item, photograph every item being stored, and transport your items to our secure storage facility. Whenever you want one or more of your stored items, simply log in to your Boombox account, select what you need delivered, and schedule a return delivery. We’ll bring your items back to your door. You'll never have to hassle with a San Francisco storage unit again! And best of all our storage unit prices are better than most all San Francisco self-storage options.

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Boombox proudly serves the San Francisco Bay area. For a complete map of our service area, check out our Locations Page. If you are looking for storage San Francisco, we are here to help. We pride ourselves on being the most afforable and convenient Bay area storage option around. Our service area extends from San Francisco down to San Jose and as far east as Oakland and Berkeley. Our storage units are perfect for anyone who doesn't want to hassle with a San Francisco Bay area storage unit. We do all the heavy lifting and will deliver your items right back to your door.

How does Boombox make sure all my items are returned to me?

During your initial pickup we apply barcodes to each item, and photograph everything so there is a record of what’s in storage and what condition it was received in. Within two days of your initial pickup your online inventory will be accessible. We will notify you when the pictures of your storage items have been uploaded. We take a picture of the outside of the box and upload the picture along with the description of each item or label you placed on the box. Once your online storage catalog has been uploaded please make sure to verify all the pictures of your items are there. Your items will always be organized and accessible. You'll never have to hassle with a San Francisco storage unit again.

How is Boombox different from self-storage?

San Francisco self storage can be expensive and aggravating. At traditional bay area self storage units, security is not guaranteed, and you have to do all the work. It’s up to you to pack and organize your belongings, and you have to remember what’s in your storage unit. That makes it really easy to lose track of what you have in your storage unit. Instead of choosing a grungy SF storage unit, choose Boombox's full service storage solution. In our unbiased opinion ; ) it's the best Bay Area storage option out there.

How does the storage pick up work?

Self storage with a pick up?! That's what we call full service storage. We meet you at your location with our killer purple storage van. Our team then loads the van and photographs and barcodes each storage item or box that will be stored. Within 48 hours, you’ll be able to log into your storage account and see your complete storage inventory! Our pick ups are available within our Bay Area Storage service area. We love helping San Francisco with their storage needs. Say goodbye to San Francisco self-storage for good!