Between moves, renovations and simply rotating what’s on the wall, most art spends real time in storage rather than on display. How it’s stored during that time often determines whether it comes out looking the same, or noticeably worse.
Storing artwork at a glance
- Avoid basements, attics, and garages, since these spaces have the biggest temperature and humidity swings in a home.
- Store paintings vertically, never flat, and never stacked directly against each other.
- Wrap works on paper in acid-free tissue and use rigid backing to prevent bending.
- Keep stored art off the floor to avoid moisture damage from any potential leaks or flooding.
- Check on stored pieces periodically rather than leaving them completely untouched for years.
Storing Artwork in Questions and Answers
Why are basements and attics bad places to store art?
Basements are prone to dampness and sudden flooding risk, while attics experience extreme heat in summer and cold in winter, and both conditions cause repeated expansion and contraction in canvas, wood and paper. A climate-stable interior space, like a closet in a regularly heated and cooled part of the home, is a far safer choice.
Should paintings be stored flat or standing up?
Standing upright, ideally with each piece separated by a soft protective layer like foam board or glassine, is generally recommended over stacking paintings flat on top of each other. Flat stacking risks pressure damage, and any moisture or debris between flat-stacked pieces can affect more than one artwork at once.
How should works on paper be wrapped for storage?
Acid-free tissue paper placed directly against the artwork, backed by a rigid support like acid-free foam board or mat board, protects paper-based art from bending, creasing and acid damage during storage. Avoid regular plastic wrap or bubble wrap touching the artwork directly, since trapped moisture can encourage mold.
Does artwork need to be stored off the floor?
Yes, elevating stored art even a few inches off the floor, on a shelf or pallet, protects against water damage from an unexpected leak, spill or minor flooding, which can happen even in otherwise well-chosen storage spaces. This small precaution is easy to overlook but prevents a genuinely common cause of storage damage.
Is it fine to leave art in storage indefinitely without checking on it?
No, periodic checks, every six months to a year, help catch developing problems like pest activity, unexpected moisture, or shifting supports before they cause serious damage. A quick visual inspection is usually enough to confirm everything remains in good condition.
When does art need professional storage facilities instead of home storage?
Valuable, fragile or climate-sensitive pieces, or situations involving long-term storage during a move or renovation, are often better suited to a professional fine art storage facility with controlled temperature and humidity. For everyday, moderately valued pieces, a well-chosen interior closet with the precautions above is usually sufficient.
Choosing the Right Spot
The ideal home storage location is a stable, climate-controlled interior space away from exterior walls, plumbing, and areas prone to temperature extremes. An interior closet in a regularly used part of the house, rather than a garage, basement or attic, offers the most consistent conditions most households can provide without special equipment.
Wrapping and Separating Pieces Properly
Whatever the medium, direct contact between artworks during storage should be avoided. Foam board, glassine, or acid-free tissue between pieces prevents scratching, sticking and moisture transfer, and rigid backing for anything on paper prevents the kind of bending that can leave permanent creases.
Labeling each piece before storing it also saves considerable time and reduces unnecessary handling later when retrieving a specific work.
Small Habits That Prevent Big Problems
Elevating stored pieces off the floor, checking periodically for pests or moisture, and avoiding plastic wrap directly against the artwork’s surface are all simple habits that prevent the most common causes of storage damage. None of these require specialized equipment, just a bit of planning before boxes and pieces go into storage.
Storage Checklist
- Location climate-stable interior space, not a basement, attic or garage.
- Orientation vertical, separated, not flat-stacked.
- Wrapping acid-free tissue and rigid backing for paper.
- Elevation off the floor, protected from potential leaks.
- Check-ins every six months to a year.
In the WooArts Collection
Keep exploring: How to Care for an Oil Painting · How to Frame a Painting
General storage guidance was checked against standard conservation and museum-published best practices.