How to Properly Store Artwork In Baltimore

Published: November 15, 2021

Do you have a collection of artwork that you need to temporarily store? Whether you’re remodeling your home, and you want to put away your artwork for a short-time, or your house is being built and you need to store long-term, there are several reasons why renting a storage unit for your paintings and sculptures is the best option.

But before you call UNITS of Baltimore to store your art pieces, here are a few things to keep in mind to protect your artwork.

Get Proper Packing Materials

If you’re storing a painting, then the piece is likely very important to you and it might be expensive, so it’s imperative that you purchase the proper materials to ensure it stays clear of debris, dust, and rough surfaces while in storage. Here are a few items to consider purchasing for your art’s protection:

• Paper pads, storage blankets, or bubble wrap: use these to wrap your paintings thoroughly
• Packing tape: this will help seal the paper pads or padding, so they remain in place
• Art boxes: these are sturdy boxes that help prevent mechanical damages and scratches from deteriorating your art’s value. They come in various forms, including cardboard tubes and wood crates
• (Optional) If your art piece is unframed, consider using a sheet of silicone release paper to cover the artwork, wrap it with glassine paper, and add a third layer of protection with storage blankets or bubble wrap.

Consider These Packing Tips

Identify an area of your storage unit that won’t get a lot of traffic and is not near materials you’ll access frequently. This will help reduce the chances of your artwork being accidently bumped when you’re looking for other items. If you have multiple pieces of artwork, try to separate them instead of laying them on top of each other. If you plan to store the pieces long term, lay your artwork down on a flat service, ideally on acid-free paper or boards.

Transport Your Artwork with Care

Many pieces of artwork are bulky and inconveniently shaped to be transported in a car. Be careful if you decide to drive with your painting to ensure it doesn’t flop around and get damaged. It’s important to properly pack your pieces and firmly secure them to the floor bed of a truck or spacious backseat. Better yet, take the guesswork out of transporting your artwork by renting a portable storage unit. UNITS of Baltimore can deliver a unit straight to your door for you to safely load your artwork and other items. Then our professional drivers transport the storage unit to our secure facility for short-term or long-term storing. 

Now that you have the guidelines to protect your artwork, give UNITS of Baltimore a call or fill out this form for a quote. We’re a locally owned and operated family business with a state-of-the-art storage facility easily accessible from 695, I-95, I-70, I-295, I-97 and I-895. We’re ready to help walk you through the process of storing your artwork and other precious items.