What Is the Best Way to Store Paintings?
Sep 4, 2026 / Alyssa Duranty
Store paintings at home by keeping them upright, separating each piece with clean padding, and using a dry indoor area away from direct sunlight, moisture, vents, and busy walkways. Keep paintings and framed art at home rather than in a Public Storage unit.
Public Storage can create room for permitted household items that are separate from paintings. Put away furniture, seasonal décor, clean bins, or hobby supplies to make more room for an at-home art area.
Painting Storage Essentials:
- Keep paintings upright during packing, moving, and at-home storage.
- Separate frames and canvases with clean paper, cardboard corners, foam, or moving blankets.
- Keep framed art away from direct sunlight, damp areas, heating vents, and busy walkways.
- Use painter’s tape on framed glass before a move.
- Do not stack paintings flat or place heavy items on top of them.
- Keep paintings and framed art at home, not in a storage unit.
- Put away permitted household items to create more room for an at-home art area.
- Check stored paintings every three to six months for dust, moisture, loose hardware, or crowded placement.
Painting Storage at a Glance:
What Is the Best Way to Store Paintings?
The best way to store paintings is upright in a clean, dry indoor area with stable conditions. Separate each piece with padding, keep frames from touching, and place artwork on a shelf, rack, or other elevated surface.
An interior closet, spare room, cabinet, or designated wall can work when it stays away from direct sunlight, moisture, heating vents, and high-traffic areas. Avoid garages, sheds, damp basements, attics with changing conditions, and vehicle trunks.
How Should You Prepare Paintings Before Moving?
Prepare paintings for a move by checking the frame, hanging hardware, glass, and canvas before packing. Remove dust from the frame with a soft, dry cloth, but do not use water, sprays, or household cleaners on the painted surface.
If a painting has glass, apply painter’s tape in a large X or star pattern before moving. Do not apply tape directly to a painted canvas or paper artwork.
Gather these materials before packing:
- Clean packing paper
- Cardboard corner covers
- Foam or bubble wrap
- Moving blankets
- Sturdy picture boxes
- Painter’s tape
- Labels and a marker
Take a photo of each piece before packing to document the frame, hardware, and general condition.
How Should You Pack Paintings for a Move?
Pack paintings by keeping each piece upright and placing clean padding between every frame or canvas. Use picture boxes when they fit the artwork, or use clean cardboard, foam, and moving blankets around larger pieces.
- Cover frame corners. Add cardboard corner covers or folded cardboard around frame edges.
- Wrap the outside. Use clean paper, foam, or bubble wrap around the frame.
- Separate each piece. Place padded layers between frames so glass and hardware do not touch.
- Use a fitted box. Place the artwork in a picture box when possible.
- Label the package. Write the room, orientation, and “Artwork — Keep Upright.”
- Carry from the frame. Hold both sides of the frame instead of lifting by the hanging wire.
Avoid tightly wrapping paintings in plastic for long periods because plastic can hold moisture against the artwork.
Should You Store Paintings Face-to-Face or Back-to-Back?
Store multiple framed paintings by alternating face-to-face and back-to-back placement with clean padding between each piece. This arrangement keeps frame hardware from pressing against another painting’s front surface.
Keep paintings upright and stable. Do not lean a smaller framed piece directly against a larger canvas without a padded barrier.
How Can You Store Framed Art With Glass?
Store framed art with glass upright in a padded box or between clean protective layers. Add painter’s tape to the glass before moving, then keep the frame away from walkways, doors, stacked boxes, and furniture.
Follow these steps for framed art with glass:
- Keep the piece upright on a stable, elevated surface.
- Use a picture box or padded divider when the artwork is not on display.
- Do not stack boxes or furniture against the frame.
- Check the frame and glass periodically for changes.
- Contact a qualified framer or art handler if the glass is cracked.
Where Should You Keep Paintings at Home?
Keep paintings in a dry interior area that is easy to access and inspect. An interior closet, spare room, cabinet, or dedicated wall works well when it stays away from moisture, direct light, and heating or air-conditioning vents.
Avoid keeping paintings in:
- Garages
- Sheds
- Damp basements
- Attics with changing conditions
- Vehicle trunks
- Areas near sinks or laundry equipment
- Sunny windowsills
- Areas beside heating or air-conditioning vents
Keep artwork elevated and away from the floor. A shelf, storage rack, or furniture surface can reduce contact with dust and accidental spills.
How Can You Create More Space for an At-Home Art Area?
Create more space for an at-home art area by decluttering unrelated household items first. Put away permitted furniture, seasonal décor, clean bins, and hobby supplies that are separate from paintings.
More than 45% of Public Storage properties offer drive-up storage units, totaling more than 2,200 locations. Drive-up storage can help with loading boxes, bins, and permitted furniture from a vehicle while you organize more room at home.
Keep paintings and framed art at home rather than in a storage unit.
How Often Should You Check Stored Paintings?
Check stored paintings every three to six months. Review the frame, hanging hardware, canvas or paper surface, and surrounding area for dust, moisture, or crowding.
During each review:
- Check frame corners and hanging hardware.
- Look for dust, moisture, or surface changes.
- Confirm paintings remain upright and separated.
- Tidy the shelf, cabinet, or art area.
- Update labels if you move a painting to another room.
- Contact a qualified framer or art conservator for condition concerns.
Keep Paintings Organized at Home
Store paintings upright, use clean padding, and choose a dry indoor location away from sunlight and moisture. Put away unrelated permitted household items to create more room for an art display, packing area, or interior storage shelf.
Painting Storage FAQs
Can You Store Paintings in a Garage?
Keep paintings in a dry interior area at home rather than in a garage. Garages can have dust, moisture, and changing temperatures that can affect frames, canvases, glass, and paper surfaces.
Can You Stack Paintings Flat?
Do not stack paintings flat or place heavy items on top of them. Store paintings upright with clean padding between frames or canvases.
Can You Use Plastic Wrap on a Painting?
Do not tightly wrap a painting in plastic for long periods because plastic can hold moisture. Use clean paper, foam, cardboard corners, moving blankets, or a fitted picture box instead.
Can You Store Paintings in a Storage Unit?
Keep paintings and framed art at home. A Public Storage unit can create room for permitted household items that are separate from an at-home art area.
How Do You Pack a Framed Painting With Glass?
Apply painter’s tape to the glass in a large X or star pattern, then keep the framed painting upright in a padded picture box or between clean protective layers. Do not place other items against the frame.
