Displaying art is a great way to showcase beauty and creativity in your home. You can transform any personal space into a reflection of your personality and taste. However, without proper care, your art can fade, wrinkle, and deteriorate over time, losing its original brilliance.
Wonderwall Studio is here with helpful tips for preserving art prints in your home. The longer you can take care of your favorite pieces and stave off the signs of wear and tear, the longer you can admire and appreciate them in the comfort of your home.
Choose the Ideal Location for Display
Selecting the right spot to display your prints can increase their longevity. Consider the conditions of the space and how they can affect the materials and methods of display. For example, many high-traffic areas experience fluctuating temperatures, including kitchens or bathrooms. Keeping your art in these areas can degrade the pieces due to excess humidity.
Consider rooms with consistent indoor climates, like living rooms or bedrooms. Also, whenever possible, avoid direct sunlight. UV rays can have a harmful effect on various pigments and dyes, leading to fading over time.
Frame Your Prints With Care
Frames are a great way to enhance your art’s presentation. They’re also a smart barrier against dust, moisture, and direct human contact during transport. We recommend wooden frames or other high-quality materials. Poorly constructed frames can warp or damage your art over time.
Whenever possible, consider a frame with an acid-free mat, as the matting directly touches your art print. Acid-free mats can prevent common issues like discoloration and degradation that come from chemical reactions.
Some frames also offer UV-protective glass that can shield your art from fading in direct light. Whether you choose acrylic or traditional glass, ensure it covers the piece without pressing harshly onto the surface.
Store Your Prints Correctly When Not on Display
You may not always keep your art prominently displayed on a wall or shelf. In that case, you need to put your favorite pieces into storage. Proper storage techniques can prevent creases, tears, and exposure to harmful elements. Before arranging for storage, make sure that your prints are clean and dry. Residual dust, dirt, or moisture can attract mildew that encourages damage over time.
Keep your prints safe by storing them in acid-free archival boxes. These containers maintain stable temperatures and prevent exposure to dust and light. Avoid stacking multiple prints directly on top of each other, as the pressure can cause impressions or sticking. Instead, use acid-free tissue paper to separate prints.
Keep Environmental Conditions Stable
The biggest dangers to your art prints are temperature and humidity, which can be difficult to control in certain areas of the home. Keep your art prints in a cool, dry place with consistent temperatures. Frequent fluctuations in temperature can cause the paper to expand and contract, leading to buckling or warping. Reduce humidity to low levels, as damp conditions encourage mold spores and insect infestations to thrive.
If you’re particularly worried about moisture, you can install a dehumidifier. However, if your space is too dry, your prints may become brittle from a lack of moisture. Avoid placing art near vents, heating systems, or areas that experience drafts. Sudden air movements may also degrade your pieces over time.
Minimize Handling
One tip for preserving art prints in your home is to avoid directly handling them as much as possible. Improper handling can leave oils and residues from your skin on the prints. These natural oils can leave marks or cause long-term damage when they transfer onto the art’s surface. We recommend wearing protective gloves when handling art to prevent dirt and grime from getting onto the prints.
Whenever you handle prints, hold them securely from the edges rather than gripping them directly from the artwork’s center. This technique avoids putting unnecessary pressure on the image surface.
Rotate Displays Periodically
Changing up your art collection is a great way to make it feel fresher and more dynamic. You can preserve your prints longer by rotating the display or moving them around to different areas of the home. Constant exposure to light, no matter how mitigated, affects your prints incrementally. Rotating your collection allows individual prints to “rest” in more optimal storage conditions.
Moving your pieces around is a great way to curate seasonal displays or experiment with different themes and ideas. This process broadens how you appreciate your pieces and keeps them safe while giving equal attention to other pieces in your collection.
Dust and Clean With Caution
Proper framing can protect your pieces from dirt and dust, but you should still keep your prints clean and free of irritants. That said, cleaning with the wrong materials can severely damage your prints. Avoid using feather dusters or clothes with rough textures to clean, as these can create scratches or leave behind residual fibers. We recommend using tools for cleaning delicate objects, like an artist’s brush or microfiber cloth.
Also, skip the sprays, liquids, or harsh chemicals near your prints or frames. Even mild water-based cleaners can penetrate the edges of a frame and damage your artwork if applied carelessly.
Mount and Hang Carefully
Mounting and hanging techniques can have a big impact on the longevity of your prints. Avoid adhesives such as tape or sticky putty when attaching prints to walls, as they leave residue and may tear the artwork when removed. Archival mounting methods are the safest and should involve materials that don’t react with your print over time.
Hanging prints securely is equally important. Prints may fall if you don’t fasten them correctly, which can damage the print and the frame. Use brackets or hooks that can handle the weight of your frames, and regularly inspect their stability.
Preserving Art Prints for Generations
Every piece of art tells a story, and you want to keep the narrative going for as long as possible. Proper preservation lets the stories live on for years, bringing the timeless beauty of art to new generations. With these helpful tips, you can safeguard your collection, fostering a lifelong appreciation of creativity within your home.
Discover the perfect addition to your home with Wonderwall Studio’s exquisite collection of Austin, Texas art prints. We have some of the most talented artists in the world delivering art fueled by precision and passion and showcasing their distinct cultures and creativity. Bring a touch of unique artistry into your space while supporting a studio dedicated to preserving the beauty and integrity of art.
