When you purchase beautiful artwork or photos to brighten up your home and give it a more personal touch, you'll want to keep them looking their best over the years. In our last post, we talked about some tips to help you do this. Today, we'll continue with even more great tips. Read on to learn what you need to do to protect your artwork and photos from damage.
Watch Out for Insects
Insects, like moths, silverfish and cockroaches, to name a few, can cause serious damage to your artwork. They can create holes and leave stains on paper, fabric and other materials as they scurry around your home. Over time, this can ruin your art pieces, so take precautions to prevent these bugs from ever getting into your house in the first place. A pest control expert in your area can help you accomplish this goal.
Avoid Smoke Damage
If you smoke or have friends or family members who do, ask them to smoke outdoors only. Smoke residue can soak into the paint or finish, altering its color over time. Not only that but having a constant cloud of smoke hanging in your house isn't healthy for you either. Do your best to kick the habit, or at the very least, keep all smoking outdoors. Your lungs and your artwork will thank you.
Protect Your Art in Transit
Although your artwork and photos will spend most of their lives either hanging on your walls or in storage, you will still need to move them from time to time. For starters, you'll have to bring them home from the store, and you may also need to transport them when you move to a new house. It is important to pack your pieces carefully so that they don't get damaged. Moving blankets are great for preventing scratches, dents and other damage to the frame, or you can also use specially designed boxes with padded interiors for more valuable pieces.
Hang Each Piece Correctly
Many people make the mistake of using a single nail to hang a piece of art. However, this could be setting you up for disaster. Instead, use two hooks in the top corners. If the piece is particularly heavy, be sure to mount the hooks in the studs in your walls. Use brackets as well for added strength. Using two hooks instead of a single nail will provide more stability in the event of an earthquake or another disaster, and it will also prevent the piece from becoming crooked over time.
Have Your Art Professionally Framed
Although there are DIY framing options available, it is better to have fine art professionally framed to minimize the risk of damage. At DeSola Glass, Art & Frame Gallery, we create custom frames for artwork, photos, sports memorabilia and more. Get in touch with us today to learn more about how we can help you showcase your art beautifully.
