Tips for Displaying and Protecting Your Artwork

Tips for Displaying and Protecting Your Artwork

CC Sunscreenscool tips, Screening Methods, Sun screens

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Showcasing artwork in your home can make a statement and gives your home a personal feel. Whether it’s beautiful antiques or contemporary paintings, the substance and style of artwork gives your décor comes with some extra considerations. Preserving a piece of art requires protecting it from moisture, heat, dirt and light so you can enjoy it for years to come. Here are a few things to think about when bringing artwork into your house:

Hang Tight

When you are hanging fine art, it needs to be securely mounted to the wall with hardware that can appropriately support the piece. Be sure the mounting hardware is securely attached to your frame, and that you are hanging from points in the wall with enough support. Failing to properly support a piece can send it crashing down, damaging the art and your wall.

For heavy or unusually shaped pieces of art, it may pay off to hire a pro. Professional art hangers can take the worry out of complex hanging or installation of art, giving you piece of mind.

Frame It Up

Framing artwork insures that it stays respected and protected. Investing in framing can help prevent damage to a piece from airborne dust, smoke and dirt as well as offering protection from accidental damage from liquids or handling. When getting a piece of art framed consult with your framer about what a piece will need to optimize its longevity. Many mediums can be damaged if they are framed in direct contact with glass. Your framer may also recommend the best glazing choice for the life and display of the piece.

Choose the Right Spot

Where to hang a piece of art can be a tough question. While it’s up to you to find the special place that’s the perfect fit, there’s a few places you can eliminate from consideration.

First, don’t hang art near sources of water. This means avoiding the steam and splashes of your bathroom and kitchen. Water and other liquids can cause irreparable damage to a piece of art in an instant.  Similarly, don’t hang art near windows or doors to the outside. Wind and rain can gust in and affect your art.

Second, avoid areas where your art will be exposed to heat and smoke. Hanging art on the mantle of a fireplace, near a radiator water heater or wood stove is a bad idea as high heat can physically alter, discolor and harm many art mediums. Additionally, keep art away from areas that would expose it to smoke – such as lit candles or near a stovetop.

Lastly, to avoid condensation and particle issues, don’t hang work in the direct path of drafts and vents. While air circulation is wonderful for your home, it’s not a great idea for delicate art to feel its full effect.

Play It Cool

Excessive heat can damage artwork, so make sure your work is going to hang in an area that you can keep climate controlled. Ideally, 65°-70°F is the best temperature for preserving work. Going a little cooler may be alright for many pieces, but you don’t want art exposed to temperatures above 85°F or below 40°F. Even if you use a smart thermostat in your home, make sure it keeps your art comfortable when you are away.

Made In the Shade

Limit the exposure to light that your art receives. Sunlight can fade distort and damage the media of an artwork, so never place the art you love in direct sunlight. For collectors of antiques, photographs and works on paper this holds doubly true. To preserve the color and images, delicate pieces should hang in an area of your home that is not lit by sunlight.

When framing work, consider using UV resistant plexi- or museum glass as your glazing choice, which limit the damaging UV rays that can reach the art. A window solution like sunscreens from CC Sunscreens can also do the work of keeping your art safe from the Sun’s light and heat.

CC Sunscreens

At CC Sunscreens we’re all about making your house a home. Energy-saving Sunscreens are the natural way to control light and temperature in your home, keeping your home comfortable year-round without gigantic energy bills. Our custom sunscreens are made to order with styles that blend into any décor.