In all the packing advice I\u2019ve seen, there is always some rule about taking down d\u00e9cor first. And it makes sense. Your day-to-day activities won\u2019t be affected if your Thomas Kinkade print isn\u2019t visible, and the worst that happens is your home might look like a bachelor pad while you’re packing the rest of your things.<\/p>\n
But that doesn\u2019t mean they should be neglected.<\/p>\n
Picture frames hold treasured memories like wedding photos and diplomas \u2013 which is why we want to help you protect them<\/a>. As the resident storage experts, we\u2019re here to help with some advice for safely moving and storing your wall d\u00e9cor.<\/p>\n The supplies you\u2019ll need to wrap any wall d\u00e9cor in your home varies, but the staples are packing paper, TV or frame boxes, bubble wrap, and tape. The main priority in packing them is to prevent the frame and glass from sustaining new or additional damage, or in the worst case, breaking. Make sure whatever boxes you are using have enough space to write \u201cFragile\u201d or \u201cGlass side Up.\u201d It\u2019ll come in handy.<\/p>\n How you pack your picture frame can make or literally break your move, depending on what you\u2019re wrapping. Any painting or photo that\u2019s built with fabric stretched tight on a hidden wooden frame is a canvas. Since these don\u2019t have glass, packing these are the easiest. The biggest concern is punching a hole through the canvas, so use packing paper or even smaller canvases to fill the empty space. Then simply slide them into a frame or TV box to keep them from getting stained or damaged.<\/p>\n Mirrors are tricky. They\u2019ll take on fingerprints and break much easier than any canvas, plus there\u2019s that whole \u201cseven years of bad luck\u201d thing. Start to package it up by cleaning the mirror with either glass cleaner or rubbing alcohol and a microfiber cloth. If you use rubbing alcohol, just be careful not to get any on the frame, as it will quickly remove the finish. After, take some Saran Wrap from your kitchen and stick it to the mirror\u2019s surface and tape it to the frame or the back with painter’s tape. This step will help keep any new fingerprints off. Next, wrap it up in bubble wrap<\/a> and slide it into a picture frame box.<\/p>\n If you need to store a collection of smaller frames, you want to avoid wasting time wrapping each one individually. Because of their size, small frames can stand vertically in a normal small or medium box. Use some scrap cardboard or bubble wrap to separate the frames as you lean them against each other until the box is filled, leaning glass to glass and backing to backing.<\/p>\n For really small frames, like a 4\u201dx6\u201d, you can reuse shoeboxes for easy carrying. You can often fit multiple shoeboxes full of frames into a larger, easier-to-carry medium box \u2013 just be conscious of the weight.<\/p>\n Start by laying down either bubble wrap or a large sheet of wrapping paper on a clean, flat surface. You\u2019ll want the width to be a little larger than your frame, and the length to be twice as long. Next, you\u2019ll put the picture frame on top with the glass facing down, and using some tape, wrap the frame like a Christmas present, making sure all the taped sides are on the back of the frame.<\/p>\n Once your frame is secure, you\u2019ll slide it into your TV or frame Box, labeling the glass side with \u201cFragile\u201d and \u201cThis Side Glass.\u201d Once you tape the top of the box closed, you’re ready to put your frame into storage.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll want to keep your frames vertical and off the ground if possible. You can either use a heavy wooden pallet or other sturdy furniture to keep them off the ground. If they don\u2019t stand up straight on their own, it\u2019s okay to slightly lean them against either your storage unit wall or another piece of sturdy furniture, like a couch or appliance. If you can, try to lean them against each other with glass facing glass to minimize the potential for damage.<\/p>\n While picture frames are often built for protecting your photos<\/a>, they can only do so much. Any humidity trapped within the frame will do more damage if kept in inconsistent temperatures, so a climate controlled unit<\/a> is best for short- or long-term storage. The regulated temperatures will help keep your wooden frames from getting brittle, or the photos and matboard they hold from yellowing severely.<\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re storing a few frames or a whole collection, we\u2019ve got you covered with affordable units at flexible monthly rates. You can find the size you need with our handy Self Storage Calculator<\/a>, using the TV\u2019s under Electronics as estimates for the size of your frames. Once you\u2019ve added them up, find a nearby storage unit<\/a>.<\/p>\nPicture Frame Storage Containers<\/h2>\n
Picture Frame Storage Ideas for Canvases and Mirrors<\/h2>\n
Small Picture Frame Storage<\/h3>\n
Large Picture Frame Storage<\/h3>\n
Packing Picture Frames in a Storage Unit<\/h2>\n
Types of Storage Units for Picture Frame Storage<\/h2>\n