Today we are going to focus on organizing your art by creating vertical storage. This would be good storage for empty frames, canvases, framed prints, even trays. We are going to transform a rolling cart to create DIY storage for all of your art inventory for your antique business.
Really this art storage solution is for anyone with a lot of art! I have a lot of friends who swap out their art seasonally and need a good way to store their art in the off season.
Before
Are You Struggling to Store Your Artwork?
I consider myself to be one of the more organized antique dealers I know. I have always enjoyed organizing things. When you sell vintage and antiques there is no shortage of inventory that needs organizing! Selling vintage and antique items means constantly managing an ever-growing inventory, and artwork has always been one of the hardest categories to store properly. Leaning pieces against one another might work temporarily, but it can cause damage and make finding a specific piece a hassle. Plus, once you pull one piece out, the rest often need to be rearranged.
I first saw this storage idea on Pinterest years ago, but I didn’t have a real need for it until recently. In the past, I displayed most of my artwork in a booth or in my brick-and-mortar shop. Because the art was always in view of customers, bulk storage was not a necessity. Now that my antique business is fully online, I need a better way to store all my artwork safely and efficiently.
After
The Best DIY Vertical Artwork Storage Solution
I’ve invested in several metal shelving racks on wheels over the years. I have 8 in my basement and my parents took a couple. Moveable storage is a an absolute necessity! Wheels make your storage flexible so that it can change as your needs change. When assembling my shelving units, I intentionally adjusted the shelf heights to accommodate various sized items. The shelving unit we are using today was positioned with the intention of holding artwork.
Supplies
To create dividers and prevent pieces from leaning on each other, you’ll need:
- A metal shelving unit (preferably on wheels)
- Twine, rope, bungee cords, or string
- Scissors
- A towel or padding for extra protection
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Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Vertical Artwork Storage
Prepare Your Metal Rack
Adjust the shelves to fit your largest artwork pieces.
Attach Your Dividers
Use twine or rope to create vertical dividers between sections. I chose twine because it was readily available, but any sturdy string will work.
Create an X-Shaped Divider
Secure one end of the twine to the top of the shelf, run it diagonally downward to the opposite side. Then, take the twine straight up, thread it through the shelf and then run it diagonally to the bottom of the other side. Finish by knotting the twine where you started to create an “X” shape. This keeps both large and small pieces separated.
Customize Your Dividers
Tie one divider at a time for flexibility. If you need to store a larger piece, you can simply cut one section without undoing the entire system.
Secure the Twine
Thread it through the V-sections of the wire shelving to keep it from shifting.
Add Padding
Although not a necessity, but I placed a towel on the shelf to prevent frames from getting scratched or damaged.
The Benefits of Vertical Artwork Storage
- Prevents damage – No more frames leaning and causing unnecessary wear.
- Keeps inventory organized – Easily access the exact piece you need without rearranging everything.
- Maximizes storage space – Efficiently store multiple pieces in a compact area.
- Flexible & customizable – Adjust dividers to fit different artwork sizes.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it—an easy and effective DIY solution for storing your artwork vertically! Whether you’re an antique dealer managing an online store or a collector rotating seasonal pieces, this simple storage hack will keep your artwork safe, organized, and easily accessible.
Have you tried a similar storage solution? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear how you store your artwork!
Looking for more dealer tips? Maybe display ideas for your antique booth? Watch THIS.
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