Moving an art studio is an overwhelming task. Because you have to move all of the painting equipment and art without damaging any of it, the process tends to get pretty complicated. So you might ask yourself – are there any ways to move an art studio easily? Fortunately, yes. To help you have an easy time, we have put together a list of six tips for moving your art studio.
1. Get rid of things you don’t need
Before you organize anything else, you will want to get rid of everything you don’t need anymore. This one is pretty simple – the less you have to move, the easier it becomes, speaking both financially and logistically. Art studios tend to accumulate old art pieces and materials over time. And that is understandable; most people would be reluctant to part with their art. However, it is better to be more selective with what you keep when planning an art studio move. Take a look through your art pieces and assess what you want to keep. The pieces you don’t want you can always sell or gift to your friends and charities. Moving high-value items safely can get pretty expensive, so it’s best to cut down as much as possible. As for your supplies, throw away anything you haven’t used in a long time.
2. Stock up on high-quality packing materials
When moving your art studio, you can save a lot of money by packing yourself. Also, this is helpful because you can get rid of unwanted things as you pack. Now, while this is a great idea, you should also pack your supplies properly. It is safe to assume that if something is important enough to bring with you, it is also important enough to be appropriately packed. As such, you should only use high-quality packing materials. Avoid using old boxes because they are typically too thin to keep your supplies safe. Avoid cramming your boxes too much since over-packing a box of supplies can lead to damaging them. Wrapping your supplies with bubble wrap and adding extra padding to the bottom of a box is always a good idea.
3. Hire professional art movers
Fine art is incredibly fragile. Because of this, you should never move art on your own. No amount of money you could save by DIYing it is worth risking damage. Instead, you should ask experts for help. Professional art movers know how to handle all of the delicate pieces of equipment and fine art that can be found in a studio. Therefore, it is always better to leave the heavy lifting to them instead of risking injuring yourself and damaging your belongings by trying to move everything in your studio on your own. Of course, things like unframed artwork and particularly delicate supplies should be left in your hands. But most items can be left safely in the hands of your movers.
4. Deal with the chemicals yourself
While most things can be left to the movers, one thing you definitely shouldn’t do is let them move your chemicals. As a matter of fact, most movers will outright refuse to move your chemicals. And it makes sense. Nobody wants to risk something like turpentine leaking in the moving truck, causing dangerous fumes, and ruining the rest of your belongings. So, what should you do with these chemicals? You could give them to another artist in the area if you are feeling generous. Alternatively, you could take the chemicals you don’t think you’ll be using to a hazardous waste site. Or, you could make a separate trip in your own car to move these supplies. Just remember to pack everything safely.
5. Store your art during the move
When moving your art studio, a great idea is to store the more delicate pieces until the process is done. Renting a storage unit specifically for your move is an excellent choice. Why? Well, you can keep the fragile and delicate pieces entirely out of the way while the moving process is ongoing. These are the finer pieces that shouldn’t be left to the movers anyway. This sort of storage is a great way to deal with the art pieces and supplies that the movers shouldn’t handle, especially considering there are ways to make it more affordable.
6. Organize in advance
It should be mentioned that no studio move should be organized on the fly. Hiring movers, packing up your art and supplies, dealing with the chemicals. All of this should be done well in advance for a successful art studio move. And, when putting together your moving plan, you should carefully consider (and prepare for) any issues that might arise. Take the time for any extra steps which could help you move smoothly.
Bonus: moving scams
Moving scams are, understandably, a common worry when moving your art studio. However, you can learn to easily identify, prevent and avoid them altogether. After all, you want to make sure that your belongings get to their new location safe and sound. There are scammers out there who would love to profit from your ignorance, so don’t let them.
Afterword
Relocating an art studio isn’t easy. There are many fragile and expensive things to move, and the process is time-consuming and stressful. But proper preparation can make the entire thing a lot easier. We hope you found this list of six tips for moving your art studio helpful and wish you luck in your relocation.