Posted on Tuesday, 12th August 2025
Photographs hold so many memories, but can often take up lots of space in your home, especially if you can’t bring yourself to get rid of any over the years.
Whether you’re putting your photos in storage or they’ll be boxed up in your loft, we’ve got the tips and tricks you need to keep them in pristine condition for as long as you plan to store them.
If you have any questions about storing your photographs with Space Station, get in touch with our helpful team.
To help you get started, here are the essentials you’ll need to help prepare your photographs for a storage unit:
Most magnetic or peel-and-stick photo albums use ordinary plastic, cardboard and glue that, over time, could damage your precious pictures.
Opt for acid-free alternatives to help maintain your photographs for as long as possible. Make sure to remove any tape, glue, staples, paper clips and rubber bands, as these can damage the images while stored.
Plastic bags can often feel like the easiest way to store photographs, but it can be one of the worst ways to store them. Plastic bags and products like cling film can trap moisture, risking the quality of your photos Instead, use polyester, polypropylene or polyethylene sleeves and covers to help keep mould and mildew at bay.
If your photographs are old and hold special memories, then you’ll want to take extra precautions while getting them ready for storage. Clean your hands or wear clean cotton gloves before handling your photos. Our fingerprints naturally contain oils which, if left on the image, can cause damage to them over time.
Make sure to keep your photographs flat when storing them for longer periods, as this will help to avoid them becoming bent or creased. There’s nothing worse than coming back to your precious belongings and finding that they weren’t stored correctly.
A great way to give some order to your boxes is to label the back of each photo with a permanent marker. Try to avoid using ballpoint pens as these can leave indentations on your pictures. Once your pictures have been labelled, it’s important to label your storage boxes, because if you need to find a specific image, you’ll have more luck finding it in an organised box.
Once you’ve packaged your pictures, it’s time to place them in storage. Photographs need to be kept in a cool, dry place – if you opt for a storage unit, you’ll find that all of our units are humidity monitored to help protect your items.
Make sure to place your boxes of photographs above the ground on a rack, shelf or pallet, and away from vents and other draught sources, as this can cause them to become damp over time. Lastly, make sure to turn the lights off if you’re unable to enclose the photographs entirely, otherwise they’ll fade.
If you’re able to, digitising your old photographs is an incredibly effective way to keep them preserved forever. Once your photographs have been added to a memory stick or hard drive, copy them over to your computer or another hard drive, just so that you have backups you can keep safe elsewhere.
Sorting through your loft, or packing up to go travelling? For more advice storing everything from comic books to your bike, have a read of our expert tips.
