It’s the best feeling in the world when you purchase a piece of art, but how do you look after it once you get it home?

Well, we’ve put together a complete guide on how to display and care for your collection to make sure it remains in perfect nick for years to come.

POSITIONING YOUR ARTWORK

First things first, you need to decide where your artwork is going to take up residence in your home.

Whether you’ve already got a spot in mind, or you’re weighing up the options, it’s worth giving some thought to the following.

1. DIRECT SUNLIGHT

Artworks don’t fare well when placed in bright sunlight. Watercolours and other works on paper are particularly prone to colour bleaching or surface degradation when placed in direct sunlight, but even hardier pigments in oils or acrylics will fade over time.

Where possible, try to hang your artworks in shadier spots (or if you really can’t avoid hanging your pieces in a sunny corner, chat to a specialist framer about placing your artworks behind UV-protected glass).

2. TEMPERATURE CHANGES

Frequent or large changes in temperature can be damaging to artworks, as can high levels of humidity or damp. When selecting where to hang your new artworks, consider how the requirements of the medium match up with the room in which you’re placing it.

Likewise, in kitchens or rooms with open fires or radiators, bear in mind that strong sources of heat can cause warping or discolouration to some mediums.

3. MOISTURE

We love the idea of having art in the bathroom, but bear in mind that works on paper or those with delicate surfaces may not fare well. Good ventilation is a must to avoid mildew and surface damage, and we’d recommend chatting to a framer about how best to protect your artworks by properly sealing the frames to prevent moisture getting in.

After you have considered all this, you'll have your perfect place for you and others to enjoy.