Moving into a home with roommates, family members, and even pets could cause complications for comic book collectors. Living with others can introduce risks to your prized items. From accidental spills to curious pets, here’s how to protect your comics in a shared living space.
Choose a Designated Storage Area
Find a room or corner specifically dedicated to the collection. Storing the comics in communal spaces, like the living room or kitchen, isn’t ideal, since these areas experience high traffic and shifting humidity levels.
Limiting access to the collection gives you greater control over its safety. Consider an area you can make off-limits to others unless supervised, like a spare bedroom, a walk-in closet, or a climate-controlled storage unit.
Invest in Protective Storage
Proper storage materials are nonnegotiable for safeguarding comics in a home with people and pets. To guard your comics against dirt, moisture, and accidental bending and tearing, your setup should include:
- Acid-free backing boards.
- Polypropylene or mylar bags.
- Sturdy comic book boxes.
Use Floating Shelves or Wall-Mounted Ledge Displays
Floating shelves or wall-mounted ledge displays are perfect for storing your favorite issues in a way that enforces a no-touching rule. Just as these shelves allow record collectors to display their vinyl record collection in a gallery style, comic collectors can stylishly showcase their comics in this fashion, too.
Highlight the various drawing styles on the covers of your comics while keeping them safely out of reach at the elevated position provided by wall-mounted shelves. This reduces the likelihood of accidents involving pets or housemates.
Communicate With Your Roommates
One of the simplest ways to protect your comics in a shared living space is through open communication. Share the value and importance of your collection with your roommates or family members. Once they understand what the comics mean to you, they’re more likely to respect boundaries and avoid careless mistakes.
Consider introducing simple house rules, like no food or drinks near the collection or reminding others to keep doors closed to protect the comics from pets. Mutual respect will help you maintain a positive living environment while preserving your comics.
Living with others doesn’t mean sacrificing your comic collection’s safety. With thoughtful planning, strategic storage, and open conversations, you can protect your comics and enjoy your shared home without worry.
