Furniture Storage - Basement or Attic??? (roof, dehumidifier, AC, heat)

[maja]

Which is the best place to store furniture, a hot, dry attic or a damp basement? Which environment will do less damage to furniture? We have some nice pieces of custom painted baby furniture with a beautiful, crackled, antique finish and have just moved into a home that has plenty of storage either in a basement that is very humid and damp or in the attic that is very hot and in the winter will be very dry. Anyone know which area would be best to store the furniture? TIA

[Pitt Chick]

Really neither for the long term.

Can't you find room somewhere in the house itself?

[crazyma]

IMO- if you put it in the basement, store off the floor, loosely cover with a sheet not plastic, and try using some of the those tubs of Damp Rid in the immediate area...and check it occaisionaly & dust off...I think the basement would be the lesser of the evils

[Barking Spider]

Don't put anything in the attic that you would not put in a oven.

I have been in attics that were over 140 degrees. Oh, keep in mind, that in the winter, the attics are also very cold.

UNless your basement is WET, put the stuff there. You can always run a dehumidifier, if it just damp..

[Cosmic]

Wood will stand up better to heat than moisture. Especially painted wood. If I had to choose might go with the attic but would do everything possibe to vent or cool it with ventilation. Help with your AC bill, a good under roof vent system can also work wonders to lower the temp in the attic volume.

Cover with plastic or throw cloth.

If it is really valuable, I would not subject it to neither.

[f_m]

You could partly seal it in plastic with desiccant. Might be a chore if it's large.