Help with In Home Display

[BosseFieldBoy]

Hi folks, my wife was kind enough to give me a room in our finished basement to display my baseball cards/memorabilia/art and guitars. It's a pretty small room measuring roughly 14' x 11'. The only natural light comes from a glass black window measuring 20" x 35". I believe it's standard glass block. Even at the brightest point of the day, you would still want to turn on the lights to really look at anything up close.

Here's my question: Do I need to be concerned about having any of my baseball stuff on the wall opposite the window? I am planning on using staggered display shelves to show off my cards (most of which are slabbed) and I'm not sure how I plan to show my bats and autographed baseballs. With the small size of the window and the glass block, do I need to be concerned about the impact of the light on my memorabilia?

I would really appreciate anyone's insight.

Thanks,
Mike

[Throttlesteer]

If the display isn't getting direct sunlight, you're probably ok. That being said, I would be more concerned with anything raw, autographs, and your guitars (humidity, mold, etc..). If the basement is truly finished, it's probably not a big deal.

[insidethewrapper]

No direct light, in fact no natural light is best. Leave room black unless using it. Need a dehumidifier if using a basement and leave nothing on the floor in case of water damage. Can't be to moist or to dry. Use UV block cases if possible for balls etc. Don't have any of those tube fluorescent lights in the room, they can damage all autographs etc.

[Leon]

+1. The only thing on my office wall, a large photo, is way away from any direct light. IT would almost be a shame not to display it though. When I first got it I had it very professionally matted and framed, with uv resistant glass and everything. Other stuff in my office, which is less valuable, still doesn't get direct sunlight at all.

Originally Posted by insidethewrapper

No direct light, in fact no natural light is best. Leave room black unless using it. Need a dehumidifier if using a basement and leave nothing on the floor in case of water damage. Can't be to moist or to dry. Use UV block cases if possible for balls etc. Don't have any of those tube fluorescent lights in the room, they can damage all autographs etc.

[conor912]

If I were you I would get a black out curtain for that window and just rely on the fixture for light. Best case scenario is the room is pitch black (or close to it) when not in use.

[Leon]

+1 Very good idea that seems like a great solution.

Originally Posted by conor912

If I were you I would get a black out curtain for that window and just rely on the fixture for light. Best case scenario is the room is pitch black (or close to it) when not in use.

[TheNightmanCometh]

Just for clarification, I have a framed display of some cards, and the cards are never in direct light, but they are in a room that gets natural light from the bedroom window, that is not safe, unless the glass to the framed display is UV protected?

[Leon]

Originally Posted by TheNightmanCometh

Just for clarification, I have a framed display of some cards, and the cards are never in direct light, but they are in a room that gets natural light from the bedroom window, that is not safe, unless the glass to the framed display is UV protected?

I am not an expert by any means but I would say if you have something really valuable you might want it protected from indirect sunlight. My photo on my wall uses uv protective glass. The other stuff, I don't care quite as much about but of course, still no direct sun, ever.

[TheNightmanCometh]

Originally Posted by Leon

I am not an expert by any means but I would say if you have something really valuable you might want it protected from indirect sunlight. My photo on my wall uses uv protective glass. The other stuff, I don't care quite as much about but of course, still no direct sun, ever.

Thanks, Leon.

[BosseFieldBoy]

Thanks for all the input. Let me throw out another variable. I will be displaying my cards in the same room as my guitars. Optimal relative humidity for guitars is 40%-50%. I'm having some difficulty finding optimal relative humidity for baseball cards, but I've seen a couple of suggestions of 35%-50%. Does that sound about right? I hope so - makes it easier to take care of them both.