One of the keys to a clean, warp-free record is storing your records on the vertical. Storing them horizontally puts pressure on the record, and if you've ever had to move a record collection, you know those things are heavy. Imagine if you had 100 LPs stacked on your chest for months or years at a time. Also, store 12-inch records with 12-inch records, 7-inches with 7-inches, etc.
You want to keep your storage environment clean, cool, dim and fairly consistent. For short-term and medium-term (under 10 years) storage, try not to let the temperature rise above 70 degrees F or the humidity above 50 percent; for long-term storage, take that temperature down to 50 degrees. Never let the temperature or humidity fluctuate more than 10 percent during any 24-hour period, as this may cause the vinyl to expand and contract, causing the dreaded warp.
Yeah, you have a pretty wooden entertainment center that has a space just perfect for your vinyl. Don't use it. Wood expands and contracts with humidity and temperature, so your records will constantly be shifting around. Get a big, ugly, solid metal shelf that has at least 12 inches of depth--and obviously, enough height to fit a 12-inch LP. Make sure your records aren't spilling out over the sides of the shelf, keep them fully supported.
Remove any shrink wrap after you open the record. Replace all those PVC and paper inner sleeves with polyethylene sleeves. If you're putting your records into extended storage, give them a gentle cleaning before you do so. When listening to the LPs, handle your records with care.
Following these simple suggestions will greatly extend the life of your vinyl records, adding years of listening pleasure.