Everyone stores their stuff a little differently, I'm sure. I don't think there's a single right answer.
But here's my take:
1) Protect the lens from shock / impact / knocking around -- any padded container will do. For the longest time, I used my largest camera backpack tucked securely in a closest shelf as my lens storage. Over time, as I amassed more gear, I
opted for something like tool cabinet (actually a DVD cabinet, but a very study metal one) that I outfitted with yoga mat on the bottom and TrekPak dividers on the sides.
2) Protect lenses from front / rear element damage. This one's easy. Cap both ends when not in use.
3) Protect the lens from humidity, which can lead to mold. I've read elsewhere at this forum to avoid a damp basement, which makes sense. You can dehumidify or use dessicant, but those require power / periodic attention, so I'd imagine it's safer to just store your gear in a more dry location in your house (if there is one).
4) Don't ever leave lenses out if you aren't using them. For instance, I live in a tectonically active area, so placing lenses in open shelving or on a table is a terrible idea. Knocking a lens off of a table should never ever ever happen, so don't put them in a position to be knocked off.
5) As far as standing up vs. lying down, I'm not the guy to ask. I personally store my smaller glass (smaller non-L primes, my teleconverter, etc.) front element up / mount cap down, while longer lenses would simply be too tall for my cabinet drawers, so just I lay them down. See link above for what that looks like.
6) Couldn't tell you about really heavy lens storage as I don't own anything heavier than a 70-200 f/2.8L IS II. I believe the superwhites have hard cases that you can use, but I defer to those that own them.
7) Pets + open lens storage can be problematic. We have two dogs, so despite constant sweeping / roomba action, hair gets everywhere. So again, a (padded) closed cabinet, (padded) desk drawer or camera bag with zippers is preferable to just putting gear on an open shelf.
8
.) If you live in a larger apartment complex and fire sprinklers are a consideration, obv keep your solution (a) nowhere near floor level, (b) consider airtight storage (like a Pelican case) and (c) get insurance if you don't have it already. When those things go -- heaven forbid -- it's game over for anything not sealed..
There are far more knowledgeable folks here than I am, so check back here for their comments.
- A