How to Organize Jewelry
/Have you ever struggled to find two matching earrings? Have you ever decided against wearing a necklace because it was tangled with another, and you didn’t have the time to unknot the pieces? A little jewelry can turn into a big mess, and most of us have more than just a little…
We accumulate quite a bit of jewelry over the course of our lives. Think of all the Valentine’s Day and anniversary pieces you’ve received, all the items you’re still hanging onto from when you were a teen, and the jewelry that’s been passed down from previous generations. Because more often than not jewelry has a sentimental tie, it can be difficult to let go. Even the pieces that you have no intention of wearing take up storage space and make it a challenge to keep the items you do regularly wear organized.
By organizing your jewelry, you’ll be able to see each piece you own, and you’ll be more likely to actually wear it.
Sort it out
Start by laying all of your jewelry on a white towel or sheet so that it’s easy to see and sort the items. Remove items from boxes and packaging. Separate the jewelry and remove any tangles as you go.
Sort the items into the following categories:
· Keep + Wear
· Keep for Sentimental Reasons
· Sell and/or Donate
Shine it up
While you have all your jewelry laid out, take the time to clean and polish the pieces. A jewelry cleaning cloth works well to quickly remove tarnish. These small cloths can be stored with your jewelry making it easy and convenient to give pieces a shine right before putting them on.
Get it organized
Jewelry boxes and armoires can take up a lot of space, and often don’t offer the best storage options for your specific jewelry. Instead, use a modular system to store jewelry within a dresser or vanity drawer.
Stackers Jewelry Trays—available at The Container Store—offer customizable jewelry storage. The trays slide to adjust, ensuring a perfect fit in nearly any drawer. Multiple configurations are available—some with more space for necklaces, others with ring holders—which means you can find a layout that will best fit the jewelry you own.
Keep everything in place
Velvet lining helps keep jewelry from shifting as you open and close drawers. To further ensure bracelets and necklaces stay in place and tangle free, cut slits into a piece of card stock to secure chains or thread chains through reusable straws. (Silicone straws are easy to cut to size to get the best fit.)
After wearing an item, be sure to put it back in place. It’s well worth the effort to keep your jewelry organized and looking its best.
Alternatively
If you find you cannot give up drawer space for jewelry storage, hanging the items you frequently wear may be the next best option.
Cork-boards are a great way to keep jewelry tangle free and easily accessible. I find cork-boards offer more storage space and appear less cluttered than hooks. Use push pins to hold necklaces, bracelets, and even rings. Earrings and pins can be pushed directly into the cork-board.
Storing Keepsakes
Depending on the amount of storage space you have available, you may find that it’s better to store keepsakes separate from the jewelry you plan to wear regularly.
Keepsakes can go in a separate drawer or you could display the pieces in a keepsake box.
For jewelry that holds a special meaning but just isn’t your style, consider repurposing the pieces. Search for a local jeweler able to create new styles using your existing jewelry. This is also a great way to get more life out of items that are broken or missing pieces.
