How do you organize your jewelry? - YouLookFab Forum

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How do you organize your jewelry?

Evie

Hi, as I was going through the 10 things thread, Marley raised an interesting question. Quote: "4. I love necklaces – and I wear one every day. I don’t know how to store them so that I can easily pick one out for each daily outfit."

I am so with you on this! A couple years ago I got frustrated and started storing everything in separate ziplock bags (mini), and it looked nice but was very impractical except for the stuff I never wear Now I store most of my jewelry in this Vera Bradley organizer: http://www.mdonlinepurseoutlet.....1221_1.JPG There are many compartments, and it's a great travel case, but I find it kind of cumbersome for everyday use and storing larger necklaces. I feel like I have matured for a real big girl jewelry box, something like this: http://comps.fotosearch.com/co.....553016.jpg
Haha just kidding More like this: http://content.costco.com/Imag.....437321.jpg
So I think that will take care of some issues I'm having, i.e. necklaces/chains ending up right behind the zipper so I don't even see it.

I kind of like the idea of seeing necklaces in their full length and beauty while making a decision which one to pick; perhaps getting a tree-like stand would be nice, but at the same time I hate the idea of displaying all my jewelry for everyone's eyes to see. And I can't stash the whole tree thingy in the closet. Sigh.

I also like keeping my earrings together and store them with the cardboard/plastic they come with or make my own "holders" from cut up business cards. These I don't mind keeping in my organizer, since I can see them very clearly.

Please feel free to share your troubles, tips, and experiences Thanks all!

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31 replies

Latest reply was from octopi888

Kate

Veteran

Here are pictures of mine. The earrings are on some picture frames I rigged up with window screen netting, and the necklaces are in an organizer box I bought at Home Depot (and I have an identical one for bracelets and hair things). I love both of my creative solutions in part because I thought them up and saved money on them (I think the total cost was under $15, and I already had the paint), but mostly because they work and I can SEE everything!

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Evie

You are so creative, Kate! A window screen net?? Would have never thought of that in a million years. Seriously. Perfect for "hangable" earrings. The box looks like a great solution to store single stones. And some beautiful pieces you got there, I feel especially attracted to the feather necklace and a whole bunch of earrings...
Thank you for the inspiration! I might need to visit Home Depot sometime soon

Megan

Mine hang on a tie rack in my closet. It's really easy, they don't get tangled and I can see them all (I only have around 15-20).

Mine is just like this one: http://tinyurl.com/348dznc

Louise

Veteran

I have one of these http://www.lorigreiner.com/pro.....elry-boxes 2nd row down 1st one on the left. Before I had jewelery stored in 3 different places and never knew what I had x

April

Veteran

Another devotee of the tie rack for necklaces. Mine is screwed into the wall of my closet and is like this one: http://www.stacksandstacks.com.....source=gan

http://i649.photobucket.com/al.....G_0658.jpg

I don't have much other jewelry to organize, I'm afraid. I have a couple of flower pins that you see in the photo, and I put them up there by sticking a heavy magnet on the metal of the tie rack, then adhering the metal pin back to the magnet.

BlondeAmbition

I have this problem too. Right now I have a jewelry tree that looks like a mannequin bust and I love this because it looks pretty on my dresser and also I can hang on it my chunky bangles and some earrings.

In my walk in closet I have screwed hooks all over one of my walls and I hang necklaces from there. This is not a good solution however because the jewelry gets tarnished.

I'm looking into buying something like what Louise suggested since I need to get a full length mirror anyway.

Kate that is so creative! Can you find all the necessary materials at Michaels?

tina

I use embroidery boxes for earrings, bracelets, and short necklaces. The boxes are like the second one Kate posted. I hang long beaded necklaces from big pins on my wall, behind a door. I used to keep more jewelry hanging out in the open, but many things started tarnishing. Keeping metals in a sealed box helps them to keep looking clean and shiny.

Queen Mum

Veteran

All of my long necklaces are hanging on one of these in my closet
http://www.organizeit.com/pocl.....lt+Hangers

In a dresser drawer I have earrings in 2 embroidery thread boxes with the lids removed..
http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/crafte.....6_38495993
I have those sitting side by side in my dresser drawer

behind those are a couple of ziplock plastic containers that hold bracelets.

Barbara

Veteran

I have one large jewelry box and several Villeroy and Boch 'trinket' boxes full of jewelry on my dresser. I also have eight small tackle box-style containers in my dresser drawers full of my hand-crafted, wire-wrapped bracelet/earring sets.

Since all of my jewelry is sterling silver, each box/container has a small cylinder of dessicant which limits tarnish. These cylinders usually come with new, boxed shoes, so I save them for this purpose.

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

How timely! We are undergoing a massive cleanout organization for the entire house (starting with our room and specifically closet and storage) and I'm going to take the time to organize things right.
I think a huge part of my problem is that things are so crammed in and disorganized that I don't even see half of what I have.
I rarely wear jewelry although I have a small collection. It's currently in a tackle box in my underwear drawer and that just isn't working well. My larger necklaces are sharing a small tie rack with all of my belts.
So it's about time I get things straightened. Functionality is now the priority!
ETA: I think I'm going to splurge on this http://www.ikea.com/us/en/cata.....s/60127973 since it matches our bedroom set. I can store lingerie and jewelry in it for now.

Vix

Veteran

Kate, I love your earring solution! Something like that would definitely improve my organization.

As I have a tiny closet, there's no spot to hang my necklaces. And as I swing the closet door wildly, I don't want to put them on the back of the door, ha.

I keep thinking I will do something prettier than what I have currently going on my bedroom shelf (see attached glamorous image!), but I have to say I love the practicality and getting to see all the colors in a row. And hey, at least I can console myself that it's an eco-friendly solution....

Most earrings/rings live in one of the pottery bowls above the boxes, which is why Kate's solution has appeal.

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Barbara

Veteran

Sarah, I LOVE that IKEA chest! The price is quite reasonable.
I may just have to drive to the Charlotte store to get one, although it's hard to buy just ONE thing at IKEA.

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

Oh I know, Barbara. My husband and I designed every other room in our house before our own, and then one day we just said enough is enough and went to Ikea. I have NEVER seen a Honda Accord packed so tightly. Hehehe.

MNsara

Veteran

I got one of these because I did NOT want to worry about oxidation or dust on jewelry I am ignoring (vs letting go *and waving to QM*).

http://www.amazon.com/Hagerty-.....B0009FHJVE

It has the same storage arrangement on both sides!

I also have a small drawer where I use the bottom half of styrfoam egg cartons to hold pairs of earrings. I am too lazy to reattach earring to anything, I just toss them in a 'egg cup'. Not fancy, but it works for me!

I also use the bottom of jewelry boxes with that cotton padding to hold each watch and my better silver jewelry. I put some dessicant and a stick of chalk in the drawer to discourage oxidation. Again I can take out or put in the watch or jewelry with one motion.

My only remaining problem jewelry are the really long pendant necklaces. I don't want to bunch them up to fit into any compartment or box. So they hang from a belt rack.

nycjules

Never thought of editing my jewelry but maybe this is a good challenge. I have this necklace tree/stand on my window sill that is overflowing beyond belief. Not sure if I'm mentally ready to get rid of some of it though!

catgirl

Veteran

I have my valuable items in a jewelry box. The necklaces and earrings are hung on a wall mounted peg rack and a standing holder, both of which I purchased from this e-bay seller:

http://shop.ebay.com/artbyrand.....ksid=p4340

I would HIGHLY recommend them - they are well-made and look like art!

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

My earrings are separated by pair in two ice cube trays in my top jewelry drawer- I saw that tip in a magazine once and it works great for me. My necklaces, on the other hand, are in a big pile in that same drawer and as I pick up more necklaces it works less and less well. I need to figure out a solution, so thanks for all the ideas from everyone in this thread.

nycjules

alaska girl - i totally need one of those peg racks! or maybe a good organizer for my dresser. My costume jewelry lives on the tree, it was a gift but comes from Urban Outfitters. Looks great until its spilling over like mine is:
http://www.urbanoutfitters.com.....oductSize=

Evie

April, I'm drooling at your jewelry lol. Love the tie rack idea!

BlondeAmbition and tina: does jewelry tarnish because of continuous contact with air? I've had some silver necklaces that did get quite black. How often do you find yourself having to clean your pieces?

Megan and QueenMum: never thought about keeping my jewelry in the closet together with clothes. I usually pick an outfit first, and only after some time I think about what jewelry should go with it, but doing it all at once might even be more convenient. Do you ever choose your outfit based on the jewelry you know you want to wear that day?

Barbara: is dessicant the little packets of clear balls that say "Do not eat me?" I've always been throwing them away!!

Sarah: omg you just made me realize that I can also use tie racks for hanging belts!!! I don't have plenty (although I just bought 5 at Filene's Basement while visiting Chicago, all for about $75, inspired by beautiful women at YLF make them look soo fab), but they're always a big mess, in random drawers and nails that soon get overcrowded. The IKEA chest with soft inserts for jewelry? That's a win. I'd like to go touch it now

Vix: the jewelry boxes look like art/purposeful element of interior design. That's beautiful. If you are able to make it even prettier, I want to see!

MNsara: egg carton shells! So creative! I'm also wondering how the necklaces in the hanger get hung? I have a similar organizer, but there's no way I can hang the necklaces like in the picture. Is there a mini rack around which you clasp them? I love that it's double sided too.

nycjules: I gave a lot of jewelry away this summer to my teenage cousin to play with, some pieces that I simply grew out of, and cheap-looking things that sometimes made my outfits pop (huge golden plastic balls or neon yellow plastic balls) but didn't flatter me or imo didn't make me look prettier. i think it was kind of like what some women here seem to call closet shopping: if I wouldn't buy it again, I gave it away. It did feel good to look at my jewelry after that, because everything in the organizer made me happy inside. if you're not ready yet, you can still keep thinking about it a little bit until you feel ready Or maybe it's because you have wonderful pieces that should never be thrown!

alaskagirl: ooh, that guy has a lot of stuff! I don't have an eBay account, but I'll look into it to find some ideas

Laura: ice cube trays is a great idea! Sort of like eggshell cartons MNsara suggested. I saw some really cute ones at IKEA: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/cata.....s/60138113

Thanks everyone for sharing your tips and ideas, wonderful inspirations!

Barbara

Veteran

Yep, BB, desiccant comes in two forms: paper packets or little plastic cylinders and usually come packaged with new, boxed shoes. I toss the paper ones and keep the cylinders. They are small enough to tuck into the corner of a jewelry box and really help prevent sterling silver from tarnishing.
Just don't eat it! LOL.

NK

From what I understand, the more you wear your silver jewelry, the less it tarnishes for some reason, so there's a reason to pile it on every day.

Even though I have a jewelry box with a place for necklaces to hang, I own a lot of chunky necklaces that didn't fit in it well, so I installed these key rails on a wall in my closet. Now that I can see what I have it's a lot easier to find what I need.

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Goldie

All of mine lives on a counter by a sink in our bedroom. Necklaces go in this with the most commonly worn ones on the front, and the less commonly worn ones on the back (it's hooked off of the hand towel bar):

http://www.containerstore.com/.....tt=jewelry

It also comes in a larger size, and either size would fit perfectly in a closet. Some of the compartments have several smaller necklaces, and others just hold one big one.

I just recently got my ears pierced, so I don't have many earrings yet, but I was extremely optimistic and got this to store them. It's great -- it's super easy to see everything, and takes up almost no space because it's collapsible, and it can store all types of earrings equally well:

http://www.containerstore.com/.....tt=earring

One piece of advice about the Container Store -- they have some jewelry organizers in the closet section and others in the bathroom section, so be sure to look in both places!

Vix

Veteran

Blueberry -- I'm so glad you asked this question as everyone has so many great tips/ideas.

[And thanks!]

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I willl attest that if you don't wear your silver, it will tarnish. I've found this out firsthand through a neglective jewelry phase recently. I have a wooden wall mounted rack with 3 rows for earrings and the bottom row all pegs for necklaces. It was a hand me down from an old roommate, so no idea where it came from. Works great, though - nothing gets tangled up and it's all there in view. I will say I don't have an extensive amount of jewelry, though.

Evie

So if I find myself not wearing the silver, I'll just rub it in my sweat every two months. LOL

octopi888

Member

Hi, everyone! Newbie here... =)

Julie

I'm a bit of a magpie--can't resist the sparkly stuff, so I have a lot and I'm constantly editing or re-creating (I also make my own jewelry) with things I don't wear into things I will wear.

Necklaces and earrings hang on the back of our bedroom door. I have repurposed a hanging belt rack for the necklaces, and covered a piece of foam core with batting and fabric and hung it behind the necklaces so they don't bang on the door any time it's opened or closed. The earrings are all on a sheet of plastic embroidery backing (kind of like the window screen idea, but bigger), which is attached to the door with binder clips. If I get ambitious later (and when the old man wakes up), I'll take a picture of the whole affair.

I also have two trays like this (http://www.containerstore.com/.....38;N=80359) in my closet for rings and bracelets and a series of wire baskets in my drawer for the really big bangles, watches and non-sparkly brooches.

krishnidoux

Veteran

Megan, tie rack: I do the very same thing!

Joha

A box in the drawer didnt work well so now my necklaces hang on one of these:

http://www.shelterrific.com/20.....a-statist/

and for my ever expanding collection of earrings I got this jewellery box from Muji. the compartments slide out and if it gets to small I can buy a new box that fits underneath.

http://www.muji.eu/pages/onlin.....38;PID=689

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