Order, Order – How I’m Organizing My Jewelry Storage
I’ve recently finished redecorating my house and I have to say I’m rather proud of my achievements. From the colors I had hand matched to suit my space, to the refurbished handles I used to revamp my old chest of drawers, it finally feels like a place that I can call my own. Of course, the worst part of this is that now everything is so perfectly finished, the need to keep it clean, tidy and clutter free at all times has become an obsession and I’ve become infatuated with finding nifty ways to keep all my bits and pieces out of sight.
Growing for gold
One of the main problems I have with keeping my bed side unit clutter free is that by the end of the day, once I’ve done the dishes and caught up on some television, it’s too easy to take off my jewelry and leave it on the bathroom shelf as I jump in the shower. It ends up getting water damaged, not to mention tangled — and I can never remember where I’ve left it. Some time ago, I invested in a jewelry tree and housed it in the bathroom, so that I can hang my necklaces and earrings up with ease, even when I am really tired in the evening or first thing in the morning.
Just my cup of tea
If, like me, you’re a fan of all things shabby chic or vintage themed, check out your local charity shops for small Bone China tea cups and saucers — they make a perfect storage space for any stray sparklers and stop them from lying around at the side of the sink or on your coffee table. Although not ideal for necklaces and bracelets, they work a treat for small items like stud earrings and broaches. They come in so many cute patterns too, the more worn in, the better!
Dare to DIY
For a budget way to store your trinkets, dig out an old wooden coat hanger and attach small picture hooks to its underside. You can then hang it from your clothes or towel rail, which tucks neatly away whilst preventing your necklaces and bracelets from becoming knotted. If you’re feeling really creative, paint your coat hanger with a pastel shade like pale cornflower blue or sage green for a girly, retro feel.
All that glitters
Perhaps you’re lucky enough to own more expensive pieces of fine jewelry such as a gold chain or a diamond ring. In that case, you’ll want to spend some hard earned cash finding a more secure home for your favorite items. Before committing to any particular jewelry box, make sure it has the right kind of compartments for your collection. I have loads of rings and earrings, so I opted for storage with built in ridges to keep them safe. Many jewelry boxes are stackable too, so as your collection grows you can buy additional compartments that link magnetically to their counterparts. To avoid tangling, I try not to keep too many necklaces or pairs of earrings in one compartment.
When it comes to keeping my jewelry clean, the best advice I have been given was from my Mum, who showed me how to use Alka Seltzer to shine up your favorite pieces. Just dissolve a teaspoon of the powder into some water and drop your items into it for a few minutes. It will keep your jewelry looking as good as new.
Image by Essk, used under Creative Commons license
