How to Organize Your Jewelry So It's Tidy and Untangled

How to Organize Jewelry in a Drawer or on a Shelf

1. Gather Jewelry

   • Pull out all your jewelry. If you haven't organized it in a while, you may be grabbing it from various places: drawers, bedside tables, boxes under the bed, or a jewelry tree on a dresser.
   • Put it all on a table to determine how much you have and what storage you'll need.
   • Set aside any unwanted jewelry to donate.

2. Dedicate a Jewelry Drawer or Shelf

   • Assign a drawer or shelf just for jewelry.
   • Choose a room or closet where the air temperature doesn't get too extreme and where it won't be in direct sunlight.
   • If you have silver pieces, keep them in a room with low humidity to avoid tarnishing.
   • Shallow drawers are preferable so the jewelry is easily accessible. Of course, deeper drawers work best if you have stackable jewelry trays.

3. Choose Your Storage Containers

   One option is to outfit the drawer with a jewelry drawer organizer, which has variously-sized compartments for different types of jewelry. Liz Vaccariello, Real Simple's former editor-in-chief, stores her large earring collection in storage trays from The Container Store.

   • Gray stackable jewelry tray system ($28-$40, containerstore.com)
   • ProCase set of 4 stackable jewelry organizer trays ($30, amazon.com)

   But a jewelry organizer isn't strictly necessary. Many items throughout your home can be also repurposed as in-drawer dividers for jewelry. For example:

   • Original jewelry packaging box
   • Egg crates
   • Teacups
   • Box tops

4. Divide Jewelry by Style

   If you use different containers, place similar jewels and pieces together within each container.

   • Set chunky bracelets in a bowl.
   • Hang chandelier earrings over the edge of a cup.
   • Put studs and rings in the smallest compartments.
   • Limit groupings to no more than a few pieces to avoid overcrowding, so you can see all your options at a glance.
   • If using trays, stash in-season items on top and lesser-worn pieces toward the bottom.

How to Organize Jewelry on Your Vanity

1. Set Up a "Grab and Go" Space for Rings and Bracelets

   Designate a small dish or a ring cone to hold the accessories you reach for every day. Leaving them out means you won't have to search for them—and you'll always remember to wear them.

2. Design a Display for Earrings and Necklaces

   To make things look pretty, arrange your collection like one you'd see at a store, putting favorite pieces on jewelry stands or trees. To keep your baubles dust-free, set out a few jewelry cases or boxes. Or arrange a mix of both. Here are some good options:

   • Six-tier jewelry holder
   • Jewelry case
   • Acrylic earring organizer ($12, containerstore.com)
   • Acrylic jewelry stand ($25, containerstore.com)

3. Allow Dainty Chains to Hang Loose

   To prevent daintier, fine-chain necklaces or bracelets from getting tangled or misplaced, drape each one over a separate peg on a clear carousel ($10, amazon.com).

How to Organize Jewelry on the Wall

1. Use Vertical Space

   • Hang long or chunky pieces from hooks (on a rod or directly mounted to the wall) to keep them orderly and within reach. Bonus: It's a sturdy solution for your heavier pieces.
   • If you have a large collection of necklaces, get multiple hook racks, like the Lusso Hook Rack ($68; anthropologie.com) for necklaces of different lengths: one for chokers, one for statement necklaces, and one for longer pieces.

2. Find a Double-Duty Solution

   If you prefer to keep your jewelry tucked away, a shallow-hanging mirror organizer is a practical fix. The Wall-Mounted Jewelry Armoire ($203, homedepot.com) opens up to reveal a series of hooks and racks to stash all your accessories.

3. Frame It Out

   Fabric memo boards are ideal for earrings. Slide the earring back all the way onto the post and push into the memo board (like a thumbtack). To hang lightweight necklaces, drape them over pretty pushpins.