jewelry storage – Sue At Home

I recently completed Phase 2 of organizing my jewelry (which you read about here yesterday) and I managed to find a home for just about everything–except for a handful of long necklaces. I spun around my room scanning for a place to put them and this frame that I had sitting on our dresser jumped out at me. You see, I had put it there recently because I felt like I needed something in front of my For Like Ever poster (read more about that here) to break up the vastness of it. It’s not fancy–I just cut a piece of old wrapping paper and stuck it in the frame. Thankfully, it worked and it was all starting to look a little more like a pretty vignette rather than a massive poster propped against a wall. Here’s what it looked like with the addition of the frame:

You’ll also notice another new little friend. That’s the teeny tiny piggy bank I bought at Daytrip Jr during our trip to Maine. Isn’t he cute?

You might recognize that wrapping paper that I used as the drawer liner from Phase 1 of The Great Jewelry Organization Project (read more about that here.) See it hidden under all my baubles?

Anyway, back to the frame. I noticed that it was kind of long–like the necklaces–so I figured I could make something out of it. I grabbed some pretty rose-goldish nails that I had bought for a forthcoming String Art project and got to work. FYI: The frame I used was the Wood Gallery 4×6 triple frame from Pottery Barn. At 18″ high and only 11″ wide, it’s the perfect size. (Yes, my hammer is pink. You got a problem with that?)

I removed everything from the frame (I would not recommend trying this with the glass still in there!) and drew a straight-ish line across the top in pencil. Then I measured 1 inch spaces across the top so the nails would be somewhat uniform. As I nailed, I decided to put some a little off the line because I figured I might split the wood if I stayed on the same line. Did it come out pretty and perfect? Nope! But as you’ll see below, you can’t tell that the nails are a ~~little~~ lot crooked when it’s all put together.) I was very careful to make sure they were nailed in far enough to hold a necklace but shallow enough so they weren’t coming through the other side.

When I was done, I put the frame back together and started hanging the necklaces.

I’m glad I put the nails an inch apart instead of closer because I needed a little space between each necklace.

I think the little piggy likes it too!

Sue at Home

Have you done any fun DIY projects recently? Let me know in the comments below!

In our old house, we had an enormous master bathroom where I had enough room for a dresser whose sole purpose was to store my jewelry. Let your head absorb that for a moment. An entire dresser for jewelry! Now, in my small master, there’s barely a dresser top and one drawer for my baubles. Which means that most of them live in bags in the closet. It’s sad, really.

So, my jewelry storage isn’t perfect but it’s working for me…for now. Check it:

The neon orange acrylic tray was a Home Goods find. It’s lived all over the house but I like it best for my jewelry. I keep most of the everyday options in here – some long chain necklaces, wrap bracelets, and some bangles – big and small.

I store my cocktails rings and my dangley earrings in this little square silver bowl. (I can’t for the life of me remember where I got it. I certainly don’t love it but it does the job so for now, so it stays!)

My wedding band, engagement ring and watch live in an ashtray when I’m not wearing them. I got it in Paris and – full disclosure – I can’t imagine how it ended up in my handbag. (I’ll blame the caviar and vodka.)

Some of the bigger statement pieces – necklaces and bracelets – live in the top drawer of the dresser.

The “drawer liner” is actually wrapping paper that I got years ago at…you’re never going to believe this…Old Navy. Crazy, right? I love it and I might frame a piece of it to display in front of the poster in the room.

If you’re willing to dedicate a little more space to jewelry storage, here are some good ideas:

Monaluna‘s frame with hooks

Jewelry as wall art at BH&G

Catherine of Hallelu on the Glitter Guide

Cabinet and bowls via Martha Stewart

The great embroidery hoop trick via Apartment Therapy

Sherry’s baubles in an egg crate via Young House Love

I have way too many pieces to do any of these options (remember, you’re only seeing a fraction of my collection in the pics above) but as the mom of two girls, I know I’ll regret parting with any of it. Think of all the future “dress-up” parties we’ll need things for, right??

Tell me…how do you store your jewelry? Or better yet…how do you pair it down? For now, I’ll horde mine in the little bit of space I have…