How to Organize a Jewelry Drawer: 13 Ideas

Introduction

Keeping jewelry organized can be a struggle. Small pieces easily get tangled or lost in a messy drawer, making it frustrating to find what you need each day. Implementing a jewelry organization system allows you quick access to all your favorite pieces so you can put together outfits easily.

With some clever solutions, you can transform that jumbled jewelry drawer into a smart storage space. Read on for 13 ideas to help you organize your jewelry efficiently. From dividing trays to hanging racks, utilize these tips to create order and make your jewelry shine.

Tips for Decluttering Your Jewelry

Before organizing your space, it helps to pare down your accessories to just those you actually wear. Here are some recommendations to get rid of excess jewelry clutter:

Evaluate sentimental pieces: Rather than keeping never-worn jewelry out of guilt, consider photographing or finding other ways to honor special memories attached to certain items.
Toss broken or damaged jewelry: Repair may not make financial sense for inexpensive or very damaged pieces. Let go of anything broken beyond a simple fix.
Sell or donate unwanted jewelry: Consignment shops, online resellers, or donations offer ways to clear out gently used accessories you no longer wear.
Store out-of-season items: Put away jewelry you only wear during certain seasons or occasions to open up space.

Once you’ve pared down your collection, it’s time to get organizing! Read on for jewelry drawer ideas to neatly store your beloved pieces.

1. Invest in Jewelry Trays and Organizers

The best way to impose order on a messy drawer is by dividing it up into small compartments. Look for stackable jewelry trays or buy an organizer with multiple compartments for separating different types of jewelry. Consider:

Jewelry boxes with dividers, shelves or segmented trays
Stackable jewelry trays for a DIY compartmentalized system
Small containers or ramekins for dividing drawer space
Vertical jewelry stands for earrings, rings, bracelets and necklaces

Divide your jewelry according to type, color, or how often you wear it. Get creative with vertical dividers, trays and containers to create order.

2. Use Pegboards for Hanging Earrings or Necklaces

Turn a wall or inside of a closet door into a jewelry display. Use pegboards and hooks to hang your earrings, necklaces, bracelets or other pieces. This jewelry organization idea keeps items neatly displayed and easily accessible.

For a small collection, use a wooden board with cup hooks. Hang earrings or necklaces from the hooks.
Acrylic earring holders have holes for dangling your favorite pairs. Mount to a board or inside your jewelry box.
Use a metal grid pegboard with customizable hooks to display jewelry.
Install utility hooks, spice racks or baby teething racks for hanging necklaces.

Go with an over-the-door jewelry organizer or standalone pegboard to conveniently store and display jewelry.

3. Store Jewelry in Pill Organizers or Small Containers

Pill organizers, mint tins, baby food containers, ice cube trays and other small vessels make perfect jewelry storage. These items have built-in compartments ideal for organizing rings, earrings, cuff links and more.

Use daily pill minders to organize rings or earrings by day of the week.
Stash studs inside mint tins labeled by color or type.
Try stacking multiple pill or mint containers to save space.
Group necklaces or bracelets inside labeled baby food containers.
Ice cube trays or silicone molds create dedicated spots for rings, pins or other small items.

Affordable, reusable containers keep your various jewelry types neatly separated.

4. Wrap Necklaces in Straws

Untangling necklaces is never fun. Keep chains orderly by hanging them neatly inside wrapped straws or tubes.

Cut straws to fit the length of your necklaces. Wrap chains snugly inside.
Hang drinking straws or gift wrap tubes from hooks on the wall or inside your jewelry box.
Label each straw end with a description of the enclosed necklace.
For pricey necklaces, use sturdy pen casings rather than straws.

This organizational trick keeps delicate chains untangled and damage-free.

5. Mount a Magnetic Strip for Metal Jewelry

Magnetic strips provide quick grab-and-go access to your jewelry collection. The powerful magnets hold metal pieces firmly in place.

Attach adhesive magnetic strips inside drawers or on closet doors to hold rings, earrings and pins.
Purchase marketed magnetic jewelry bars with ultra-strong magnets to support heavy bracelets, necklaces and more.
Paint a strip of magnetic paint if you want a permanent magnetic wall fixture for metal jewelry storage.
Use magnetic bowls or trays inside drawers to corral small metal items.

Magnetic jewelry storage offers a clutter-free way to neatly store metal accessories of all kinds.

6. Display Jewelry on Hanging Curtain Rods

For a whimsical jewelry wall, mount a tension rod or lightweight curtain rod inside your closet or drawer. Drape and hang necklaces, bracelets and other pieces from the rod.

Use craft store bead organizers to separately hang delicate necklaces and bracelets from the rod.
Install two small hooks at either end of the rod to keep it suspended.
For a transculent option, install an acrylic bar with notch hangers to elegantly display your pieces.

This creative storage idea showcases your jewelry as beautiful works of art!

7. Store Jewelry in Travel Cases

Jewelry cases designed for travel make convenient everyday storage options, keeping pieces organized and safe from damage. Consider using:

Leather travel jewelry rolls with separate snap pouches to hold rings, earrings and necklaces.
Hanging jewelry organizers with zip pockets and ring rolls ideal for storage or travel.
Hard-shell jewelry cases lined with cushy ring rolls and segmented compartments.
Simple eyeglass cases or sunglass sleeves to hold rings, earrings and other small items.

Choose a travel jewelry organizer in your preferred size and style for keeping cherished pieces secure.

8. Mount a Pegboard Ring Holder

Rings often get tossed loose into a box or drawer, where they can easily get scratched or tangled up. Make your ring storage more practical with a mounted pegboard fitted with pegs.

Use board backing with removable pegs to freely customize ring storage.
Opt for an angled slotted pegboard to neatly hold bands and prevent overlap.
Label pegs with ring descriptions or names of who they belong to.
Mount inside a drawer, on a closet wall or even under a cabinet for accessible ring storage.

Pegboard ring holders keep bands neatly separated and prevent frustrating tangles.

9. Store Earrings in an Office Supply Organizer

Office supply organizers such as sorters for papers, desk supplies or mail make handy earring holders. Their compact compartments help minimize tangles.

Label divider tabs with earring types like “studs” or “hoops”.
Store dangling earrings, pins or brooches inside the upright sections.
Use spinning sorters to easily flip through your earring collection.
Place inside a drawer or hang on the wall with brackets.

Office organizers provide an affordable storage solution for wrangling all your earrings.

10. Hang Jewelry on Shower Curtain Hooks

Use the hanging loops on shower curtain hooks or command hooks to neatly organize necklaces and bracelets. This budget-friendly solution prevents tangling.

Arrange hooks on a board or inside your jewelry box lid.
For necklaces, hang chains from the bottom loops and drape them through the top.
On each hook loop, attach a small label identifying the jewelry.
Use command hook strips for easy installation and removal on walls or cabinets.

Shower hooks offer a simple way to keep delicate chains untangled and neat.

11. Store Jewelry in Small Hardware Parts Organizers

The tiny compartments of hardware organizers are perfectly suited for sorting jewelry. All those fiddly nuts, bolts and washers now have another use!

Use organizers with adjustable dividers to customize compartment sizes.
Label small containers with jewelry types, occasions or owners.
Stack multiple organizers together for expandable storage.
Look for clear organizers to easily see contents.

Hardware storage containers are affordable and keep small jewelry items separated.

12. Display Jewelry on Scrapbook Ring Hooks

Scrapbook rings with page holding loops make great jewelry holders for necklaces, bracelets and more.

Attach rings removable adhesive dots on pegboards or inside cabinet doors to display jewelry.
Use binder rings, shower curtain hooks or pant hangers for the same hanging jewelry storage.
For necklaces, hang chains from bottom loops and drape through the top.
Adhere rings inside a drawer to create tangle-free vertical storage.

Scrapbook rings and binder rings smartly show off your jewelry pieces.

13. Store Jewelry in Clear Acrylic Organizers

Clear organizers help provide visibility to avoid misplaced pieces. Acrylic’s smooth, non-absorbent surface protects fine jewelry against damage. Consider acrylic jewelry storage like:

Freestanding jewelry boxes with clear drawers to easily ID contents.
Wall mounted racks, bars and cubes for displaying jewelry in the open.
Stackable drawer organizer units to vertically separate jewelry types.
Clear multi-section trays perfect for top-of-dresser or countertop use.

Acrylic’s transparent sheen looks sleek while keeping your jewelry collection visible.

Displaying Jewelry for Daily Access

Once you’ve organized all your jewelry in storage, think about displaying go-to pieces you wear regularly. Here are tips for keeping everyday favorites handy:

Use hooks on your dresser or closet rod to hang necklaces, rings or earrings.
Place jewelry trays with frequently worn pieces on your dresser, bathroom counter or nightstand.
Install wall-mounted racks or ledges to store jewelry you grab daily.
Keep a favorite daily pair of earrings, rings and necklaces on your bathroom counter.

Show off your beloved jewelry where you’ll admire it – and actually wear it!

Conclusion

So there you have it – 13 different ideas to finally tackle that messy jewelry drawer and get organized. With the right storage solutions, you can keep cherished jewels and family heirlooms safe, protected and accessible. Pick approaches that best suit your needs and jewelry collection.

Avoid damage-causing tangles and waste less time hunting for misplaced pieces. Implement some of these organizational systems to enjoy a jewelry drawer that’s both functional and beautiful. Confidently store your sparkling gems and metals knowing exactly where to find them.

With a structured organizational approach, you can store even large jewelry collections in an orderly fashion. Your mornings will become easier as you quickly locate earrings and necklaces to complete your look. Give these ideas a try – your jewelry drawer will never look better!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How often should I clean out my jewelry drawer?

A: Plan to fully clean out and reorganize your jewelry drawer every 6 months. This helps ensure pieces are stored efficiently and you remove any damaged or tangled items. Do quick tidy-ups monthly to maintain organization.

Q: What are good materials for storing fine jewelry?

A: Opt for non-porous materials like wood, glass, acrylic, and non-tarnishing metals. Avoid fabrics that collect dust and surfaces that can scratch. Felt-lined compartments also help protect fine jewelry.

Q: Should I store jewelry loose or in boxes?

A: It’s generally better to store pieces in compartments, trays, hooks, or other organizational tools rather than loose. This prevents delicate metals and chains from getting tangled and damaged. Invest in organizers to properly store jewelry.

Q: How can I prevent tarnishing of silver jewelry?

A: Store silver in air-tight containers and use anti-tarnish strips. Keeping pieces dry is also key – gently dry silver after wearing. Avoid contamination from other metals by separating jewelry pieces in their own compartments.

Q: What are smart ways to store jewelry I don’t wear often?

A: Use breathable mesh bags or fabric rolls to store special occasion or seasonal jewelry. This protects them from dust or damage between wearings. You can tuck fabric rolls in dresser drawers or hang bags in the closet for accessible storage.

Q: What jewelry organization supplies should I have on hand?

A: Helpful supplies include compartmentalized trays, divider boxes, small containers, pegboards with hooks, hanging chains, adjustable drawers, ring holders, and labeled pouches. Have an assortment of organizational tools to properly store all your different jewelry types.