Skip to main content

A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Organize Jewelry

A variety of male wrist watches.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

If your watches and watch bands are a jumble or your necklaces are tangled together, this is the project for you. When you can never find what you are looking for or everything is a tangled mess, this adds even more stress to your already busy day. Whether you have a bunch of family heirlooms, trendy costume pieces or invest in the finest jewelry, keeping all your jewelry organized will be the perfect solution.

Recommended Videos

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

30 minutes

Organizing your jewelry will make it easier to visualize your entire collection and ensure that you are wearing every piece, not just the pieces that are easily found. Keeping things organized will also help you protect the jewelry from getting lost, and maintain routine cleanings to ensure that jewelry is looking its finest.

There are many ways to organize jewelry that can be stylish and functional. Keep reading to find foolproof ways to organize your favorite jewelry.

A variety of male wrist watches.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Step 1: Take Inventory

First, gather all your jewelry in one place to separate it into piles. Some ideas for categorizing are to organize jewelry by type and occasion. For example, jewelry for everyday wear and then jewelry for nights out or specific work functions. For specialty jewelry, we recommend storing in cloth bags. You might also want to include a pile of jewelry to donate if you find things you no longer wear. As you categorize, inspect each piece for damage and wear and set aside items that need to be polished and repaired.

Step 2: Clean and Repair

Silver and pearl jewelry tend to look dull after months of wear. This is an opportunity to polish and clean your jewelry to be fresh and ready to wear. Take the time to polish gold and tarnished silver pieces, especially rings. Take any broken bracelet clasps or necklace chains to a local jewelry shop to be repaired.

There are many methods you can use at home to remove obvious dirt and grime and restore your jewelry's shine. Although when it comes to polishing or specialty items, we recommend taking them to a professional cleaner. To clean jewelry yourself, you can use a soap and water solution with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Fill a bowl with filtered warm water and two squirts of a mild dishwashing liquid. Let your jewelry soak in the bowl for 15 minutes and then use the toothbrush to gently remove the dirt and grime. Then dry your jewelry with a very soft cloth.

Step 3: Organize - Countertop

Suppose you're storing your jewelry on the countertop. In that case, you'll want to use your vertical space by using stackable jewelry boxes or organizers. These come in various materials, including glass and acrylic, and you can also DIY. Look for jewelry organizers with divided compartments to keep necklaces and bracelets separate. We advise putting jewelry you wear most often in the top drawer for vertical containers. This is an excellent way to keep pieces you wear daily accessible.

Another fun way to organize jewelry is to keep a little dish on your entry table or bathroom counter. Significant perks of using a dish are that it's super easy to toss jewelry in and still look intentionally organized. This can be a great way to store rings and consider it just a catchall dish. You'll never panic over a misplaced ring again!

Step 4: Organize - Drawer

You can turn any drawer into a jewelry drawer by simply putting pieces of jewelry in it. It truly is that simple! If you decide to store your jewelry in drawers, the best option is to use expandable trays and organizers. This can be sized to fit your drawer and can be a great way to keep everything separate and tangle-free. It might involve a bit of trial and error to find the right size so we encourage you to find a few to try and take home. Another thing we encourage is to find organizers with a velvet lining so everything stays where you planned it and remains super clean. It can also be beneficial to use organizers that are stackable so you can make the most of the drawer space.

Step 5: Organize - Wall

Hanging organizers can be a great option to organize jewelry in small spaces, especially for necklaces. You can keep a hanging jewelry organizer on a door or even hang it from your closet rod. One of our particular favorite ways is to have a bulletin board with push pins to hang jewelry on. In addition, hanging your jewelry can be a form of artwork with decorated hooks and knobs. Another crowd favorite, is to use an entry wall decor with hooks to hang your favorite jewelry on by the front door. This way you never leave home without your favorite pieces.

We hope you found this helpful and managed to clean up your jewelry. It's so much easier getting ready in the morning when everything is neat and easily accessible. No one needs this extra stress at the start of their day! Have fun and come up with an organizational system that works for you. Happy organizing and you may even find that this leads to more organizing in your life , such as by using a daily planner.

Erica Breen
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Erica Breen is an international Pilates & Yoga instructor, Functional Nutrition Coach, and Freelance Writer. Her work and…
Classy men’s winter fashion: Timeless staples to elevate your cold-weather style
Stay stylish with these timeless winter staples
Man in suede coat in the snow

The winter is here, and you are undoubtedly deep into your winter wardrobe as you find ways to guard against the cold. Every man's wardrobe needs specific staples that carry him from one season to the next, and the winter is no different. But it isn't just about buying new things every winter; it is also about picking up the right things that will last for years and never go out of style. It isn't about the trendy year-in and year-out items. It is about picking up those classic items that you can pass on to your kids after you invest in quality garments because they are iconic and never go out of style. Don't worry, we put together a list of classy men's winter fashion items that you can shop and elevate your cold-weather wardrobe.
The legendary flannel

There is no more iconic men's cold-weather staple than a good flannel. They are the ultimate in outdoor wear. While they started as a hardworking Welsh fabric to guard against the weather in the dreary UK, it has established itself as the quintessential American masculine shirt worn by everyone from lumberjacks to dockworkers.

Read more
JJJJound and adidas announce the release date for the Superstar remix
adidas, JJJJound announce new sneaker
side view of black leather adidas superstar sneakers

Any shoe with the influence and impact as the adidas Superstar sneaker will always see redesigns and remixes. Throughout the years, this sneaker has seen many differing versions, adding to its legacy as one of the hottest sneakers in recent seasons. Although it’s hard to replicate the same impact as the original design, JJJJound is taking on this iconic silhouette and creating a new sleek design. Although much of the silhouette doesn’t change, this collaboration adds new touches and materials that elevate it to another level. A more sophisticated look for the Superstar sneaker, this collaboration is perfect for those wanting to infuse their street style into any occasion. 
JJJJound x adidas Superstar 90 “Made in Japan”

Donning an all-black look, the collaborative Superstar sneaker uses JJJJound’s recognized Japanese leather for a soft and elegant look. Rather than add new features to the original shoe, this collaboration sees fewer details for a scaled-back appearance. In this latest iteration, the Superstar sneaker appears without its tongue logo and sans emblems on the heel tabs. Besides removing these features, the text “JJJJound” replaces the golden “Superstar” text along the side of the iconic three white stripes. A lowkey and subtle switch-up on a classic sneaker, this collaborative shoe draws a statement from how sleek and modern its appearance is. Ideal for those looking for a more sophisticated everyday sneaker, this collaboration is set to hit the shelves on February 1, 2025. Fans looking to purchase these sleek sneakers can do so via JJJJound’s web store.

Read more
Oak & Oscar releases rugged Humboldt GMT SAR watch for outdoor adventurers
A trip to the woods with the Humboldt GMT SAR Edition
Oak Oscar Humboldt GMT SAR Edition

Oak & Oscar has always been popular for its outdoor inclinations, which is one reason why it created a watch that aligns with the outdoorsy vibe: the Oak & Oscar Humboldt GMT SAR Edition. For this limited edition watch, the brand teamed up with the St. Louis County Rescue Squad, which patrols northern Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) and the entire St. Louis County region.

Covering a piece of land stretching over 100,000 acres, the Minnesota Boundary Waters Canoe area consists of woodlands with natural streams and lakes—a peaceful haven for getting in touch with nature.

Read more