You may have outgrown your ballerina music box, but most women never outgrow their love of jewelry. 

The most useful jewelry box is one that lets you enjoy your jewelry with ease. If you can’t see or access your treasures quickly, chances are you won’t wear them. Ideally, it should be big enough to accommodate all your accessories without cramming. If you have to untangle your necklaces from your earrings every morning, it’ll only cause frustration and possibly damage. 

 

 

First you need to assess the size of your collection. Are you a jewelry fanatic, with dozens, maybe hundreds of pieces? Then your best bet may be an in-drawer solution. There are lots of velvet-lined display boxes that can fit inside your chest of drawers. They can also be stacked for even more storage, and the great thing is that you can see all your gems at a glance. 

If you can’t spare the space in your wardrobe, why not opt for a jewelry armoire? There are many designs available, but the most popular ones look like an old-fashioned wardrobe or a miniature highboy. Some of the larger ones can hold hundreds of pieces, making them a good choice for hardcore collectors. 

For smaller collections, a wooden, leather, or plastic jewelry box works well. Joy Mangano’s Jewel Kit comes in two sizes: a smaller cube for traveling, and a larger box for home. Both kits are lined in velvet, and feature a fold-out design that holds a surprising number of baubles. There are dedicated spaces for rings, as well as various compartments for necklaces, bangles, brooches and larger pieces. PreZerve jewelry organizers have the added bonus of a special lining that helps prevent tarnishing. 

 

 

If mass-produced isn’t your thing, consider an antique box. Ebay has thousands of boxes to choose from, including hand-made Victorian porcupine quill boxes, Chinese pillow boxes, and even cigar boxes. Etsy.com is another great site, with all kinds of boxes handmade by artisans. Look for something that reflects your own personal style. You can line any box yourself with a piece of velvet to prevent your pieces from getting scratched. 

Before you buy, be sure to ask yourself if your jewelry will really fit. If the box is divided into small compartments and you have a penchant for chunky jewelry, don’t buy it.

Similarly, trinket boxes that only hold an item or two aren’t really practical for jewelry lovers. It’s best to keep all of your jewelry together; otherwise you’re likely to forget what you own. 

Jewelry pouches are another alternative, although once again they don’t hold much. A typical pouch holds about ten pieces, which makes them great for traveling. If you only own a few favorites items, you can keep them in a pouch on your dressing table.

William Morris said, “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” Fortunately, there’s no reason why you can’t have a beautiful and useful place for your jewelry.