Choices in Jewelry Boxes and Jewelry Storage from Sheffield School of Interior Design

Designer Monthly's Little Things column places a spotlight on those household pieces that are often overlooked, and we'll show how they can be improved to make a world of a difference. Our pursuit is to enhance the decor through economical yet aesthetically superior measures. In subsequent months, look forward to highlights on

It's the Little Things

Jewelry Boxes

Sometimes it seems that good home decor all comes down to storage, and so we're launching a series of "Little Things" articles that address some of the best ways to keep your stuff in tidy order.

In the recent movie Friends with Money, a maid comes across something of interest in a dresser drawer, and the other maid says not to pry. "She left it lying around," the first maid says. "Well, where do you expect her to leave it? This is her house!" the other maid replies.

Indeed, we have to leave our things somewhere. But how we leave them can make the difference between living in a nicely-arranged home and having to snuffle through the clutter every time you want to find the house keys or that pair of Cloisonnee earrings you want to wear.

The top of the dressers in the bedrooms is often a spot that draws clutter, because it's a place that's in frequent use. The change from your pockets, the earrings, the button that came off your sweater, all have a way of gathering en masse on the dresser top, and before you know it, you don't even want to look for that bracelet you know is in there somewhere.

Of course you're aware that jewelry boxes exist to alleviate this problem, but unless you know there's one that will match the room's decor, you may be reluctant to look into organizing things. But jewelry boxes don't have to be the pink velveteen thing you had when you were ten---they come in a variety of materials, colors, sizes and shapes, and you're sure to be able to find one to suit any room's style.

The first step, as with any accessory, is to determine the style of the room. If you're working with a room with a girlish, feminine style, something like this Prima Ballerina box will fit perfectly. Picture it in a room with white-painted wood furniture, and with perhaps flouncy pink curtains and maybe even a canopy over the bed, such as the one described in this month's Decorating Children's Rooms column.

modern jewelry storage

But as we said, jewelry boxes have come a long way from the super-feminine. What if the room is more modern, with perhaps a sleek brushed-metal headboard or a retro-50s dresser? These boxes are covered with brightly-colored vinyl, and inside they have five separate compartments to keep everything orderly.

Wooden jewelry boxes also remain popular, and these can fit in with a variety of room styles. The knotty wood, highly polished, lends a note of sophistication, and would be good in just about any style of bedroom. These come in a many sizes and shapes, and the range of colors will allow you to pick up other colors in the room.

It's a good idea to get jewelry boxes in styles that you know will be around for awhile, because if your collection increases, you'll want to be able to add another box that is nearly identical. One problem with storage items is that a person starts out with one model, but then has to add a different kind of box a few years later, ending up with a collection of boxes that looks just as cluttered as the original jewelry did. burwood valet box for men's jewelry

And while you're at it, don't forget that the woman's side of the bedroom isn't the only place that may need some organization. There are perhaps not as many choices for men's valet boxes, but there are nonetheless many to choose from, and these will help keep the whole room looking unified and tidy.

Resources
BurlwoodBox.com
StacksandStacks.com

–Sarah Van Arsdale

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