How I Organize My Jewelry​ for Small Space Living

If you’ve been around here for a while then you know by now that I live in rather tight quarters. 600 square feet to be exact. I know for a lot of people that sounds so small but on most days it really doesn’t feel that small. In fact, I would take having a washer/dryer in unit over extra square footage any day of the week!

Learning to live in a small space has required me to get creative with allllll the things. I’m really starting to become a pro after a few years of living in this apartment and feel like it’s time I finally share my tips and tricks to making small space living work. This has led me to start an entirely new category under my interiors section all about small space living. You can read the first post on how we make a 600sqft apartment work.

One of the storage problems I’ve had is figuring out how to store my gobs and gobs of jewelry. I am a sucker for it all…statement earrings, chunky necklaces, bracelets; it may actually be a problem. Every few months I purge and try to get rid of some pieces that I no longer love. Then somehow I manage to fill the space I just made within weeks **smacks hand to forehead**

With the help of my friend who is also a small space city dweller, we’ve figured out some rather practical solutions for all you fellow accessories hoarders out there. Even if you don’t live in a small space these items are super helpful for storage!

How I Organize My Jewelry for Small Space Living:

One of the best things I’ve purchased for this apartment is our IKEA dresser. This thing has SO MUCH storage!! I use the top drawer for all jewelry storage and it’s perfect. In a previous apartment, I would hang all of my necklaces on wall hooks but that method actually ended up ruining them. I have no idea why but I’ve read it could have been the metal on metal, who actually knows. They tarnished and picked up a super strong metal scent. I was so bummed when I had to get rid of so many great pieces. Even with my lack of space in this apartment, I don’t want to ruin my jewelry but also needed functional storage. Cue the products below for fuctional and pretty storage!

One: Use Clear Containers

These 5-compartment small clear boxes are perfect for earrings and long necklaces. I organize mine by color and type. These clear organizers make it easy and quick for me to find the particular pieces I’m looking for. I have some pretty large earrings and these containers are easily able to accommodate their size. The actual size of these particular containers is perfect for stacking and fitting into a small drawer like mine shown in the picture. I actually think a lot of these clear compartment containers are great for jewelry storage if you’re storing in a dresser.

Two: Use a practical Jewelry Box:

Now, this next product is one of those “game changer” type products. These stacker jewelry boxes from The Container Store are AMAZING. You can pretty much customize them to fit your needs with their different interior options. Currently, my stacker is a four-tier jewelry box with the supersize stacker lid top (you’ll need this piece to start the stacker), two supersize deep-7 sections, and one supersize deep open section. They also have a variety of different box sizes if you don’t need the supersize like me. I love the supersize because it’s large enough to hold all my chunky necklaces and big bracelets.

I rotate between having this on my dresser or under my nightstand, just depends on how I’m rearranging home decor at the moment. The amount of practical storage this gives is the best that I’ve found in my jewelry organizing search and definitely the best I’ve found if you want to use just a jewelry box.

Three: Make It Decorative

One of the things about small space living is that you sometimes have to get creative with storage and decor. Aka, the things you need to store become your decor. With jewelry, I find that to be easy because it’s so pretty on its own and makes a great display. That’s exactly what I did with some chunky beaded necklaces and bracelets. I used this acrylic necklace stand and this acrylic bracelet stand. I love the acrylic because it helps to avoid that weird metal on metal thing and love how they look.

If you’re a small space dweller and/or jewelry hoarder like me I hope you find these tips helpful. I’m really excited to share my small space living tips with you all and hope they’ll be useful if you’re limited on space like I am!

XOXO,