Jewelry is likely to be some of your most important and valuable possessions. Whether you treasure heirloom pieces passed down for generations or you have taken the time to curate a collection of your very own, your jewelry is a highly personal reflection of yourself. Each piece has its own care needs; you probably have already gone through the effort of investing in the correct cleaning products and locating the jewelry experts in your area who can assist with specialized repairs.

Correct storage is part of jewelry care. Understanding the basics of jewelry room design will help protect this important investment. Designing this special room allows your collection to bring you even more joy over the years, keeping it secure, organized, and ready to use.

A Safe Place for Jewelry

Your jewels should be removed before doing vigorous activities like cleaning and cooking, so you need to have a safe place to put these valuables. Never set them on a windowsill or a kitchen counter. These are dangerous places where accidents can happen. Not only can they be easily overlooked or knocked down, common cooking ingredients like onions contain corrosive compounds like acids and sulfur which can cause damage to many gems when exposure takes place over the long term. 

Having a jewelry room is an ideal solution because you’ll always know exactly where your daily pieces are stored. This is a place that encourages organization. Start with planning how many jewelry storage boxes and bags you are going to need. Then, plan ahead to anticipate your future needs. Let this room start to work for you by developing solutions that make sense for you and your life.

The Ideal Space for Jewelry

What does a jewelry room look like? Ideally, your jewelry room should be a dry environment. The room should remain at a moderate temperature. Store your jewels away from sunlight. UV radiation can quickly damage many items, especially delicate gems like pearls.

Do your best to limit the day-to-day chemical exposure. Products such as these should be kept away from your jewelry collection:

●      Perfume, cologne, and perfume oils

●      Deodorant

●      Aerosols and other air fresheners

●      Mothballs

●      Skin care products, including lotion

Even when these products are stored in a seemingly secure container, accidental spills can occur. Chemical exposure over time can corrode gemstones and metal. Delicate heirloom pieces can be especially vulnerable to this kind of damage. The room you dedicate to jewelry storage should be kept free from these products.

Preserving Your Jewelry Today and Tomorrow

You’ve heard the saying about an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure, right? If you have ever had to pay for jewelry repair, you know exactly how true this adage is. If you don’t have a handful of jewelry cleaning cloths, invest in some. Then, take the time to clean each piece after taking it off at night.

Avoid sleeping in your jewelry. Skin contains oils that, over time, can damage metal and even certain gems. This is why you should avoid keeping jewelry on at night and why you should clean your jewels after wearing them; cleaning removes oil and dirt that might be clinging to the surface and prepares each piece for storage. Consider keeping jewelry cleaning products in your jewelry room; keep them in a sealed container and they'll be ready for use.

Everything In Its Place

Correct jewelry storage is an important consideration. Pieces should be stored individually, not touching each other to avoid tangling. It can be tempting to fill a jewelry armoire with as much as it will hold, but this is the wrong way to use it. This is another reason why having a dedicated jewelry room is so important – it gives you ample space for holding the number of jewelry chests that is appropriate for your collection. Give yourself the space you need.

Consider your desire for future growth. What kind of future plans do you have? Think about security, too. Depending on the architecture of the space, a wall safe can be added for ultimate safety. Hidden and disguised safes are also available.

Planning a jewelry room isn’t very difficult; all it takes is a little patience and planning. Think about what you want to accomplish in this space. A jewelry room is a great way to keep your collection secure and ready to enjoy.

Written by Taylor McKnight, Author for Fast Fix - Northpark