How to Organize Your Accessories

When Chicago accessories designer Jess Constable, owner of Jess LC (JessLC.com), set out to organize her jewelry and scarves, she had two goals in mind. "I wanted to store my things in a beautiful way, but I also wanted to be able to get to them easily," she says.

So she thought outside the box-no standard jewelry cases or plastic bins here-and came up with clever storage solutions that combine function and fashion. Now all her favorite finishing touches, like the perfect pair of earrings or colorful scarf, are on display right at her fingertips.

Keep favorites handy
Grab-and-go scarves now live in a glass bowl on Jess's dresser. "I'm more likely to wear my scarves if I see them every day," she says. "And I love having that pop of color in my room."
Tip: Check around the house. The bowls Jess uses for her scarves and everyday jewelry came straight from her kitchen. What's better than free storage?

Showcase mementos
Jess displays her grandmother's jewelry in shadowboxes she bought at HomeGoods. The linen and foam backing makes pinning in earrings easy. For necklaces and bracelets, follow Jess's lead and hang them from pearl-tipped straight pins. "Now my special-occasion pieces are protected from dust, and the effect is so pretty it looks like artwork in my bedroom."
Tip: Look for inspiration. Jess stole her shadowbox idea from her design business. She's used similar boxes to display her wares at trunk shows. This one from Pottery Barn Teen can either hang on the wall or sit atop your dresser.

Store it pretty
Jess places her everyday reliables in a cute bowl atop a small tray. To keep pieces from getting tangled, she hangs earrings around the edge of the bowl and places rings in the center. "This is a lot nicer than just tossing my jewelry on the dresser, and much easier than digging through a box," she says. Place this fun tray beneath your "jewelry" bowls to catch overflow earrings, your watch and other trinkets in need of a home.
Tip: Loosen up. Some accessories don't have to be piled into perfect stacks or lined up in neat rows. Corraling your stuff casually makes it look more fun.

Let it hang
Need even more storage? Hang necklaces and bracelets on a cool metal jewelry tree like this one from West Elm.
Tip: Think of organizing as decorating. Don't just ask yourself, How can I store this? Ask, How can I store this in a way that looks good? Try to make it special.

Get the look
The key to pulling together a cohesive look: Find underused space. Jess puts her overflow accessories, like extra belts, in an empty nightstand drawer outfitted with a low-cost organizer.