No matter how hard you try, you will never be able to wear all of your jewelry at once. But leaving certain items of your collection home for the day doesn’t mean they need to be hidden away in a jewelry box. It’s time to use those pieces you love so much as decor!
“When you wake up in the morning and you see your space and see your things, you want to be inspired,” says Kelsey Armstrong, founder and creative director of accessories brand Haricot Vert. “You want to feel good about them.”
There are truly endless ways to display your jewelry in your home, several of which cost little to no money—and many of which double as jewelry organization strategies. Whether you hang your necklaces on the wall or plop your collection of rings in an old teacup, there’s no wrong way to do it. We’ve rounded up five unique jewelry decor ideas to help you uncover the decorative potential of your favorite baubles.
1. Try a Jewelry Bath
Mini ceramic pools and glass clawfoot tubs are the perfect vessels for your jewelry to take a dip in. Now that you know to look for them, you’re sure to spot these pint-sized pools all over your scrollable inspiration site of choice. Many of these ceramic pools are available for sale on Etsy, or you can join in on the pottery trend and make one yourself. Keep an eye out for a miniature clawfoot tub at your go-to home goods stores or even Goodwill or other thrift stories, where you may even be able to find a Barbie tub.
Armstrong takes advantage of dollhouse items by using miniature couches to display jewelry in her home. She also loves using shells as jewelry dishes. “I found a lot of the shells that I love in a Florida shell shop,” she says. “They are very inspiring to me.”
2. Hang It on the Walls
If you’re reading this as an apartment renter working with very little space, we’ve got you covered. You may only have one flat surface in your room for your alarm clock, candles, books, etc. So, instead of your jewelry taking a dip, hang it up. “I always tell people, get everything off the ground,” Armstrong says. “Get it off the ground or get it off of a surface, and let’s put it on the wall.”
One of Armstrong’s favorite ways to display her jewelry on the wall is by using fabric pin boards. All you need are some push pins to stick in the board and you’re free to hang any and all types of jewelry. The same goes for any letter boards you have hanging around (literally): Stick a few push pins in under your message, drape your jewelry over them, and you’re good to go.
3. Get a Jewelry Tree
Compared to a standard jewelry stand, a jewelry tree has multiple branches that lend the stand a more organic look. The tree-like structure allows you to drape several types of jewelry on a single stand, combining function and a little careful-disarray-esque fashion.
Stylist Brielle Bellew has been collecting and designing unique pieces of jewelry for years. “Jewelry has a lot of movement within it depending on how you display it,” Bellew explains. “I like it hanging on one of those stands where you can see it all displayed.”
For Bellew, the way someone wears and displays their jewelry is a reflection of their personality. Her mom used to display all of her jewelry haphazardly on her vanity, and in Bellew’s dream world, she would have a large enough surface to do the exact same.
4. Dress Up a Mannequin
“I keep everything out on display,” says Beth Traiman, fashion and DIY content creator and founder of an upcycled fashion brand. “If it’s not in front of me, I’m just not going to wear it.”
Traiman keeps her jewelry where she can see it by draping it on mannequin hands. She has what she refers to as an “accessories corner” in her apartment, complete with necklaces and bracelets draped over antique mannequin hands.
Bellew also recommends displaying your jewelry on mannequins, but her type of mannequin includes a little more than just a hand. Resting in the corner of her apartment across from her full-length mirror, Bellew’s mannequin is the upper half and waist of a woman’s body. “The mannequin doesn’t take up terribly too much space,” Bellew says. “I like the idea of displaying my jewelry on a mannequin so you can see it.”
5. Collect Candles and Cups
Do you have a few drinking glasses that don’t fit in your kitchen cabinet? Is your favorite scented candle on its last leg? Time to clean out the candle, move a glass or two out of the kitchen, and plop your jewels into them. Something as simple as a Mason jar or empty candle vessel or as meaningful as an inherited teacup can corral your beaded bracelets; if the container is clear, you can even keep your jewelry within sight.
Traiman often uses household items like cups to display her jewelry and recommends going thrifting if you don’t already own something you like. “If you go to any sort of antique or thrift store, you can usually find cute bowls or glasses that you can use for jewelry displays,” she says. “Especially because most of them, you’re not really supposed to be eating or drinking out of at this point.”
