Ask Maeve: I’m a kid and need help organizing jewelry!

Aug 20, 20152 min read

Maeve teaches a seven-year-old how to organize a messy jewelry box.

I’m seven years old and I would like to know how I can make my jewelry box prettier and easier to use. Right now there's a lot of stuff in it and it's a mess. Can you help me please? - Abigail, NYC

Dear Abigail,

Of course I can! I’m so glad you wrote, and I love that you would like to know more about organizing #jewelry. I’m going to give you three steps, are you ready?

Step 1: Make matching piles

The best way to better organize your jewelry box is to first know what you’d like to store inside. So, carry your jewelry box to a clean table and start to take the jewelry out piece by piece, and one at a time.

As you do, put your jewelry into matching piles. This means, necklaces with necklaces, earrings with earrings, bracelets with bracelets, and so on. I call it Like Things Live Together. It's a simple matching game, and once you get it started, it can be a lot of fun. #likethingslivetogether

Step 2: Make friends with your jewelry!

With all your jewelry in matching piles, it’s time to decide what you’d like to keep and what you might like to let go!

Sometimes we collect jewelry that we loved when we got it, but that we don’t like so much anymore. The key to keeping your jewelry box organized is to only keep in it the jewelry you actually wear. So, pick a pile, then hold each piece of jewelry in your hands, and ask yourself, will I wear this? I know I've worn it before, but will I wear it again?

If the answer is Yes, place it down on the table in a “Yes!” pile. If the answer it No, set it aside in a “No” pile. Go through all the piles like this, and make sure to still keep matching piles as you go.

Step 3: Put the “Yes!” piles back into your jewelry box – in like zones!

It’s now time to put your “Yes!” jewelry back into your jewelry box, but with each pile getting it’s own drawer, or section of the box. This way, the next time you look for something to wear, you’ll be able to clearly see what you have in each category! And when you take jewelry off before bed, be sure to put it right back where it lives, in its new special zone or home.

You might even say, for fun, “Goodnight necklace, thanks for spending time with me today!” I call this Everything Has a Home. #everythinghasahome

I hope this helps, and as for those “No” items that you set aside, ask mom or dad if it’s OK to give them away or to let them go.

It's always nice to share and #donate.

Happy jewelry wearing, Abigail, and let me know how it goes!