moon on a leash

ACCESSORY DISPLAY & STORAGE

It's true what they say: no outfit is complete without one (or many) great accessories. And unless the items you purchase fit into a current trend, the style of accessories are often timeless, or at the very least, transitional enough to fit various styles. While this means that you don't have to change your accessories out as often as you might other pieces in your wardrobe, it also means you have very little reason to get rid of any pieces you've acquired over the years. And the more your collection grows, the more solutions you'll need to store your items and have them easily accessible for everyday use.

I absolutely love the idea of displaying your favorite pieces in your living space, especially if they hold special meaning for you. I've always displayed my jewelry, but I'm dying to try it with my collection of scarves! Let's check out some great ideas for organizing your accessories at home.

JEWELRY

I think all jewelry should be hung out for the world to see, and the more you have, the better! It's such a beautiful, fun addition to any bedroom and it really doesn't matter if your collection is real, costume, or a mix of both. Any jewelry will give your walls the bling and sparkle it deserves! Who doesn't love shiny?

Here's what my collection looks like in my Manhattan apartment.

Want to get this look in your home? Try this simple DIY idea!

Use a staple gun to attach chicken wire or lace (a doily might be a great alternative) to the back of a vintage frame. Make sure you pull the wire or doily tight so it doesn't give when you hang your earrings. For bracelets and necklaces, attach a collection of mismatched knobs directly to the wall or to a small piece of wood or frame. It's a very simple project to do, and changes are you already have some or all of the materials lying around your home. Beautiful, cheap and easy! What could be better?

If you're not looking to display your jewelry on the walls, check out these great alternative for storing them out of sight!

SHOES

Some say diamonds are a girl's best friends, but if you ask Carrie Bradshaw (or at least half of the women in America) they'll probably agree shoes come in at a close second. And who can blame them? Check out these beautiful shoes display ideas for your home!

Wanna make your own shoe rack? Try this one on for size!

Megan at Not Martha gives you step by step instructions on how to make

your own shoe rack solution for the entry way.

And if you're like me, and you're not emotionally ready to put your dirty, stinky shoes out on display for the world to see, try one of these other equally practical storage ideas.

PURSES

To tell you the truth, I don't know that I've ever seen a purse collection on display in someone's home. I think it's because most of us wear out our bags to such an extreme, that they simply wouldn't be in nice enough shape to be placed out for all our house guests to stare at. But I would love this idea for a vintage selection of beaded bags, or perhaps some other thematic collection.

Try my purse organizing solution in your home!

I've struggled with where to store my collection of purses for years. I work freelance, so I'm often running around from one gig to another during the days, which means I need my purses to be BIG in order to fit everything I need to take from one place to another throughout the day. Large bags are extremely practical, but they take up a lot of room. In past homes I've had them stored in drawers, baskets, or lined up in shelving in my closets... you name it, I've tried it. I knew living in New York I couldn't spare the drawer or shelving room, so I came up with a solution to make use of dead space above my dresser in the closet.

Ever heard of the Wonder Hanger? I'm sure you've seen the infomercials on TV before. I bought a pack of the stainless steel ones from BB&B (they hold more weight than the plastic), and used them in the horizontal position to hang my bags from my closet rod. It turned out to be a great way to keep them in place, and to be able to organize the bags in whichever order I wanted. In my case, color-coded, of course! Check it out.

Bed Bath & Beyond

My closet...

If this isn't the solution you're looking for, maybe The Container Store can help! Check out these other great purse storage ideas.

SCARVES

I desperately want to buy an old ladder and make my scarves a statement piece! I wonder how often I'd have to wash them often to get rid of any dust that accumulates... Doesn't matter. I think the look is totally worth it!

Want the look but don't have a spare ladder lying around?

Check out this simple solution from the folks at Apartment Therapy!

All you need is a tight space and some tension rods to tie your scarves to.

Wanna keep your scarves out of sight? Maybe one of these closet solutions will work in your space.

HATS

I don't have many hats myself, but I know a lot of people do. So how do you store all those bulky hats in a small space? More often than not, displaying them seems to do the trick. Not only do they not take up precious room in your closet, but they keep their shape while beautifying your space!