With so many unique peices on eBay, it’s a shame that once we purchase them they sit in our jewelry boxes and hide. Even our favorite peices will nest undisturbed in the dark box out of fear that we may damage or lose them when we pair them with our favorite outfits.

I’ve been a collector of vintage jewelry since I was 6. To this day I still have my first old Rhinestone Peacock brooch. For years, like most of you, I stored it in a jewelry box on my dresser. When eBay came about and buying vintage jewelry became a smorgasboard for the trinket hog that I am, I knew I had to find a way to display my treasures.

So I started by taking my pins and brooches and distributing them through the house. On the curtains, lampshades, decorative pillows-anyplace I could stick them without the fear of them getting damaged. The necklaces and earrings were a little trickier to figure out how to display. To start, I linked necklaces together by the clasps and strung them across the windows, doorways, and fireplace mantles. Some of the peices I mounted and framed and hung them on the walls throughout the house. The end result is a unique way to make your home- or just a single room-sparkle.

Keep in mind however, there are a few things to remember. Jewelry that has fabric or old plastic such as celluloid or bakelite should be kept out of the sun. The sun will fade old fabric, and cause your plastics to become fragile and brittle. When placing your jewelry throughout the home keep them away from little fingers and avoid putting them where they could be brushed up against or bumped. You should not alter your peices when using them for decor! Treat them as a fine painting or sculpture because that’s what they are-minature peices of art.

Please note - this is not a practical method for those who have small children or pets!