Anyone who's a returning reader of H&G's celebrity style section may already be familiar with our favorite past-time – watching archival Martha Stewart footage.
There's a lot to enjoy with these clips, from the '90s-style film style to Stewart's enduring charm – but the thing we love most is when her advice translates exactly to the modern day. This is the case with our most recent find, Stewart's drawer organization trick, starting with the top drawer – aka her jewelry drawer.
'What I like to do in a jewelry drawer like this is to lay out my precious accessories in these little aluminum-covered boxes,' Stewart begins in the demonstration of her bedroom storage idea.
'I put my earrings, extra earrings backs, and other earrings that are too big for these boxes (and that I want to keep from getting scratched) separately just laid out in a drawer like this.'
While we can't find an exact match to the storage boxes in Stewart's drawer, these aluminum tins are a perfect alternative. Just like the boxes used to store her small jewelry, these will keep any small earrings or rings separate and safe in your drawer. This pack of 12 should keep you covered (as they're also great for storing loose items in a pantry).
With its rich velvet texture and olive-green tone, this jewelry organizer is the first step in bringing some Stewart-approved organization to your drawer. Pair it alongside the smaller tins to keep your larger items safe and in their place in your drawer – but rest assured that it's easily transportable if you're going on vacation.
As Stewart demonstrates in her jewelry drawer (and later, her scarf drawer), a velvet lining is a must. This self-adhesive nylon velvet liner (in a rich green colorway like Martha Stewart's) is the easiest way to introduce this texture to your drawer – you'll wonder why you never had it before.
Next, Stewart tackles another shallow drawer – explaining how she lined it with velvet, which prevents her more intricate possessions from coming to harm on a harder surface.
'Another shallow drawer, also lined with velvet, is nice for delicate scarves and beautiful evening bags. This is another nice way to see things at a glance, pick them up, and choose – it enables you to get dressed faster,' she says.
The lifestyle guru then moves on to the sweater drawer – where its size and contents pose different problems to the more delicate jewelry and scarf spaces.
'It’s very important to keep sweaters organized and well-folded. Moths love sweaters, so I found these sear strips. They come in different lengths and can be laid right down in the bottom of your drawer,' Stewart explains. Thankfully, repelling moths (the natural way) is simple, requiring only a small amount of wood.
'I’ve discovered at the lumber yard that you can buy a 4x8 foot quarter-inch thick piece of cedar or plywood that can be cut to fit your drawers. Then you place your sweaters; I like to put bulky sweaters on the bottom and thinner sweaters on the top. Moths will be repelled by that lovely smell of cedar,' she says. 'You just don’t need to worry that you’re going to open up a sweater and find big holes in it. Sweaters should just be placed in your drawer.'
After already prolonging through the decades, we can be sure Stewart's drawer tips will continue to work for many more ahead. An organized, moth-free cabinet begins now.
