How to store your jewelry (so it lasts a lifetime)

Jewelry storage doesn't need to be Pinterest-worthy. It needs to be flat, dark, and dry. That's it.

Three rules:

1. Flat. Every necklace lays out on a flat surface, never bunched. The bunching is what tangles fine chains beyond repair.
2. Dark. Sunlight fades plating and oxidizes silver. A drawer is fine. A cardboard box is fine. The bathroom counter is not.
3. Dry. Humidity is the enemy of every metal. Stash a silica packet (the kind you find in shoe boxes) in your jewelry drawer.

The "system" everyone wants is just: a felt-lined tray + a few small pouches + a drawer that doesn't get sun. Total cost: $25.