When shopping for a jewelry box, consider function before form. Follow these steps to determine what you need, and then find an attractive box that meets your requirements.

Take an inventory of your jewelry collection. Lay everything out on a flat surface and count your earrings, bracelets, rings, necklaces, and pendants to determine how much space you will need. Write everything down and take the list with you when you shop, and remember to get something large enough to hold future acquisitions. "The size of box you should get depends on the collection you aspire to have," says Ruth Fortunoff, vice president of jewelry merchandising at Fortunoff. "You always want to have room for more."

Think about how much jewelry you want to keep in your box at one time. "Sometimes I organize things seasonally," says Fortunoff. "I wear heavier, more antique jewelry in the winter, so during the summer I'll store those things and keep my lighter, more colorful things accessible." Another way to edit is to keep only casual, frequently worn items in a jewelry box and store special, more valuable pieces (like things you've insured) in a safe. Or you could keep two boxes: one for everyday things, one for fine items.

Make sure the box has the proper compartments. It should have wedges for rings, holes for earrings, square sections for bracelets and pendants, and long, narrow compartments for necklaces so that they can be stored a few at a time. "Stackable necklace trays or ones that slide back and forth are far better than drawers that you pull out," says Jill Daunno of Timothy's Gallery outside of Orlando, Florida, which specializes in handmade jewelry boxes. "Things get tangled when they're pulled back and forth." Another option is to coil a chain like a snake inside a square compartment. "But always keep chains clasped," says Fortunoff. "They're less likely to get tied in a huge knot."

Examine the lining. To prevent scratching, avoid boxes with hard wooden interiors. Instead, look for ones lined in velvet, ultrasuede, or fabric. The lighter the color of the interior, the easier it will be to see what you have inside.