Do you often misplace the
strands of pearls you wore
at last night's dinner at
the opera with friends? Can
you never find your favorite
piece of jewelry when you
need it most for that very
important date? Well, worry
no more. Get a jewelry armoire
to store your jewels in the
most elegant and efficient
way.
A jewelry armoire may not
be as huge as the special
room beneath Buckingham Palace
where Queen Elizabeth keeps
her jewelry collection, but
it certainly can store more
of your beads, stones aand
bangles than the musical jewelry
box that you've kept since
high school for sentimental
reasons.
Armoires
The French word armoire originally
meant an arms cabinet or gun
storage, but not anymore.
In these modern times, an
armoire is defined as a tall
cabinet, usually with drawers,
shelves and doors. Armoires
nowadays can be wardrobe armoires,
jewelry armoires, entertainment
armoires and just recently
even computer armoires.
Even family-friendly Wal-mart
stocks faux burl wood jewelry
armoires for less than $200
ordered online, so there's
really no excuse for not getting
out there and choosing your
jewelry armoire.
How to choose your jewelry
armoire
1. The first thing you need
to know is your woods or non-woods
and including your pretend
woods. And then decide which
suit you most.
Do you like your jewelry
armoire to gain more character
and charm even with wear?
Then a real solid wood jewelry
armoire is for you. Most real
wood jewelry armoires are
made from oak, maple or pine,
so you can choose from the
classic yellow brown oaks,
regal cherry red maples or
mission brown practical pines.
Do you not mind the look
of an engineered MDF teamed
with laminates or wood veneers
for your first jewelry armoire?
Then you can hop on to the
internet and shop for hand-carved,
hand-painted jewelry armoire
beauties which look like wood
and cost less.
2. The next thing to decide
is where you are going to
put your jewelry armoire.
Will it stand next to the
Victorian mahogany chest of
drawers in your bedroom? How
much space do you have for
it? Do you want it to match
with the other furniture in
the room? Or do you want it
to be a centerpiece?
Depending on your answers,
you may want to consider the
homely French country style
with its handcrafted doors,
the elegant Queen Anne dark
cherry heirloom style or the
chunkier mission brown jewelry
chest box style.
3. How will you use your
jewelry armoire?
Will it be mainly a storage
space for your jewelry? Then
you may want a tall chest
of six to eight drawers with
sides that swing open to hang
your pearls and necklaces.
Or will it be a place where
you can sit down, try on that
flaming red ruby necklace
after you've put on your makeup?
Then you might consider having
a shorter vanity armoire with
mirror, vanity and a soft-cushioned
bench.
4. Are there any fengshui
(or child proofing) considerations
for your jewelry armoire?
Does it have to have round
edges so as not to shoot sharp
darts of energy while you
are trying to relax before
an important party? Are you
afraid your toddler might
bang her head on the sharp
rectangular edges your jewelry
armoire as she uncontrollably
waddles to you while you're
putting on a pair of ruby
earrings? Then the half-round
jewelry armoire with rounded
legs might be the one for
you.
5. Are there any other security
considerations for your jewelry
armoire?
Do you have home contents
insurance but would still
feel safer if your jewels
are locked? Then you may want
to get a jewelry armoire that
can be locked.
6. And last but not least
- how much are you willing
to pay for it?
Does your budget fall around
the $300 mark? Then you can
buy popular, best selling
brands in real oak with mirror,
eight drawers and side swing
doors to hang all your pearls
and golden necklaces.
Do you have around $400 to
spare? Then you can get yourself
an elegant dark cherry red
maple Queen Anne jewelry armoire
accented with detail rice
carved posts on its doorface.
How about if you just have
$59.95? Then the excitement
of the hunt for good and used
jewelry armoires is for you.
Last time I checked there
was a cherry Queen Anne jewelry
armoire chest box being auctioned
on ebay for a mere $59.95.
But you better hurry.
