You don't leave your car out in the elements, so don't leave your jewelry out in the open either. Moisture, dust, heat, and small hands can all cause irrevocable damage to your most precious jewelry possessions. A jewelry box is a perfect answer, helping you to be organized while adding a touch of elegance to your bedroom.

When you first shop for jewelry boxes and armoires, don't make the mistake of buying jewelry boxes that are too small for all of your jewelry. Buy a jewelry box that is large enough to continue adding to your collection. If you think you may have many new items to add in the future, consider buying a jewelry armoire. Both jewelry armoires and smaller jewelry boxes are beautiful pieces for the bedroom and available in many materials to go with any existing decorative theme.

Different shapes to think about:

• The traditional rectangular shape- this is the shape most recognized and widely used, though there are variants like a rectangular shape with rounded corners.
• The oval- these more often come inlaid with a favorite pastoral scene or picture, or covered in fabric.
• The octagonal- usually made of wood with high-gloss finishes or smooth leather lined with plush velvet or suede, these octagonally-shaped boxes are rarer and tend to be single-leveled with with perhaps a lift-out tray with multiple compartments.
• The treasure chest- shaped like a treasure chest, this box stands on four legs, and often come detailed with metal such as brass or gold, or hand-painted victorian style with flower motifs.
• The raised box- a flat rectangular shape with a raised or curved top. Some are exquisitely crafted, inlaid with sterling silver and detailed with patterns such as flowers.
• The pyramid- this unique shape is designed with a pyramid in mind, and is portable, with a handbag type handle. The multiple tiers, drawer space, compartments and pockets make this style an organizational wonder.
• The cylinder- arguably the most unique of jewelry boxes, this cylinder opens in half and has opposing swing-out tiers on each half to house all your jewelry items.

Also available now are jewelry boxes that store a whole list of tunes and songs. And the hand-crafted boxes are truly unique, made with all different kinds of materials, including: white metal, exotic woods rich with entwining scrollwork or engraving designs, brass, marble, and even paper maché.