How to Make a DIY Pegboard Jewelry Organizer

Published on 07/29/20

Project Overview

Working Time: 1 hr
Total Time: 2 hrs

Skill Level: Beginner
Estimated Cost: $20

Jewelry storage solutions often miss the mark: old-fashioned jewelry boxes often don’t work with modern decor, a small chest of drawers tucks things away making your pieces inaccessible, and wall hooks don’t allow you to easily expand or adjust your collection. A DIY pegboard jewelry organizer, however, can be decorated to coordinate with your bedroom, and can be easily rearranged to accommodate a growing collection. One quick trip to the hardware store for the wooden components of this project, plus a few ubiquitous craft supplies, are all you need to get started building this simple display. Don’t forget to fully protect your work surface before beginning, and as always, an adult should wield the hot glue gun.

Equipment / Tools

1 paint brush
1 hot glue gun

Materials

1 pegboard
4 sections of wall trim
Pegboard hooks/fasteners
2 colors of acrylic paint
Scrap wood

Gather Your Materials

When purchasing a sheet of pegboard from a hardware store, have it cut to your desired project size by one of the lumber experts--they can do it quickly and easily with power tools you may not have access to at home. Here, we had a full two-by-four foot sheet cut into four equal quarters, and we’ve used one of those quarters for this jewelry display. Source either a prefab photo frame to fit your cut-to-size pegboard, or grab a piece of wall trim and saw it into sections to fully enclose your board. Not too comfortable making tricky cuts on the wooden trim on your own? Most hardware store employees will walk you through making 45-degree angle cuts right there in-store before you purchase your trim lengths.

Megan Graney
Paint the Pegboard

Select contrasting paint colors for the frame and the pegboard--we used a pretty pastel blue and neutral white here. If you’re working with an unfinished piece of pegboard, coat it with a basic white primer before applying a coat of acrylic paint in your chosen color. Add a quick layer of paint to each piece of trim, and use that same color for your scrap wood. This piece of scrap will become a small shelf for your display, so select a thin rectangular piece of wood and sand it down before painting for a sleek finish. Allow everything to dry completely before determining if any piece needs a second coat of color.

Megan Graney
Attach the Trim

After the paint has completely dried, attach the trim to your pegboard using a hot glue gun. Be sure to protect your craft surface with newspaper before gluing or painting; the hot glue can easily drip through the pegboard holes and onto your table. Lay everything out exactly as you’d like it before applying a thin line of glue to each section of trim, then press it firmly into the pegboard. Work quickly and hold each section of trim to the pegboard for 30 seconds to ensure your project's longevity. When lining up your corners, fill in any gaps between the wall trim sections with a little extra hot glue. Once everything has dried, simply sand the corners smooth and touch up with a bit more acrylic paint.

Megan Graney
Add Hooks and Shelves

Lay your framed, painted pegboard flat and begin to insert hooks for organization. Arrange to allow plenty of length for hanging necklaces and bracelets, and place metal braces near the bottom of the board to set the wooden shelf upon. If you can’t source hooks made specifically for pegboard, try using zip ties, wooden dowels, or simple screws instead. The ⅛-inch pegboard holes actually accommodate lots of different hardware, so don’t hesitate to experiment with creative options (or peruse the internet for clever pegboard storage solutions).

Megan Graney
Insert Your Jewelry

Display necklaces, chokers, and bracelets from each hook, allowing your jewelry to hang freely. Add more hooks as needed, or double-up your jewelry to feature more pieces. Place rings or brooches on the tiny shelf, and insert earrings directly into the holes themselves. Once your jewelry is organized perfectly, lean your pegboard against a wall or hang it up with a nail or two (be sure to nail directly into wall studs to be sure your display won't tear through the drywall). If you want to secure your jewelry a bit more permanently, add a dab of hot glue to the back of each hook securing it to the pegboard, to ensure your organizer's sturdiness. Place your jewelry display in an easily accessible space; it'll encourage you to add at least an accessory or two to your outfit of the day.

Megan Graney