You have heaps of tumbled stones and your beautiful special pieces. But how to organize your crystals so you can easily find everything and your crystal collection stays in the best shape? Let’s take a look at different storage options…
Basics on how to store Crystals safely
When you want to work on a new system on how to store your crystals, you, of course, have to take into account how much space you have available. But it’s also important to consider the type of stones you own and their individual needs!
Some crystals are soft, some are sensitive to sunlight, or you might have figurines with delicate details.
Stones can be soft? Yes, absolutely!
The Mohs scale of mineral hardness is your reference here. It defines how hard each crystal is and how much protection they need.
What we consider “soft” crystals are more prone to scratches and damage than harder stones.
How to store Soft Stones
Soft stones such as selenite, howlite, fluorite, sodalite, calcite, or turquoise should be stored in individual cloth pouches or bags, ideally, you also use bubble wrap. Keeping each stone individually wrapped will protect them from any damage which can impact their energetic properties.
Harder stones like those from the quartz or jasper families, agates or jade can be safely stored together.
Sunlight and Sensitive Crystals
Crystals should not be stored in direct sunlight for long periods of time, as it can make the stones brittle and make their colors fade. I always recommend keeping crystals out of direct sunlight since it’s never good for their colors. And with clear, translucent crystals, there might even be a fire hazard!
So, it’s better to keep your most valuable stones in a nice display cabinet or in storage boxes than to display them on a window sill. If you want to use crystals as home decor in a very sunny spot, you should make the decision consciously that the crystals you place there won’t stay pretty for long.
It’s fine to do this, you just need to be aware.
If you like to display your favorite crystals and figurines on your coffee table, take sunlight into account, too! Consider keeping them inside a glass box that offers a bit of UV protection. This will also keep the dust away.
Dry Environments and Water-safe Crystals
If you live in an area with damp weather, you also shouldn’t put your best crystals on the window sill! Sunlight might not be much of an issue here, but mold and actual water damage can be. If you keep your stones in a cold place – and this can even be the window sill – condensation can become a real issue and leave a lot of moisture on and around your stones.
You also need to keep an eye out for mold and condensation water if you have crystals in your bathroom!
Additionally, you should be aware which crystals are not water-safe. Selenite or desert rose suffer greatly in damp environments!
Night Table and Bedroom Considerations
Storing crystals on your bedside table – or in your bedroom in general – is tricky. While specific crystals, like rose quartz, amethyst, and selenite, are wonderful stones to have next to you while sleeping, more activating stones don’t belong in the bedroom and should be kept in another room, or at least in a corner of the room that’s far away from your bed since their different energies could mess with your energy field. It’s just not the best idea to have your crystal display right next to your resting place.
Energetic Considerations
Generally, your stones should not be charged if you put them into storage for a longer period of time. Cleanse them with water or smoke. That is a good way to rid them of any residual negative energy without charging them at the same time. Then store them in a dark and dry place so they will stay in the best condition for as long as possible.
That also means you should not store selenite in close proximity to other stones for long periods of time since selenite has charging properties. Clear quartz points should also be kept separate from other pieces because their power can affect the energy of surrounding softer stones.
How to Organize your Crystals
You now know quite a few important things about storage, but you are still wondering how to organize your crystals in the best possible way! Let’s check out some of the best organization systems for your mineral collections…
Storage Boxes
Plastic containers with small compartments are the best way to organize your small crystals that you use e.g. as pocket stones or for a crystal grid. You can use each separate compartment for one type or family of tumbled stone, e.g. one for black tourmaline, one for amethyst crystals, or one for quartz crystal stones, one for jasper crystals and so on.
If you have a large collection, you can also use large plastic boxes for bigger raw crystals, geodes, or figurines that you won’t need for a while. Carefully wrap each piece in bubble wrap and put it into the box. It’s helpful to know the Mohs hardness scale value of each crystal as more fragile crystals might need extra wrapping while very hard stones don’t necessarily need to be wrapped at all.
Label the box on the outside and on each wrapping so you know which types and forms of crystals can be found in it.
Organza Bags and Velvet Pouches
Organza bags and velvet pouches are an easy way to store small crystals like tumbled stones or pocket-sized raw crystals and minerals. You can buy them in various sizes, from tiny to very large, so you can easily create an organization system with these affordable bags.
You can store about 4 to 6 tumbled stones in a bag, or use them for crystal shards. Don’t fill a bag with a bigger number of crystals though as they might scratch over one another!
Label the outside of the bag with what type of stone is stored inside so you don’t have to open them all whenever you need one specific crystal for a crystal grid or another ritual.
Glass Jar
Glass jars with a lid are a great way to store small stones like chips as well as raw stones with rough surfaces. The lid will keep the dust away, and you can label the outside for easy reference. Just make sure you group similar crystals together so you can easily find what you need when it’s time to use them.
If you have a bit of a gift for this type of thing, you can actually create a beautiful display out of this type of crystal storage that keeps your stones in a safe place while letting you admire their beauty!
And what could be better than learning how to organize your crystals in a way that still lets you admire them, while keeping them safe and easy to find?!
Drawer Organizers
Drawer organizers are a nice option to separate tumbled and natural stones into different categories or sizes. Place the crystals in separate compartments according to their Mohs hardness scale, color, or even healing properties. This way you can easily find what you need and keep everything organized. This is a wonderful storage solution if you have a large collection!
Jewelry Trays
If you are a collector, I’m sure you don’t only have stones! You can use special jewelry trays or jewelry boxes to organize pendants, rings, and bracelets for easy access when it’s time to wear them. Jewelry trays come in a variety of sizes, and you can label each compartment for easy reference.
This way you’ll always know exactly where to find your favorite pieces.
Display Case
A display case is a wonderful way for a crystal collector to show off their favorite crystals. And it’s also a great way to keep your crystals organized and easily accessible when you need them. Choose a nice place in your home to display your favorite pieces and organize the rest of your collection in one of the storage options suggested above.
I hope we could help you learn how to organize your crystals to keep them in the best condition, as well as give you easy access when needing to use them for rituals, healing, and other spiritual purposes. Choose the most suitable option for each type of crystal and enjoy the beauty and energy of your collection for many years to come!