I like fondling my needles when I'm looking for sizes, so I have all my straights in a white pitcher. Since they're all shades of pink/red/purple they look so pretty too!
(also by 'fondling' the needles I'm learning the sizes by touch now! whoo hoo!)
I recently gave my niece a bunch of needles and put them all in a cool wine bottle container - they have really interesting/pretty ones these days..in fact, I just saw some square ones with a latch top at I think WalMart? the other day.
As for circs - I have a set of Boyes, and my others I just keep in one of those cheapo plastic school supply boxes (as I do my dpns, too).