diff --git a/src/utils/__tests__/preferences.utils.test.ts b/src/utils/__tests__/preferences.utils.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..161c438
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils/__tests__/preferences.utils.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+import { describe, it, expect, beforeEach } from 'vitest';
+import { getPreference, setPreference } from '../preferences.utils';
+
+describe('preferences.utils', () => {
+	beforeEach(() => {
+		window.localStorage.clear();
+	});
+
+	it('returns stored value for a key that exists', () => {
+		window.localStorage.setItem('testKey', JSON.stringify({ theme: 'dark' }));
+		const result = getPreference('testKey', { theme: 'light' });
+		expect(result).toEqual({ theme: 'dark' });
+	});
+
+	it('returns default value for a missing key', () => {
+		const result = getPreference('missingKey', 'default-value');
+		expect(result).toBe('default-value');
+	});
+
+	it('returns default value if stored JSON is malformed', () => {
+		window.localStorage.setItem('malformedKey', '{ invalid json ');
+		const result = getPreference('malformedKey', 'default-value');
+		expect(result).toBe('default-value');
+	});
+
+	it('set and get round-trip correctly', () => {
+		const complexValue = { sort: 'desc', filter: ['active', 'verified'] };
+		setPreference('complexKey', complexValue);
+
+		const result = getPreference('complexKey', { sort: 'asc', filter: [] });
+		expect(result).toEqual(complexValue);
+	});
+});
diff --git a/src/utils/preferences.utils.ts b/src/utils/preferences.utils.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c8c0d23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils/preferences.utils.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+/**
+ * Retrieves a parsed value from localStorage.
+ * Handles missing keys and malformed JSON safely by returning the defaultValue.
+ *
+ * @param key The localStorage key to retrieve
+ * @param defaultValue The default value to return if the key is missing or parsing fails
+ * @returns The parsed value or the default value
+ */
+export function getPreference<T>(key: string, defaultValue: T): T {
+	try {
+		const item = window.localStorage.getItem(key);
+		if (item === null) {
+			return defaultValue;
+		}
+		return JSON.parse(item) as T;
+	} catch (error) {
+		console.warn(`Error reading localStorage key "${key}":`, error);
+		return defaultValue;
+	}
+}
+
+/**
+ * Serializes and stores a value in localStorage.
+ * Safely handles potential storage errors (e.g., quota exceeded).
+ *
+ * @param key The localStorage key to set
+ * @param value The value to serialize and store
+ */
+export function setPreference<T>(key: string, value: T): void {
+	try {
+		const serialized = JSON.stringify(value);
+		window.localStorage.setItem(key, serialized);
+	} catch (error) {
+		console.warn(`Error setting localStorage key "${key}":`, error);
+	}
+}