The Ultimate Guide to Packing a Suitcase: Maximize Space and Minimize Stress
Shoes, toiletries, clothes (worse, dirty clothes!) … It’s all a lot to manage when you’re on the road. Whether you’re traveling near or far, figuring out how to efficiently pack a suitcase is often a big source of pre-travel jitters. But with the right tips, you can master the art of packing to maximize your space, minimize your stress, and make your vacation that much better.
The best way to pack your clothes
The travel clothes you pack and how you pack them will set the tone for your entire trip. Arriving with mismatched clothes in a wrinkled mess? Not a good look. Arriving with neatly folded, coordinating outfits for every occasion? Yes, please! Here’s how to do it:
1. Plan your outfits ahead of time
You don’t have to get too carried away with the nitty-gritty details, but planning your outfits ahead of time is the first step in learning to pack a suitcase efficiently. For starters, look for versatile pieces that can do double-duty on the road, like a scarf that can double as a blanket on the plane and then as a wrap over your dress for going out at night. Next, pack coordinating pieces that you can mix and match to build the maximum number of outfits with the least amount of clothing. For example, an oversized button-down shirt looks chic tied up with a pair of jeans and sandals but can also work as a cover-up at the beach or even as pajamas.
2. Select wrinkle-resistant clothing
Whether you’re traveling for work or play, showing up with a suitcase full of wrinkled clothes is never a good look. That’s why one of the most important tips for packing for a trip is to pick clothes made of wrinkle-resistant travel fabrics. For example, silk is a great choice when you’re traveling for a formal event since it’s elegant, comfortable, and resistant to wrinkles. Denim, of course, also stands up tough against wrinkles, as does polyester.
3. Roll or fold your clothes
Some people are ardently team roll, while others insist you must fold your clothes before traveling. Honestly, we think either way is just fine. The important thing is to store your clothes in a way that maximizes space and reduces wrinkles—and both rolling and folding will do that for you. Personally, we think the secret to the art of packing a suitcase is using packing cubes, which not only help you pack efficiently but also keep things organized and can even reduce your packing volume if you opt for compression packing cubes.
The best way to pack shoes
Let’s be real: Shoes are always the most annoying thing to pack when you travel. They take up a lot of space; they’re awkwardly shaped; they’re dirty; and they almost always end up getting squished in your suitcase. But there is a better way to pack shoes!
1. Make sure they’re clean
Above all, make sure your shoes are clean before you start packing them (just think about all the public bathrooms, public transportation, and dirty city streets they stomp on!). For a quick clean on the go, giving them a wipe with a damp cloth should do the trick. (But always do a spot test first to avoid ruining the material.) Most importantly, make sure your shoes are dry before you pack them since packing wet or even damp shoes can cause mold or mildew to fester.
2. Pack shoes in the bottom of your suitcase
The most efficient way to pack shoes is in the bottom of your suitcase. This trick helps distribute the shoes' weight evenly in your bag—and it also keeps your heavy shoes from crushing your other travel gear. To go one step further, look for a carry-on bag with a special shoe compartment, which will make it even easier to stow dirty shoes away from your clean clothes and accessories.
3. Consider using a shoe travel bag
If you’ve already found your perfect carry-on bag and it doesn’t have a shoe compartment, no worries. Instead, you can opt for a shoe travel bag. Having a separate pouch to store your shoes in is a real godsend for frequent travelers. For one, it prevents your shoes’ dirty soles from touching the rest of your stuff (yuck). It also keeps your shoes themselves protected; safely tucked in a shoe bag, your shoes won’t rub against each other and cause unwanted scuffs.
The best way to pack jewelry
Your jewelry is likely among the most expensive things in your suitcase—so you want to make sure you pack it carefully.
1. Pack each piece of jewelry separately
It can be tempting to toss all your jewelry in one little pouch and be done with it, but that is a recipe for disaster. To avoid arriving at your destination with a tangled, knotted mess of chains and earrings, make sure you pack each piece of jewelry separately. It may sound like a hassle, but simply wrapping each necklace or bracelet in its own piece of tissue paper will help keep it safe from scratches and knots.
2. Use a travel jewelry case
After wrapping up each piece of jewelry separately, you don’t want to just throw all that bling randomly into your suitcase. Instead, get yourself a good travel jewelry case. Having a dedicated space for all your baubles will keep them organized and protected. Most cases even have special pouches and compartments for rings, earrings, necklaces, etc., so you can give your precious accessories the precious attention they deserve.
3. Keep your jewelry in your carry-on
Most importantly, keep your jewelry on your person at all times when you travel. This means if you’re traveling by plane, then you definitely want to keep your jewelry in your carry-on. Of course, it’s not a given that your jewelry could be stolen or damaged in the luggage hold—but why risk it? For extra security, you can even store your best pieces around your neck or chest with a money belt. Nothing wrong with a little peace of mind, eh?
The best way to pack toiletries
Oh, the infamous security checkpoint at the airport. Every beauty queen’s worst nightmare. When it comes to travel (and, particularly, air travel), knowing how to pack your favorite lotions and potions while meeting TSA requirements is a true art form. Here’s how it’s done:
1. Do a walk-through of your daily routine
There’s nothing worse than getting ready in your hotel and realizing you forgot your beloved moisturizer at home. So before you start packing, do a walk-through of your morning and nightly routines. This will give you a look at the products you use every day so you won’t forget anything. Need a reference? Check out our zero-waste toiletries packing list.
2. Remember the 3-1-1 rule
If you’re not checking a bag when flying, then you must abide by the 3-1-1 rule. That means all your liquids, creams, gels, etc. must be in containers no larger than 3.4 oz; all these containers must fit in a 1 quart-sized bag; and you only get to bring one of these bags on the plane with you. Today, many brands offer travel-sized versions of things like shampoo and moisturizer. If you can’t find your favorite in a travel size, you can always buy an empty travel-sized container and scoop in some of your favorite cream. (A girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.)
3. Find the right toiletry bag for you
When you pass through security, all your liquids must be in a standard-issue clear plastic bag. But once you hit the hotel (or if you’re not traveling by plane at all), it’s much nicer to store all your toiletries in one place in a dedicated toiletry bag. For example, you may want a hanging toiletry bag for easy access in the bathroom, a minimalist toiletry bag, or a separate travel makeup bag for all your cosmetics and brushes.
The best way to pack dirty clothes
It’s not any fun, but it is inevitable: You’re going to end up with a pile of dirty clothes halfway through your travel journey. And if you don’t have a chance to do laundry on the go, then it’s time to learn the best way to pack dirty clothes in your suitcase.
1. Roll or fold your dirty clothes
You read that right. Ultimately, you want to pack dirty clothes pretty much the same way you'd pack clean clothes. Your first instinct may be to just scrunch up your dirty clothes in a ball. But in the end, this will make them actually take up more room in your suitcase. Instead, by rolling or folding your dirty clothes, you'll save valuable suitcase real estate (i.e., more room to bring home souvenirs!).
2. Use a travel laundry bag
The best way to prevent your dirty clothes from mingling with (and stinking up) your clean outfits is with a dedicated travel laundry bag. If you’re in a pinch, you can also use a garbage bag or plastic bag. Either way, having a separate laundry bag for your dirty clothes is a must for keeping things fresh and clean in your suitcase.
3. Pack a few scented sachets
This may seem a little extra, but hear us out. If you’re really worried about dirty clothes stinking up your suitcase, then throw a scented sachet into your suitcase. A scented sachet is basically a little potpourri bag that usually smells like lavender, cloves, citrus, or another clean, fresh-smelling scent. Tuck one of these little guys into your suitcase, and your clothes will smell like a bed of roses—even if you haven’t done laundry in a week.
Wrapping up
Even if you don't consider yourself a natural-born neat freak, you can still learn how to master the art of packing a suitcase. And you’ll be glad you did! Ultimately, the number-one trick is to divide and conquer with dedicated pouches, bags, and cases for your shoes, jewelry, toiletries, and dirty laundry. Done right, a well-packed suitcase spells more space, less stress, and an overall better trip through the airport to the hotel and back to home sweet home.
