Keep Calm and Carry-On: Secrets to Packing Like a Professional Organizer
In case you’re wondering, the answer is yes–people often ask us how we pack for trips as professional organizers. First a small caveat: we have put TIME and ENERGY into curating a wardrobe that works well for us. More on mindful wardrobes later–let’s talk about the chore of packing.
Traveling can be an amazing experience, but how do you pack everything you need and stay organized while traveling?
In this post we’ve pulled from fellow experts in the field such as Marie Kondo, who contributed to an article about packing from Condé Nast Traveler, which you can reference here. Still, we have our own hacks we are excited to share, so scroll on if you’ve got the travel bug!
Define the travel experience you are packing for.
Here are some prompts to make parameters for your upcoming travel and what you will pack:
Think about your intentions for the trip
Determine the average low and high temperatures of your destination
From ultra low maintenance to glam queen, where do you fall in terms of desired looks?
Once you decide the goals of your trip and the climate at your destination, you’ll better understand what is important to bring.
2. Use planned events on your trip to choose major outfits and then use those clothes as building blocks for other outfits.
In the article mentioned at the beginning of this post, Marie Kondo says that travel is a great opportunity to allow yourself simplicity–you can bring less clothes on your trip to cut down on daily decisions that you usually experience in everyday life. Maybe you don’t know if you’re going to want to wear the purple cocktail dress or the green full-length dress to your cousin’s wedding, and you could bring both, or you can choose now to save yourself the decision later.
As professional organizers, we like to plan by outfit or by key pieces that can create several outfits.
3. How to pack for a trip with outfit-planning
First, let’s imagine a travel scenario. On a hypothetical trip, you’re aware of the following non-negotiable activities: going to the beach, fancy family dinner, and hopping on a couple work zoom calls.
Here are your hypothetical non-negotiable major outfits:
x2 swimsuits for beach time (to account for drying-time)
x1 cute jumpsuit for family dinner night
x1 business-professional top for work calls
The following are negotiable items that accessorize and provide styling flexibility:
x1 wrap skirt (as a cover-up)
x1 tight tee (layer for the jumpsuit)
x1 loose linen pants (for the business outfit, which can double as comfy bottoms for another activity!)
Here’s a preview of all the potential outfits in hypothetical vacation situations:
Jumpsuit
Layered jumpsuit with tight tee
Business top and tuck in the jumpsuit for just the pants (not possible with all jumpsuits, we know…)
Tight tee and linen pants for lounging with family
Business top and linen pants for the BIG meeting
Linen pants and bathing suit top for a stroll on the beach at sunset
Tight tee and wrap skirt for a last-minute shopping trip
Business top and wrap skirt to feel pretty for brunch
We’re not stylists, right, but the idea is that a little goes a long way with some creative flexibility. And remember, you’re traveling–no one expects you to wear something completely different every day, anyway!
Instead of asking what to bring or not bring, ask yourself how you can maximize whatever you DO bring–it’s all about versatility.
4. The key to the actual packing of the suitcase: don’t let it get to you!
There are lots of ways to pack and feel good about the organization and efficiency of your bag. Remember, nothing is right or wrong, it’s just right or wrong FOR YOU!
We definitely recommend using the KonMari folding technique to be able to see the contents of your suitcase at a glance, but there are times when packing feels like a game of tetris, and that’s okay. If you aren’t satisfied, try a method you haven’t used yet and see how it goes. Here are some examples:
KonMari folding method (all your clothes will be visible)
Invest in packing cubes (small cubes for socks and underwear, larger cubes for tops and bottoms)
Rolls (similar to KonMari, but rolling clothes sometimes saves space, too)
Whatever you do, keep similar categories together while packing, make them easy to find and access–without making wardrobe soup!
Some other extra packing tips:
Wrap up shoes in a dust bag or plastic bag to prevent them from getting other items dirty (Your shoes are also a good place to stuff extra socks–this preserves their shape!)
Leave some extra room in your suitcase for unexpected shopping, gifts, and other circumstances.
Have a pre-packed toiletries bag (restock it before your trip) and don’t forget to leave room in your suitcase or bag for this one!
5. Organized For Good Insider Packing Tips:
Here are some additional packing tips that our professionals swear by:
Erin’s Top 3 Packing Secrets:
“Shoes are the bulkiest to pack, so start there! Keep your options minimal and build outfits that work around them.”
“The KonMari fold works beautifully for roll-aboard suitcases and usually makes packing cubes unnecessary.” See my folding tutorials here
“Refillable toiletry bottles reduce single use plastics and keep your routine consistent whether home or away.” See an example here
Abbie’s Top 3 Packing Secrets:
“I take everything out that I think I’ll wear, then I go through the trip in my mind and pick out the outfits as if I’m getting ready for those activities right then–this helps me see what can have more dynamic purpose and serve multiple occasions”
“When I’m actually on the trip, I make sure I have a surface where I can keep my bag open. This helps me keep things in order and fold and return clean or dirty items to their place in the moment.”
“Have a section or bag inside your suitcase dedicated to dirty laundry. This saves me so much time unpacking.”
What does a mindful, curated closet have to do with packing for travel?
It turns out an organized closet has everything to do with an organized travel experience. When your wardrobe is decluttered and well-arranged, packing is a breeze because you have already eliminated items that cause unnecessary noise for the process of getting dressed.
Mindful decluttering and consuming are crucial practices for efficient travel packing.
By curating a wardrobe that reflects your lifestyle and needs, you can ensure that every item in your closet serves a purpose (or multiple purposes!). This approach maximizes the usefulness of each piece you bring along during your travels.
Want to declutter and organize your closet for the summer travel season?
We’ve got you covered. If the thought of decluttering and organizing your closet seems overwhelming, we are here to help you create a functional and stress-free wardrobe space. Our professional organizers will work with you to assess your needs, purge unnecessary items, and implement practical storage solutions. (And we can help with packing advice, too!)
Gain the peace of mind that comes with a well-organized space today, and travel easy knowing you have what you need.
