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If the thought of fitting a week’s worth of clothes into a suitcase drains the joy from holiday planning, you are not alone. Organising expert Dilly Carter, best known from the BBC series Sort Your Life Out with Stacey Solomon and founder of Declutter Dollies, offers ten practical packing strategies to reduce stress and save space.
Start with a plan
Carter stresses that effective packing begins well before you unzip your suitcase. Assess how long you will be away, check the likely weather and list any planned activities so you can match outfits to events rather than throwing everything in at random.
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She recommends laying out outfits on a rail or flat surface and aiming for mix-and-match combinations. Choosing a few versatile trousers and tops that work in different pairings can cut down on volume without limiting choices.
Simple, space-saving techniques
Packing cubes are one of Carter’s go-tos for keeping items sorted. She suggests grouping similar clothing together so you can transfer a cube into a hotel drawer and treat it like a temporary organiser.
To increase capacity and reduce creases, fold items then roll them from the bottom. The method compacts garments and makes it easier to locate what you need.
One-shoe capsule thinking helps avoid bulky luggage. Pick a single pair of sandals or shoes that suit most of your outfits and resist packing multiple pairs “just in case.”
Where you store shoes matters. Use the zip lining often found around a suitcase’s handles to separate footwear from clothes—an under-used pocket that keeps dirty soles away from fresh garments.
Toiletries, essentials and small hacks
Decant toiletries into travel-size containers and pack only the amounts you will actually use. Smaller bottles save weight and free up space for other items.
If you are travelling with children, a compact game pouch can be a lifesaver on planes and long drives. Small toys and activities placed in an easy-to-reach bag reduce boredom and mid-journey meltdowns.
Towel clips are a small accessory Carter always includes for beach trips. They secure towels on loungers during windy days and keep belongings tidy without extra effort.
For last-minute creases, Carter recommends an unusual trick: use a hairdryer on a warm setting while pulling the fabric taut. It’s a quick option when an iron isn’t available.
Packing the car and the journey essentials
Working with Halfords on car-packing advice, Carter highlights the value of packing in the order you will use items. Load the car so that the things you need first are easiest to reach when you arrive.
Finally, prepare a grab-and-go bag containing snacks, chargers and travel essentials, and keep it within arm’s reach. Carter suggests placing it in the footwell beside you rather than buried in the boot where it becomes inaccessible on the road.
You can view the rest of Carter’s car packing tips on Halfords’ website.
