Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Packing for a trip can be a little daunting. To help ease your burden, I created a list of ten packing tips that will cut down on your packing time and reduce the amount of luggage you need to bring on your trip. These packing tips will have you packing your suitcase like a pro in no time.
Tips for Packing a Suitcase Like a Pro
Packing Tip No. 1: Pick a Color Palette
Selecting a color theme for my clothes makes packing simpler. I usually pick a cool color palette with colors like blues, blacks, and whites. When you select a color scheme, you significantly limit the amount of clothes you have to choose from in your closet. With fewer options available, you reduce the time you spend figuring out which outfits to pack. You can also narrow down your shoe choices with a color theme in mind.
Packing Tip No. 2: Combine Your Clothes to Make Multiple Outfits
Clothes in a similar color palette allow you to create several outfits. For instance, you can wear the same pair of black pants with different shirts or repurpose a sweater with a pair of jeans or a black skirt. The mix and match game allows you to create several different outfits from fewer garments.
Packing Tip No. 3: Reassess Your Choices Before Packing Your Suitcase
Lay all your clothes out before you start packing your suitcase. Look at everything you plan to pack and decide if you need everything in front of you. Chances are, you can put a third of the clothes you laid out back in your closet. I use this trick in an effort to use a carry-on instead of a larger suitcase. Besides, if I decide I need something else, I have an excuse to buy something new on vacation!
Packing Tip No. 4: Wear Your Bulkiest Clothes on Your Travel Day
While you still have your clothes laid out, decide what to wear on your travel day. I suggest you look for the heaviest items and wear them on the plane. For example, are you packing a pair of boots, a coat, or a sweater in your suitcase? These items are great to wear on the plane because they will keep you warm and save space in your suitcase. Once you select your travel day outfit, put it aside so you don’t accidentally pack it.
Packing Tip No. 5: Roll Some of Your Clothes
Almost any blog post you read about packing your suitcase will mention rolling your clothes. I have mixed feelings about rolling my clothes. Rolling your clothes is excellent for exercise clothes, beach coverups, or wrinkle-free clothes. It’s unlikely they are going to wrinkle in your bag. However, for the rest of my clothes, I prefer to pack them in my suitcase the old-fashioned way.
I used this combination method on a recent trip, and it worked perfectly. I was able to put far more in my suitcase by rolling my exercise clothes and beach coverups while at the same time protecting my more delicate clothes using traditional packing methods.
Packing Tip No. 6: Pack Your Heaviest Items First
My next packing tip is to determine which remaining items are the heaviest. I place those items on the bottom. These items are least likely to be fragile or subject to wrinkles.
Packing Tip No. 7: Use Shoe Bags
I’m just going to say it. Shoe bags are awesome. They are necessary to keep the rest of your clothes free from the dirt on your shoes. Whether you are using an old purse cover, plastic bag, or a bag specifically designed for your shoes, shoe bags help tremendously. I invested in these shoe bags by YAMIU, and I am a huge fan. They hold high-heels, low boots, and everything in between. In addition, these shoe bags are also water-resistant (if you want to protect, let’s say, suede shoes) and can even be used to preserve shoes in your closet. I usually pack my shoe bags last.
Packing Tip No. 8: Put Your Socks in Your Shoes
When you pack tennis shoes or the like, there is room in your shoes for your socks. So, why not put your socks in your shoes to save some space. It will also help you determine how many pairs of socks you need and help remind you if you need special socks for activities like hiking.
Packing Tip No. 9: Try Packing Cubes
Fellow travelers have been talking about packing cubes for years. To be honest, I didn’t entirely get it. Why did I need them? However, I decided to buy the Amazon Basics Packing Cubes (set of 4) and put them to the test. And wouldn’t you know it, I found them helpful and a space saver.
On a recent beach vacation, I used one of the packing cubes to hold my bathing suits and another for my t-shirts. For the ladies out there, you can relate. We pack a lot of different bathing suits in our suitcases because we never know if we are going to be lounging around by the pool or participating in activities like surfing or snorkeling. With multiple bathing suits that are two pieces, you can end up with them mixed around in your suitcase, making it challenging to find the piece you want to wear. My packing cubes alleviated this issue, kept me organized, and saved space in my suitcase.
Packing Tip No. 10: Pack Wrinkle-Free Clothes and/or Pack a Travel Steamer
Wrinkle-free clothing can be terrific. Not having to worry about whether you will look like a wrinkled mess is one less thing to have to think about when getting ready for a fun night out. So, if possible, I try to pack clothing in my suitcase that will not wrinkle. But, I recognize that wrinkle-free clothing is not always possible.
If a dress, for example, is not wrinkle-free, I think to myself, is this dress something I need for my trip. If the answer is yes, I know I have to pack my trusty travel steamer just in case my dress wrinkles while traveling to my next destination.
I have used this travel steamer all over the world. It’s quick, easy, and does a terrific job of quickly getting out the wrinkles. Even someone like me, who is not good at ironing, can turn a wrinkled dress around in no time.
- Pro Tip
Fill the steamer with water below the maximum line for best results.
Packing Tip No. 11: Wrap Delicate items in Plastic or Tissue Papper
To avoid wrinkles and/or to protect delicate clothes, I either use a piece of plastic or tissue paper in between folds. The plastic or tissue paper helps to protect my clothes and reduce wrinkles.
Packing Tip No. 12: Only Take the Liquids You Need
When I am flying, I do my best to reduce the amount of liquids I pack in my suitcase. For instance, instead of packing the entire bottle of face soap in my suitcase, I’ll pour my face soap into a smaller three-ounce bottle. Trading my large bottles for smaller ones not only keeps less liquid in your luggage, but these bottles also take up less space. Using smaller bottles is another trick to take your favorite products with you without checking your luggage.
Packing Tip No. 13: Store Liquids in a Clear Waterproof Case
This one might seem obvious, but it’s worth mentioning. Liquids should be kept in a separate waterproof case when traveling. Your waterproof case can be as simple as a Ziploc bag or bag specifically designed to be waterproof. Keeping your liquids in a waterproof case can prevent accidental spills that can ruin your clothes. Plus, if you are aiming for a carry-on, you should keep your three ounces of liquid in a separate bag if a TSA agent wants to inspect your bag. The last thing you want is to pull all of your clothes out because you did not correctly pack your liquids. I have seen people at the airport forced to unpack their whole suitcase to find one small three-ounce bottle that fell in between a couple of pairs of pants. Don’t be that person. Pack your liquids in a clear waterproof bag.
Packing Tip No. 14: Invest in a Quality Toiletry Bag
A toiletry bag is essential when traveling. I have a Tumi toiletry bag and love it. The clear pouches allow me to see the items packed in each pocket. I don’t have to hunt around for my toothbrush or contact lenses. The Tumi bag is compact and holds surprisingly more than you might think. Another cool feature is that the Tumi bag comes with a tracking device if your bag gets lost. Super cool!
Packing Tip No. 15: Opt for a Jewelry Case Instead of a Plastic Bag
One of the tools I use to stay organized when packing my suitcase is a jewelry case. I use the jewelry case pictured above and it has separate sections for necklaces, rings, earrings, and bracelets. In addition to staying organized, I like this case because it is soft, flat, easily fits in my suitcase, and the design prevents my jewelry from getting tangled. I prefer to use a jewelry case over a zip lock bag for those reasons.
I hope you found these packing tips helpful and you can now pack your suitcase like a travel expert. You can also check out my articles on planning the perfect vacation and my list of road trip essentials! Drop a comment below and let your fellow travelers know if you have any other packing tips!
I’d love for you to subscribe to The Trav Nav!
To subscribe, just fill out your first name and email address below.
Pin to Pinterest
I love this! You have some really great tips! I’m going to refer back to this when I go on my next vacation! Thanks
Thanks, Cathy!
I love my packing cubes! They make everything so much simpler and more organized.
GREAT tips! I never thought of starting with a color palette, but going to give it a try for one of next trips where we are limited packing space! Thank!
Wow! If only I saw this post three weeks ago before I traveled to my hometown for Christmas. My husband and I were getting very crafty, but didn’t think of some of these tips lol. Thanks for sharing!
Wow! So many great practical ideas! I really need to remember these because I’m an expert over-packer. I’ve never thought of choosing a color pallet to limit the amount of clothes. I also LOVE packing cubes, which you mentioned. They help keep my stuff organized!
I am definitely one to roll my clothes so I need to find a good steamer. I’ll have to check out the one you recommended. I also never thought about putting my socks in my shoes!
Thanks for sharing!
All 17 of these packing tips are great! I do some of them already. One that I’m going to start is to reassess and look at everything before I start packing into the suitcase. I typically just pack until it’s full…and I always pack too much.
I used to do the same thing until I realized I over packing so much! I think this tip will really help you cut down on the amount of luggage you need for your next trip.
If we are flying or need to be able to claim our luggage, we are sure to always mark our bags in a way we can quickly identify. Love the pick a color suggestion.
Your idea is so smart since so many people travel with black luggage. Great tip, Christina!
Great tips for packing like an expert – I second the shoe bags and rolling some, not all, of your clothes. Also I agree that having just tiny amounts of needed liquids makes the most sense for air travel.
Thanks, Jenn!
Combining your clothes in a way that makes multiple outfits is such a good packing tip, what an easy way to turn a few shirts into so many outfits without taking up too much space in the suitcase!
These are all great tips! Picking a color palette is such a helpful recommendation. Arriving to your destination and having all of your clothes match is such a game changer! I also always wear my bulkiest/heaviest clothes on the plane, it makes everything fit so much better in the suitcase!
Love the color palate idea! I do that and I love it!
Reaccess and packing cubes are the best tips. Also, not wait last minute.
These are all phenomenal tips! Choosing a palette and clothing items that can match multiple outfits is a game-changer, especially when you’re packing for a long trip. Thanks for sharing!
I use packing cubes but I had no idea that you could get those bags for the shoes to keep the dirt away. Such a great invention!
These are great tips! I really need to get some packing cubes
I am impressed. I’ve travelled to 35 countries and pre-pandemic flew twice a week every week… and yet I hardly do any of those! My life is going to be so much easier going forward.
Wow! You are a world traveler. I love that my tips can even help an expert traveler like you.
All great tips that my husband and I both use. He is a business traveler and tries to economize on space whenever possible. Socks in the shoes is one of his tips too.