Mastering the Art of Space-Saving Clothes Folding for Travel: 5 Pro Tips to Fill Your Bag Efficiently
Amidst an increasing number of bank holidays and the subsequent travel fever sweeping across the city, effective packing tactics have gained particular importance. With rising travel costs and luggage restrictions, knowing how to properly organize one's belongings for a trip can make a significant difference. Mastering the art of packing can ensure that baggage space is optimized, allowing for potentially room for souvenirs or luxury items.
Hence, we have compiled expert advice to help ease your worries about a bursting suitcase.
1. File-Fold for Structured Packing
For easily creaseable clothing items such as shirts, blouses, and tailored trousers, file-folding offers a practical solution for maintaining both neatness and accessibility. Amalie Ankersen, a professional organizer, finds this folding technique ideal for giving structure to packing cubes and suitcases.
Di Ter Avest, founder of Di Is Organized, also suggests using this method for added structure in your luggage. They explain that file-folding, common for closet organization, can be successfully applied to suitcases as well, allowing you to see your belongings at a glance without creating a mess.
Amalie Ankersen and Arabella Drake co-founded Ankersen Drake Home Organisation, a London-based luxury home organization company that specializes in transforming homes into beautifully organized, functional spaces. Arabella Drake's background in home and lifestyle organization, demonstrated by her book "Organize Yourself Healthy," has earned her recognition in various publications, including Forbes and Real Homes.
Di Ter Avest, in turn, is a sought-after professional organizer whose expertise has been featured in numerous publications, such as Today and ApartmentTherapy. Her accountability program and book, "Organize Yourself Healthy," have helped women worldwide streamline their lives and homes, resulting in reduced stress levels.
2. Roll Soft Garments for Easy Packing
When faced with the dreaded process of packing, Andrea Lewis, founder of The Organised Curator, recommends keeping it simple by rolling soft fabrics like cotton and linen to prevent wrinkles.
Both Amalie and Andrea agree that rolling is the preferred method for packing soft garments, as it saves space and keeps things smooth, while filling any empty corners of your suitcase effortlessly.
After attempting this hack myself, I can attest to the added space and the ability to accommodate more outfits or holiday shopping.
Andrea Lewis began her career working for esteemed brands like Soho House, LVMH, and Esteé Lauder, before founding The Organised Curator to bring her styling expertise to real homes. Having gained ten years of experience as an events designer, she understands the importance of maximizing available space to create beautiful yet functional living spaces.
3. Organize Clothes by Outfit
Planning outfits ahead of time helps save space and minimize decision-making. By keeping each look together, either rolled or in a packing cube, you can avoid digging through your bag and ensure you have every piece you need.
Both Amalie and Di Ter Avest support this method, finding it practical, especially for trips with children. Additionally, for added convenience, consider labeling your packed items for quick retrieval.
4. Utilize Packing Cubes
Packing cubes can be offered effective solutions for organizing your belongings during travel. By using them to sort items by type or by outfit, packing cubes can help maintain structure in your suitcase and make unpacking quick and easy.
Arabella Drake, professional organizer, and co-founder of Ankersen Drake Home Organisation, suggests using packing cubes as a way to categorize and contain your items, ensuring ease of finding what you need. Additionally, Andrea Lewis recommends folding clothes directly into the packing cubes to maintain their organization throughout the trip.
5. Employ 'Fold & Tuck' for Formal Clothing
When traveling for business or special occasions, the 'fold and tuck' method can help minimize wrinkles in your clothing. To adopt this method, button up your formal shirts, fold their sleeves inward, fold the body into thirds, and tuck the bottom under to maintain its shape.
When using this method, consider placing delicate items at the top of your suitcase or in a dedicated garment folder for added protection.
Well-Designed Luggage for Your Journey
When venturing on a journey during which space is of the essence, consider investing in high-quality, stylish luggage. The Paravel Aviator Grand Suitcase from Net-A-Porter, available in a beautiful tan color, boasts plenty of packing room for longer trips.
An Amalfi Hard Shell Cabin Suitcase, in an eye-catching sage green, might catch your eye if you're looking for cabin-friendly luggage for quick vacations. With its simple and chic design, the THULE Chasm Duffel Bag from Selfridges could be an excellent choice for day trips and spontaneous getaways.
- File-fold clothing items like shirts, blouses, and tailored trousers for a structured way to pack, maintaining neatness and accessibility, as suggested by Amalie Ankersen and Di Ter Avest.
- Roll soft fabrics such as cotton and linen to prevent wrinkles and save space, following the recommendation of Andrea Lewis, founder of The Organised Curator.
- Plan outfits ahead of time and keep each look together in packing cubes or rolled, for convenience and to avoid digging through your bag, as recommended by Amalie Ankersen and Di Ter Avest.
- Utilize packing cubes to sort items by type or by outfit for quick organization during travel, as suggested by Arabella Drake, professional organizer and co-founder of Ankersen Drake Home Organisation, and Andrea Lewis.
- Employ the 'fold and tuck' method for formal clothing such as shirts, to minimize wrinkles, by buttoning up, folding sleeves inward, folding the body into thirds, and tucking the bottom under, as recommended for business or special occasions.
- Invest in high-quality, stylish luggage like the Paravel Aviator Grand Suitcase from Net-A-Porter for longer trips, the Amalfi Hard Shell Cabin Suitcase for quick vacations, or the THULE Chasm Duffel Bag for day trips and spontaneous getaways, taking into consideration luggage restrictions and space optimization.
