10 holiday packing tips from Stacey Solomon’s Sort Your Life Out organisation guru Dilly Carter

The countdown to a summer holiday is usually filled with excitement, from daydreaming about lazy days by the pool to sipping cocktails in the sunshine. However, that eager anticipation can quickly fade when it’s time to face a mountain of clothes and the challenge of packing it all into a suitcase.

Dilly Carter, the lead organising and decluttering expert on the BBC series, Sort Your Life Out with Stacey Solomon, and founder of Declutter Dollies, says the secret to stress-free packing is preparation.

“Lots of people find packing stressful because they don’t plan properly. Many people overthink it and get overwhelmed before they even started packing,” says Carter.

She believes that getting organised before you travel makes all the difference.

“Planning in advance is essential for a smooth holiday. When everything is organised, it’s ready to go,” says Carter.

“You don’t want to spend your trip constantly heading back to your hotel room because you’ve forgotten something. Being prepared means you can make the most of your holiday and spend more time relaxing on a sun lounger.”

If packing always feels like a last-minute scramble or you regularly forget the essentials, here are 10 tips to help you pack smarter to start your holiday off on the right foot…

1. Plan out all your outfits

To avoid overpacking, Carter says the best place to start is to pause and think about how many days you are going for and how many outfits you might need.

“Get a hanging rail out and think about what events you have planned and about what the weather conditions will be like,” advises Carter.

“If you are going away for seven days, hang up seven different outfits and think about potentially mixing and matching so you aren’t overpacking. See if you have three suitable pairs of trousers that you can wear seven different ways, for example.”

2. Use packing cubes

“Packing cubes are really helpful for categorising your items,” says Carter. “If you put all your tops in one packing cube, for example, once you get to the hotel you can put it straight into your room’s drawers and use it as a drawer liner.”

You can fit more clothes into each packing cube by folding and rolling.

“Fold each item and then roll them from the bottom so you can fit more clothes in. Rolling also helps avoid creasing,” says Carter.

3. Consider the one shoe capsule strategy

Shoes can take up a lot of space in a suitcase, so try to be selective.

“Pack a pair of flip-flops or sandals that will go with every outfit,” recommends Carter.

4. Pack shoes in the lining of your suitcase

“Most suitcases have a zip lining where the suitcase handles are built in. Undo this zip lining, which you think is useless, and store your shoes here so they are separated from your clothes,” recommends Carter.

5. Decanter all your toiletries

Packing smaller toiletries saves precious luggage weight and space.

“Decanter all your shampoos, conditioners and body washes into travel-size containers, and just pack the amount that you will need for the duration of your holiday,” recommends Carter.

6. Include a games pouch for children

“If you’re travelling with young children, I would recommend packing a game travel pouch to help keep them entertained on the plane or during car journeys,” suggests Carter.

7. Don’t forget towel clips

Carter says towel clips are a simple but savvy essential that she never travels without.

“Towel clips are so super-handy for those blustery beach days so your towel stays super-neat on your bed and you don’t have to worry about it blowing away,” she explains.

8. Use a hairdryer to de-wrinkle in a pinch 

Creased clothes are a big pet peeve for many holidaymakers.

“My holiday hack is blow drying any creases out of my clothes,” says Carter. “Hold the item taut and blasting it with a warm hair dryer. It does the trick every time!”

9. Think about your car packing order

Dilly teamed up with Halfords to create 10 tips to help families maximise car space on their next summer staycation, and one of the main takeaways was to pack your gear in set-up order to ensure you don’t miss any essentials.

“Think of it like your morning routine – everything in the order you need it,” recommends Carter. “Pack what you will use first, last in the car, so it’s more accessible.”

10. Pack a grab-and-go bag

“Pack a grab-and-go bag that has all your snacks, chargers and essentials in that you might need for the journey,” suggests Carter.

Make sure that it’s easily accessible.

“Put in the footwell next to you because if it is buried in the boot, it does not exist on a motorway,” recommends Carter.

You can view the rest of Carter’s car packing tips on Halfords’ website.