 Last month, I helped my client Annabel* pack for a month-long trip. I arrived at her house to find her suitcase overflowing with piles of folded shirts, pants, and accessories and multiple bags of toiletries. “I’m going to need at least two suitcases,” said Annabel. My Tetris-trained mind took note of the empty pockets of space between the piles. “You know,” I said, “if we rolled all the clothes instead of folding, I’m sure we could fit it all in this one suitcase. It’s pretty big.” Annabel was game to try, so she let me take everything out of the suitcase and re-pack it. Here’s my packing method. WHY ROLLING BEATS FOLDING One of the simplest, yet most effective, packing hacks is rolling your clothes instead of folding them. Rolling compresses items like t-shirts, pants, and dresses into tight, space-saving cylinders that fit neatly into your luggage. This method not only saves space but also reduces wrinkles, keeping your outfits looking fresh. HOW TO ROLL YOUR CLOTHES Now don’t just grab a t-shirt and start rolling from the collar down. There are some tricks of the trade you need to know first! Each type of clothing gets rolled in a specific way.
Now that you have all your clothes in tight little rolls, arrange them side by side in your suitcase. Stack them like logs for easy access. Balance the weight in the suitcase by putting the heavier clothes (e.g. jeans) at the bottom and lighter clothes toward the top. Pro tip: Use packing cubes to group rolled clothes by category (e.g., tops, bottoms, activewear). Cubes keep everything organized and compress items even further. Stuff shoes with socks. Your shoes take up the most real estate in your luggage so don’t neglect the space inside them. Socks are the perfect shoe stuffers, but accessories also work well. This maximizes space and helps your shoes maintain their shape during travel. Position shoes along the edges of your suitcase. Fill bras with underwear. To maintain the curve of your bras, nestle rolled underwear into the cups to fill the space. Bonus tip: Throw a gallon ziplock bag into your suitcase for laundry or in case you have to bring home a wet bathing suit. USE EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY Beyond rolling clothes and stuffing small items into larger ones, look for other ways to utilize small spaces in your luggage. Tuck small items like chargers, earbuds, or jewelry into side pockets or gaps between clothes. Use a slim pouch for documents (passports, tickets) to keep them flat and accessible. Compress bulkier items like jackets into their sleeves or hoods to keep them small. Consider your travel outfit. Wear your chunkiest shoes and bulkiest layers onto the plane so they don’t take up any space in your suitcase. PACK SMART WITHOUT SACRIFICING STYLE Packing smart doesn’t mean sacrificing style or comfort—it’s about being intentional with your space. I’m happy to say that I easily got Annabel into one suitcase that she could manage by herself. By rolling your clothes and making the most of every square inch of your suitcase, you’ll travel lighter and arrive ready for adventure. Try these tips on your next trip, and let me know how they work for you! Ready to Pack Like a Pro? Download my free Packing Checklist to stay organized and ensure you never forget an essential again. Happy travels! Have a packing tip that’s worked wonders for you? Share it in the comments below!  *Name changed to protect the disorganized.
0 Comments
 During our recent visit to Ohio, my mother-in-law surprised me by saying she’d like us to help her with some decluttering. Yay! She’s an inveterate collector of anything antique and/or sentimental, so I was surprised she was ready to pare down.
While I helped Mom in the living room, my husband and his father checked out the basement. In a corner of the storage area, they came across an old-fashioned cardboard clothing box. Inside, Doug discovered an old military hat…but his father had never been in the military. “Dad, what is this?” he asked. “Oh, that’s Jim’s hat from the Air Force.” Jim? Who’s Jim? He’s Doug’s mother’s mother’s second husband’s brother, of course. So, Doug asked the logical next question: “Why do you have this?”  Welcome to 2026! Have you made your resolutions for a new you this year? Will you be hitting the gym every day? Creating a whole new spending plan? Completely organizing your entire house? You’re totally on top of everything, right?
Maybe not so much. Honestly, once I clean up from the holidays and start getting back to the reality of a normal schedule, January is nearly half over! It’s natural to want to set some intentions for improvement when the calendar rolls around to a new year. What’s unrealistic is thinking that you’ll accomplish them in the first month. This year, to take on your organizing projects, make January your month to come up with a plan. TAKE TIME TO REGROUP Put away the holiday decorations, giving yourself permission to get rid of any you aren’t crazy about anymore. Put away any new gifts you received and—yes!—return, exchange, or even donate any you don’t like or won’t use.  Do you dream of having family and friends gather at your home for the holidays? But maybe looking around your disorganized house makes you think this is an impossible dream.
 Do you dream of a closet transformation, but think it’ll take way too long? I hear you! If you can’t bear the thought of tearing apart your whole closet, my quick tips will get you closer to your dream closet with a minimum amount of work. 1. Invest in new hangersNot a frivolous indulgence, all new, matching hangers will make your closet instantly look neater. Read my blog about hangers to find the right ones for you. 2. Create CategoriesArrange your clothes according to use, not color or length. Casual, dressy, summer, workout, lounge, etc. This makes it quick to find what you need.
 Is there a room in your house that you’re afraid to enter? Do you open the door, look away, and just chuck things into it? Are you scared of what you might find lurking under the piles in there?
Even when it’s not close to Halloween, I get calls to tackle what clients call “The Scary Room.” Do you have one? Whether it's your basement, garage, attic, or that spare room tucked away from prying eyes, this space has become the go-to spot for all the things you don’t know what to do with. You probably don’t even know what’s in there anymore. Let’s tackle this challenge together!  My client, Jenny* has a pristine, beautiful home. If you walked into her house, you would never think that she'd have any need to work with a professional organizer. But open a drawer, cupboard, or closet and you will discover Jenny's secret. She is a stasher. I have a deep understanding and sympathy for stashers because my mom was one too. If she had something she didn't know what to do with, she would stuff it into a cupboard or drawer, thinking she could decide about it later. If it was something she thought could be useful, then she saved it “just in case.” It was hard for her to let go of things, so it was just easier for her to stash them away and never give them a second thought…until the drawer was so packed that she couldn’t open it or the contents of the closet came spilling out onto the floor. Use my free downloads about LETTING GO to find your pain points and learn how to take action. Questions for Letting Go Keys to Letting Go
 There’s something magical about vacation mode—that blissful escape from the usual rush. Whether it’s a sun-soaked summer break or a breezy long-weekend retreat, taking time away lets you hit pause, breathe deeper, and take life at a slower pace than your everyday life allows.
However, when vacation mode ends, we all have a hard time jumping back into the swing of the daily routine. When the vacation ends, do you have a hard time jumping back into the swing of the daily routine? Is your home still disorganized with stuff you brought home from your trip and haven’t put away? Is the family having trouble getting out the door in time? You’re not alone! Let’s rebuild the rhythm of your day — one simple habit at a time — to bring calm and simplicity to your everyday life.  Have you caught the decluttering bug, but your family is still clinging tightly to their excess stuff? Let me show you how to lead your family, understand their mindset, and make it easy for them to join you in streamlining the house.
1. SHOW THE WAY If you’re frustrated by clutter in your home — stuff on the counters, clothes on the floor, cosmetics all over the bathroom — the first thing to do is tackle your OWN clutter. Don’t point the finger at your family members because nagging never got anyone to make lasting changes. Stop playing the clutter blame game and focus on your own stuff. Once they see how decluttering is making your life easier, they’ll start to follow your lead. They might even ask you for help!  It's June! The summer sunshine is calling and all you want is to be outside! But hear me out — June is the best time to tackle that basement organizing project that you’ve been putting off.
Why? Well, first of all, you’ll be organizing in the cool comfort of a space that’s out of the summer heat. Secondly, the basement is where you store a lot of your summer entertaining and outdoor gear, so you’ll want to get it ready to use. Lastly, now’s the time to set up your dehumidifier to make sure your stuff stays fresh. So, trot down those steps and see what you’ve been stashing away! To make the most of your efforts, pay attention to my Do’s and Don’ts of basement organizing. |
Categories
All
Archives
March 2026
|
RSS Feed