Spring break is fast approaching, and many families are excited about their upcoming travels. However, one of the worst parts about traveling is the agonizing task of organizing the family’s travel gear.
Today, I’m going to share with you some tips for packing and organizing travel gear. With a plan, the task will be less stressful. Organizing everything in advance is best. You’ll know exactly where everything is when you are ready to go, reducing the frustration associated with vacation prep work.
Organize Gear by Activity
If you are packing and organizing travel gear for the whole family, it’s easiest to arrange everything by activity. As an example, if you ski each year, you’ll want to keep everything associated with skiing in one place. Same with swimming and summer vacation gear. All of your bathing suits, beachwear, sunglasses, sun screen, and beach toys can be stored in one place. This means that when it’s time to pack, you’ll know exactly where everything is.
Depending on the amount of equipment and clothing you have, you may need to separate things further for each person. Organization is all about finding a system that works best for your needs.
Our Favorite Storage Solutions
Here at Pretty Neat, we love using see-through containers. This is the easiest tips for packing and storing travel gear as you can see exactly what’s inside each bin. These containers usually last for years, and you can always find them in a wide variety of sizes. They’ll be easy to move around and can be stacked within your closet, garage, or attic. If you are driving to your next vacation, you can even take the clear containers with you.
Another great option is using mesh drawers, which can help to organize any area of your home. A mesh drawer still allows you to see everything inside and makes things easily accessible. One of my top tips for packing and organizing travel gear is to consider a standalone storage table. These are often much less expensive than a built-in unit. Plus you can move them between rooms as your needs change.
Where to Store Travel Gear
After picking the best storage solution, the next step is to select the room to store your gear in. You may only need the majority of these items a few times a year. You don’t want them to be in the way. If that’s the case, consider placing them in your garage or attic or on the top shelf of your closet. Don’t let your travel gear take up space that should be reserved for everyday items and clothing.
Store your travel gear where is makes semse and is convenient. It’s also handy to find an area where there’s enough space to pack for your vacation. Then you don’t have to keep moving boxes around your home to pack suitcases.
What to Store Together
One common area of concern is whether to store your travel clothing in your regular wardrobe or if it should be kept elsewhere. When it comes to clothing, We recommend to separate the items by how often you wear them. If you just use certain clothing items when you are going on vacation, they’ll go with the travel gear. This helps avoid cluttering up your closet. You will know exactly where to find them when it’s time to pack.
If you also wear your vacation clothing during the winter or summer at home, consider adding this to your regular wardrobe.
Reduce How Much You Pack for Vacation
When it comes to vacation packing and organizing, reduce the number of belongings you bring on your trip. How many times have you been on a trip before and not used half of the things in your suitcase?
Try to make packing for vacation less stressful by buying items that serve multiple purposes. Shoes and bags are a great example of this. Multipurpose items will also save precious space in your suitcase if you are flying to your next vacation destination.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Packing and Organizing Travel Gear
When organizing your travel gear or packing for a vacation, there are a few key things to avoid. First, I always recommend having a specific place in your home for your travel gear. Without this, you’ll find that everything is disorganized from the start, which makes packing for your trip even more time-consuming.
Ensure you have a system in place with your family so that everything is returned after each use.
Finally, go through your gear regularly, especially if you have growing kids. There’s no point in keeping items of clothing that no longer fit or don’t work. You’ll then know what you need to replace ahead of your next adventure.
As with any type of organizational project, it’s important to remember that every family has different needs and requirements. Our homes are all different, so you shouldn’t expect what works for one person, to work for you. Customize these key tips to fit your Individual needs and function.
If you are struggling to organize your travel gear, follow these tips for packing or consider using a professional service to assist you. Here at Pretty Neat, we’d love to help you with organizing your travel gear. Contact us today for assistance.
