How to Store and Organize Your Travel Stuff at Home

Airplane Comfort

When you fly economy as much as we do, you learn to bring all the things it takes to stay comfortable onboard. We have a whole stash of airplane comfort items like earplugs, an eye mask, a travel blanket, and a neck pillow that we always take on long-haul flights. Keep them all in one place and neatly stored by using a packing cube. This way, all you have to do is take the entire cube and toss it in your personal item. Everything you need will be easy to find when you're packing and easily accessible when you're on the plane. We like this set from Shacke Pak which comes with a free travel laundry bag. (The smallest cube size is perfect for our airplane essentials; we use the other sizes to hold clothes.)

Travel Purses and Totes

We used to keep all of our purses and tote bags stuffed inside our largest bag, but this led to forgetting what we had (meaning some bags went unused for years) or having to create a big mess whenever we needed to use the biggest bag, since everything had to be dumped out. Instead, why not keep all of your wristlets, tote bags, and purses organized and easy to spot with this Luxury Living Park-a-Purse Organizer from Bed Bath and Beyond? This compartmentalized unit keeps your bags upright and in full view, and prevents straps from getting tangled together.

Pilfered Hotel Samples and Re-fillable Toiletries

Sorry to every hotel that we've stayed in that had really nice travel size toiletries—because we totally stole these perfectly proportioned samples to use on future trips. Except, we always end up throwing our toiletries, travel-sized toothpastes, and mini bottles of contact solution in a random drawer, forgetting that we already have 20 small shampoo bottles, and buying more when we're packing for the next trip. Make it easy on yourself next time you're packing by storing all of your travel sized stuff in this Over the Door Mirror and Cosmetic Organizer from Bed Bath and Beyond. We recommend dividing everything by category (travel toothpastes and toothbrushes in one compartment, shampoos in another, etc.) so you can easily see your inventory.

Makeup

We don't have separate makeup for travel and everyday life, which means that we're usually tossing our essential items into a plastic bag at the last-minute. Going forward, we're going to keep our cosmetics in the LayNGo Cosmo from The Organizing Store. The Cosmo starts as a flat mat on which you can easily lay out all of your makeup as you're using it. Then just cinch the cord lock and it transforms into a cosmetics bag that you toss into your carry-on. It's padded to protect everything, and is machine washable for easy cleanup when you come home. Plus, it converts into a clutch with a handle that you can use if you didn't pack a wristlet for evenings out.

Suitcases

City-dwellers, we know you feel our pain on this. Even a small carry-on suitcase takes up a lot of space in a small, urban apartment—and a checked-size bag takes up even more! We store our carry-on inside our largest suitcase, which helps to cut down on the clutter. But where to put the larger bag? Sore both of them neatly on an added closet shelf, like in this Closet Organizing System. Or, grab an inexpensive pair of bed risers to create some extra storage space under your bed, and slide your bags under there. (We also love the folding suitcases from Biaggi, which take up half the space, if you're considering upgrading your bags.) Bonus tip: keep your travel lock attached to your suitcase so you always know where it is.

Passport

We do such a good job at hiding our passport from potential burglars that we often can't find it ourselves. Keep it safe and easy to locate by getting a fire and flood-proof safe for your house.

Medications

Over-the-counter medications like aspirin and Tums are essential to bring with you on trips. Easily see how much you have left in each bottle and keep your travel medications organized by storing them in see-through reusable bags like this set from BlueAvacado. We recommend dividing your drugs by type (pain relievers in one bag, stomach medications in another, etc.).

Travel Chargers

Never forget your back-up battery, converter, or camera charger again when you keep them all together in this portable universal electronics accessories organizer. It has slots and zippered compartments for cords and chargers of all sizes, and it folds up for easy packing. Store everything in here and then toss it in your suitcase so it's out of sight but easy to find.

Miscellaneous Items

There's a lot of random stuff you need on trips—think cameras, cases, external smartphone batteries—that you also need in every day life. Keep your gear organized and ready to go in a compartmentalized box Sutton Divided Storage Box from the The Organizing Store.

Caroline Morse is a travel writer who believes in the power of a well-organized suitcase (and home). Follow her adventures on Instagram @travelwithcaroline and on Twitter @CarolineMorse1.

More from SmarterTravel:

• 10 Packing Mistakes You'll Definitely Regret
• Nine Packing Tips for Lazy People
• 10 Basic Packing Tips Every Traveler Should Know

Some review products are sent to us free of charge and with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions, positive and negative, and will never accept compensation to review a product.