Sort the items you want to bring into different categories: clothing, footwear, cosmetics and toiletries, electronics, and valuables.
Remove any hangers or bags from all articles of clothing.
Lay one article of clothing down flat on a bed or other firm surface, and roll it up. Start at the bottom end of each piece and roll up tightly until you reach the top, then sit the item inside of the luggage bag crease-down to prevent it from unfolding. The folding method for clothing is one of the most widely-used methods, and is efficient because it helps prevent wrinkles and maximizes space.
Repeat this for all other clothing. Aim to cover only 1/2 to 1/3 of the bottom in the bag.
Lay any pairs of footwear together in the empty section remaining in the bag. To use as little space as possible, keep each pair facing head to toe when packing.
Place any cosmetic or toiletry items in a makeup bag. Canvas and other soft makeup bags can work, but hard containers are ideal because they best prevent any makeup or other items from getting damaged during travel. Wrap any liquid products --- shampoo, conditioner, and liquid foundation, for example --- in sealed plastic bags first, to avoid a mess if one or more happens to spill.
Organize any electronic devices --- keep each device together with its associated plug and ensure everything is turned off before packing --- and wrap in a piece of clothing or other soft material to cover the devices and protect them from damage. According to the Transportation Security Administration, you should avoid packing oversized electronics such as full-size video game consoles and DVD players, as this can slow passage through airport check-in.
Wrap any valuable or breakable items separately in tissue paper before packing. The tissue paper cushions the items and helps prevent them from cracking or breaking.
