I have always loved to travel; explore different cultures, admire foreign architecture, indulge in new cuisine, and get truly excited by fashion. Travel inspires me and inspires my design. The last time I was packing for a trip, locally here in Australia (I love to retreat to the Blue Mountains, Barossa Valley, Byron Bay, Bowral, all of the Bs!), I realised that I fill my suitcase using a very familiar methodology. Trust me, this is an interior design blog, but I’m going to showcase a little of my packing advice along the way too.
Start planning
Benjamin Franklin said ‘If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail’. As interior designers, we are in the middle of the planning process every day. We are planning the best way to use space in our client’s home; we are planning which colours, textures and finishes will work well together; planning and coordinated skilled tradesmen; planning the FF&E procurement, delivery and placement. I appreciate the importance (and necessity) of planning, and I treat planning for a trip just as seriously.
My tip – start packing two weeks out, but start planning a few months ahead. This gives plenty of time to obtain any items that might be needed for the trip.
My packing follows a process like my design work follows a process. ‘What space do we have to work with?’ is replaced by ‘what do I have in my wardrobe?’. Planning ahead ultimately leads to less stress. Your wardrobe says a lot about you, it’s a way of expressing your unique personality. This is why when working with clients who are unsure of what colours to use in their home, I encourage them to look at the colours of the clothes they wear the most, as they will be most comfortable surrounded by those familiar shades.
Everything but the kitchen sink…
Believe it or not, I try to keep packing light. After all, it’s not about too much or too little, it’s about packing the right things. There are always key items that should be on your packing list (I recommend you make one), for example, I always travel with a cardigan or jumper (weight depending on the climate of the location). A pashmina, especially on a plane, as it’s extra warmth if I feel cold. In summer I make sure I’ve packed a few white t-shirts, in winter I swap the t-shirts for white shirts.
In interior design, certain spaces are always going to require key items on the ‘list’ for a room. A bedroom will always require a bed and frame, furniture to accompany this with practical yet complementary lighting. A lounge room wouldn’t be a lounge without somewhere to sit. I feel the same way about my holiday shoe collection (I will pack a pair of sandals or two, always a pair of sneakers, comfortable walking shoes and boots if it’s cold).
Colour palettes and accents
Personally, I opt for a neutral palette in my neatly packed portable wardrobe on wheels. I can then create different looks/colour combinations using carefully selected accessories such as a beautiful scarf or pashmina in colourful but muted tones or adding a neutral-toned bag that will work with everything, usually an over the shoulder bag for convenience. And this is how we combine colours in interior design, except instead of a silk scarf it’s a pretty linen cushion, a statement array of flowers or a boldly patterned cotton throw. Speaking of layers…
My tip – if you’re visiting Europe in the colder months, make sure to pack some layers. It might be cold outside but it’s usually always warm inside, so it’s good to be able to add layers and equally shed them when you need to.
Practical tips (practical design)
As interior designers, we are ultimately responsible for creating spaces that our clients not only love, feel emotionally attached to and that instantly make them feel at home, but spaces that work within the practicality of their busy lives. Finishes that require little maintenance, furniture and fabrics that will stand the test of time, and places to store things away.
When you’re packing away all of these carefully planned and selected collections of items, make them as accessible as possible (like you would expect items in your home to be). My advice? Packing cubes. Particularly if I’m going on longer trips overseas, these packing solutions change the game. I can carefully organise items within my case, often not even needing to unpack them when I reach my destination. As a home should be; easy to navigate, have clever storage solutions, and be full of style.
My holiday wardrobe focuses on three things: comfort, luxury and sophistication, the same as my design work. Today I hope that you have not only taken away some tips for planning for your next trip, but some elements to consider for your next interior design project.
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