For most travelers, luggage is a necessity which can be both a blessing, and a curse. No matter how hard you might try, there's no getting away from the fact that when we venture outside our homes to explore the wider world, we are forced to carry with us at least the essentials for comfortable living. Unless we are professional jugglers, we are destined to require some form of luggage to cart our wares about with us.



But one of the biggest problems with luggage isn't actually anything to do with being out and about on holiday. It almost seems to be a bigger problem back at home. These great new cases in which we can manage to fit half our wardrobe, our entire bathroom, and the kitchen sink, are fantastic for taking our essentials with us - but what do we do with the things once we are back home? None of us like the idea of having them sitting around on display. They may have looked pretty in the shop, but once we have lived out of them for a week or two, and they have been carted about various hotels, airports and coaches, they lose their aesthetic appeal.

Some people hurl their beloved cases up into the attic and promptly pretend they don't exist. Others have ingenious locations such as on top of wardrobes, hidden at the bottom of cupboards, under the stairs and in the shed or garage. However, there are two options that are worth considering which may help to make life easier.

The first is to consider buying nesting luggage. Many new sets available in shops today have been designed with the principle of nesting in mind. This means that your smallest bag will fit into the next size up, which will fit in the next one above that, and so on, resulting in one single, large suitcase into which all of the others are fitted.

This can have two advantages. The first is the obvious one - space. Rather than having several bags and cases which have to be found homes, you have just one single case which can be slotted in to some inconspicuous location. The other advantage of nesting luggage is that when you are away on holiday, you can pack your smaller items into the smaller bag, but nest this one inside a slightly larger bag. This means that, once you have been on holiday and acquired a beautiful collection of souvenirs, you can pack them carefully in one of the two smaller cases, and still have enough room for your smaller items to be packed. Effectively, you have gained a suitcase whilst on holiday.

However, another option, rather than hiding your cases one inside another, is to use them during the time you are at home, as useful storage cases. Many people use their suitcases to store their winter or summer clothes. This helps to keep them clean, dry and away from sight. I know at least one person who keeps her wedding dress in her suitcase, laying the dress out each time she goes away.

Perhaps you have a cupboard full of shoes which seem to collect in a heap at the bottom? Why not empty the bottom of your wardrobe, slide your suitcases in, and then store the shoes in there? It means that they are likely to remain in better condition, and be more accessible.

With just a little bit of thought, it is possible to get even better value for money and use out of your luggage!