How to Wrap Christmas Presents

Wrapping presents is an art. No seriously. It doesn’t have to be the frantic fight to find the end of the tape frenzy that happens each Christmas. It can be mindful, soothing – even, dare we say it, fun. And there’s real joy in a beautifully wrapped gift too, it shows care and attention spent on the lovely thing we’ve bought and the lovely person it’s going to. It builds the anticipation of what’s inside.

But how do you do it? How do you swap wrangling the wrap for expertly smoothing the paper? This guide covers it all, while making sure your wrapping is low impact on the planet too.

1. Pick your tools wisely

The end result is only as good as the tools. Sure you could save a bit of cash with cheap scissors and paper that tears in a strong breeze, but you’ll cost yourself in the long run. You’ll end up getting through more paper and replacing the scissors next year. Instead invest in quality materials and tools (and learn how to sharpen your scissors) and the whole wrapping job becomes a lot easier.

Here’s your kit list.

• Quality wrapping paper – choose a thick paper which is 100% recyclable (bonus if it’s also recycled) Avoid anything glittery, shiny or wrapped in plastic for the sake of the planet. ]
• Paper taper – fully recyclable paper tape means no tedious tape stripping on the big day. We love the paper tape at Seed & Paper, it makes tape art!
• Sharp, good quality scissors – dull blades are the enemy of neat edges.
• Recycled or paper ribbon and second hand or paper trimmings – the final touches
• Tissue paper – ideal for adding volume, or for padding those awkward shapes.

Top tip: lots of charities do lovely wrapping paper. Buy from them and you’ll get good quality materials, and you’ll be donating to important causes.

2. Do little and often

The best way to avoid wrapping stress is to stay on top of it, avoiding the hectic Christmas eve panic wrapping situation as best you can. Try and wrap as you go or set aside a few days in December to do tackle it. Making your environment as comfy and festive as possible is also a gamechanger. Avoid wrapping on the floor (think of your back!), try and find a table or desk. Crank up the Christmas tunes and make sure you’re well provisioned – we enjoy a mug of mulled wine and a steady supply of gingerbread.

3. Cut with care

The trick to not cutting too big or too small? You might guess the answer: a little quick measuring! Use ribbon or string to quickly wrap around your gift then use the length to help size up your paper. Make sure you leave extra to cover all the side and save any offcuts – you can use them for smaller bits or decorating labels.

And of course you’ve not going to be only wrapping perfect squares, but don’t worry, awkwardly shaped gifts just need a little lateral thinking. For long, thin objects (like candles, make up, pens) try wrapping them like a cracker, with twists at the end. For bottles set them base down on the paper then bring the paper up around them, twisting the top and securing with ribbon.

4. Prep the tape before you wrap

You’ve cut the perfect paper, folded it up beautifully and now you can’t move an inch even though you need the tape. It happens to us all. The best way to avoid it is to cut your pieces of tape first and leave them waving off the edge of a desk or table – then they’re all ready when you need them. Also, the best part of using beautiful paper tape is that you don’t need to worry so much about hiding it away. No yellowing plastic here, just lovely designs!

5. If you get stuck, go non-traditional

If you have a really awkward shape, or you’ve run out of paper, you might need to think outside the box for your wrapping. We’re loving gifts wrapped in reusable fabric like old scarves (inspired by the Japanese method furoshiki). You can also use layers of tissue paper with plenty of ribbon – it’s a lot more forgiving than classic paper.

6. Add finishing and personal touches

Top tip: last year’s Christmas cards make excellent gift tags. Cut the fronts away or any designs out and then hole punch them so you can add ribbon.

More tips from a wrapping expert

We asked gift wrapping expert Jane Means, who does wrapping for all sorts of prestigious businesses, to share her top tips for how to wrap presents like a pro. She told us that “just like fashion, gift wrapping is all about dressing to impress. You want to tantalise the recipient and build a sense of anticipation of what lies underneath.”

As an international gift-wrapping expert, Jane’s art takes her around the world, and she uses that as inspiration.  “When returning from India I am always inspired to use bold, bright colours, whereas trips to Scandinavia inspire a much more pared back look. I also take a lot of inspiration from nature. If I see a beautiful flower, I’ll take a photo of it and then look to add the colour to my ribbon collection.”

Don’t worry if you’re not jetting off anywhere, you can also you the online world for inspo, take to Pinterest or Instagram to looking for colours, textures and styles that could inspire your wrapping.

Wrappers, you’re now ready to go! We hope the tips are useful. Remember you can share any others or your faves with us over on Insta. And never forget: you’ve got this, you can find the end of that tape!