How to wrap a present: tips from the professionals on how to do it right
It's that time of year where we all have to devote some hours to wrapping presents for our nearest and dearest, and it can be one of the most labour-intensive parts of the festive season. To help ease things along, we've gathered advice from some of the tastemakers of the gift-wrapping world: paper designer Fin Fellowes of The Kensington Paperie, stylist Twig Hutchinson, and Annalise Fard, Head of Home at Harrods – plus our Style Director Ruth Sleightholme.
The prep
Forget the stress of a last-minute dash to the garage for some cheapo paper and emergency sellotape on Christmas Eve - making the things you’ve spent money and effort buying look tempting and beautiful for the recipients is definitely worth the extra time involved. - Twig Hutchinson
Don’t leave wrapping to the last minute. Reserve an evening for yourself, put a favourite film or some music on and mix a cocktail. Turn what could be considered a chore into a tradition you look forward to every year. - Fin Fellowes
Tier your presents as you compile your Christmas shopping list so that you can anticipate the wrapping requirements. Tier 1 presents get the full treatment, Tier 2 you might wrap in Kraft paper but add a sensational silk ribbon, etc. - FF
Assemble your wrapping kit in advance, splitting it into two categories: ‘Utility’ and ‘Frivolity’. The former should include Japanese washi tape, double-sided roller tape, a single hole puncher, sharp scissors (please don’t use your kitchen scissors!), a good pen, Kraft paper and jute string. For the latter, look no further than thekensingtonpaperie.com! - FF
Before wrapping your present, make sure it looks as presentable as possible, removing any unnecessary packaging. For soft or fragile items you might like to first wrap them in a few layers of tissue paper. - FF
How to wrap a present
I think the biggest mistake people make when wrapping a gift is using too much paper. This can ruin the finish and stop you from getting those perfectly neat corners. To avoid this, wrap the paper around your gift before you cut it to size to ensure it goes completely around, leaving only an inch or two of overlap. - Annalise Fard
Apprehensive wrappers will benefit from papers with a stripe or grid-like pattern as these create inherent cutting and folding guides. - FF
The easiest option when it comes to wrapping lots of little gifts is to use a box. I love the idea of giving each item its own little box and stacking them one on top of another, from large to small. Wrapping each of the gifts separately and tying them all together makes for a super exciting package to receive. Another great option is a hamper - displaying lots of gifts in one go can really have a massive impact. - AF
When it comes to tape, it's double sided or nothing. Seeing sticky tape or stickers on the outside of the paper can make the wrapping look disjointed, whereas double-sided tape gives a seamless look. I would recommend using a tape dispenser, as double-sided tape is a little more fragile and can sometimes tear. - AF
When it comes to tying your ribbon, learning to tie a Tiffany bow (there are plenty of guides on YouTube) will impress your recipients no end - after university I worked at their flagship store for a few months and I learnt how to tie their famous bow. Little did I know that it would become an essential skill for life. - TH
Inevitably the ribbon remnant you’d hoped to use will be too short, so instead make use of it by tying a free-standing bow and stick it to your present with a glue dot. - FF
Choosing papers
Once you've got your wrapping technique perfected, you can use almost anything to wrap a present. If you suddenly need to wrap something unexpectedly, a page of neat newspaper print or a colourful page from your favourite magazine can look really effective. If you're feeling creative, fabric offcuts or even wallpaper can work really well and add texture to your gift. Even kitchen foil can work! - AF
For family stockings, colour code your tissue paper and swap Japanese washi tape for sheets of interest-appropriate stickers (kittens, unicorns, WWII aircraft…). I bulk buy SatinWrap® tissue paper every year from Suttons Packaging; it’s colourfast, acid-free and comes in the most phenomenal range of colours. - FF
I’m a firm believer that you don’t have to use “Christmas” wrapping paper for your gifts - of course there are some beautiful festive papers out there, but I prefer to make my presents look Christmassy with rich colours and statement bows. I think the key to a beautiful present is to mix a little bit of high with a little bit of low - so if you’re using a very classy, subtle, marbled paper for example, combine it with a glitzy, glittery ribbon in a complementary colour - you still need some sparkle and naff at Christmas time. - TH
Say no to ‘Ho ho ho!’ and pick wrapping papers that will last beyond the season or a specific event. Believe me, there’s no design that won’t feel festive if given the appropriate finishing touches. - FF
For a completely matching look, cut your gift tag out of your wrapping paper or create a contrast with a clashing print. I also love the idea of using wooden tags - we have chosen some beautiful laser-cut wooden snowflake designs, which you can write on the underside of. - AF
I am a huge fan of adding additional sensory experiences to gift wrapping - whether that's a few drops of your favourite fragrance on some tissue paper inside the gift or a string of mini red and silver jingle bells attached to your gift tag, the sound of which adds to the anticipation of opening the gifts.- AF
Avoid gimmicks: a sprig of rosemary might look exquisite on Instagram but it will start to look tired after a long car journey or a few nights under the tree. - FF
If you’re putting something in the post, why not make the outer wrapping just as exciting as what’s inside? Brown paper packaging tied up with string and all that! Something as simple as a decorative adhesive label on a plain cream envelope will make your recipient feel cherished from the moment they see it in the pile of post. - FF
Our favourite sources for wrapping paper and accessories
For clashing bold colour, I love the papers made by Cambridge Imprint - I’ve been trying out yellow and bright pink and am thrilled with the results, especially when you add in a Scribble & Daub fuschia bauble gift tag. - TH
Choosing Keeping is also brilliant for all manner of gift tags and ribbons to jazz up your wrapping. I’m particularly taken by their gold foiled labels, a little like the ones you’d find on a nice jar of homemade jam - I use them in place of sellotape to seal a gift, which has the added bonus of serving as a tag you can write the recipient’s name on. - TH
Compton Marbling is another treasure trove for wrapping: their beautiful marbled papers look fabulous offset by a clashing ribbon. -- TH
If, however, you want to keep it all sophisticated but still with a bit of a twist, why not consider brown? Shepherds Bookbinders (possibly my favourite shop in London) sells a Nepalese brown floral paper which looks almost edible with a rich chocolate-coloured satin bow to set it off. - TH
Here at House & Garden we have more favourite sources, including, of course, The Kensington Paperie for exquisitely sumptuous papers that will work all year around, as well as lovely stationery for all kinds of occasions. For ribbons, head to VV Rouleaux in Marylebone for every possible kind you could wish for, from wide velvet ribbons to glittery sparklers.
More ideas for how to wrap a present
Sarah Hogan1/10You can use up leftover rolls of wallpaper or wallpaper sample sheets as a strong and beautifully decorative alternative to traditional wrapping paper. However, wallpaper can be stiff and harder to work with than wrapping paper, so scrunch and unscrunch it in order to soften it up (it will survive amazingly well). Then wrap it tightly around awkwardly bulky presents to celebrate – rather than hide – their shape.
Wallpapers (from top step):
- ‘China Tea’ (blue), ‘Trousseau’ (berry) and ‘Floral Ogee’ (blue), all by Daydress, all £138 a 10-metre roll, from Dado.
- Waxed cotton cord, £15.75 a 25-metre roll, from MacCulloch & Wallis.
- Label cards (blue), £6.50 for 40, from Present & Correct
Sarah Hogan2/10Flat with a flourish
A paper gift, such as a voucher, can be hard to present with panache. Surplus office stationery offers fun presentation possibilities. Alternatively, decorate envelopes with rubber stamps or vintage postage stamps, or bands of toning ribbon.
- ‘Confidential (1970s)’ envelopes, £4 each; ‘Archive’ folders (sand, olive), £6 each; ‘Scallop (1950s)’ seals, £4 for 20; ‘Gold’ seals, £4 for 5; ‘Cat’ 1973 Danish stamps, £4.50 for 5; all from Present & Correct.
- ‘Peach’ envelopes, £4 for 10; ‘Classic’ roller-ball pen, £12; all from Papier.
- Printing blocks, ‘Dash’ and ‘Four Dots’, £4.86 each; and ‘Hoop’ and ‘Large Spot’, £3.76 each; ‘Tuxedo Black’ and ‘Summer Sky’ ink blocks, by Memento, £4.50 each; all from Cambridge Imprint.
- Grosgrain ribbons (pink, red), from £2 a metre; velvet cord (pink), £1.70 a metre; all from VV Rouleaux
Sarah Hogan3/10Fun and games
Old board games (especially ones in which a missing piece or torn card renders the game useless) are a treasure trove for fun embellishment. Cut up bingo cards or sticky notes to create sets of geometric gift tags, or use brightly coloured counters to jazz up paper-wrapped gifts.
- Spotty wrapping paper (orange, green), £3 a sheet, from The Conran Shop.
- 'Plain Colour Roll Wrap’ paper (grey), £3.49 a 2-metre roll, from Giftwrap UK.
- Green kraft paper, £8 a 10-metre roll, from John Lewis. Colourful jute twine (orangetwist, pinktwist, greentwist), £4.25 a spool, from Nutscene.
- ‘Color Bingo (1970s)’ game cards, £4 each; ‘Geometry Stickies’, £4.50 a block; all from Present & Correct.
- ‘Leaves’ gold-plated and chrome-plated metal scissors for paper, £20, from Choosing Keeping.
- ‘Curve’ ballpoint pen, £12, from Papier
Sarah Hogan4/10Line your pockets
Use wrapping paper to create a layer of pockets into which you can tuck dried flowers or a gift card – this is ideal for a book. Visit YouTube for step-by-step instructions.
- Brown kraft wrapping paper, £5 a 10-metre roll, from John Lewis.
- Colourful jute twine (henna, olivetwist), £4.25 a spool, from Nutscene.
- Edible dried flowers, chrysanthemum and jasmine, both £6 a packet; and kale, £8 a packet; from Scribble & Daub.
- ‘Letterpress Border’ cards (brown), £6.50 for 50, from Present & Correct
5/10Flora and fauna
Covent Garden stationery specialist Choosing Keeping offers a highly covetable selection of thoughtfully researched – and always beautiful – fine stationery and paper goods in its appealing store and online. These include both new and hand-picked vintage items.
- Italian decorative wrapping paper, from £3.50 a sheet; and ‘Blue Floral’ small paper gift bag, £7.50; Swiss satin ribbons (ivory, mint water), from£16 a 25-metre spool; ‘Rose’ and ‘Angel’ enclosure labels, £5 for 5; ‘Bird’ stickers, £8.50 for 10; ‘Cat Couple’ engraved Christmas card,£6.50; ‘Leaves’ gold-plated and chrome-plated metal scissors for paper,£20; all from Choosing Keeping.
- Background, gold kraft paper, £8 a 10-metre roll, from John Lewis
Sarah Hogan6/10Cool as folk
The north London-based shop Folka commissions traditional craft items from across Eastern Europe, especially Poland, including hand-made wooden toys, papercut decorations and straw pieces. It also sells lovely stationery.
Gold crepe paper, by Cartotecnica Rossi, £8.50 a roll; coloured crepe paper, £8 a roll; paper cornflower, by Alicja, £4; ‘Wycinanka’ papercut rooster gift tag, £7; ‘Wycinanka’ papercut lady and gentleman gift tags, £9 each; straw bundle, £12 for a bouquet; straw star, £4; straw angel, £8; ric-rac ribbon (gold), £7.50 for a bundle; blue satin ribbon, £7.50 for set of 6 ribbons; ‘Pink Flora’ wrapping paper (used as background), £3 a sheet; all from Folka
Sarah Hogan7/10Office management
Present & Correct sells carefully curated, modernist stationery at its east London shop and online. It also sources an unrivalled collection of vintage office ephemera.
- ‘Chart (1970s)’ chart paper (mint), £28.50 a roll; and (brown), £24.50 a roll; vintage graph paper, £8.50 for 6 sheets; ‘Ruler’ stickers, £3 for 5; library card and pocket, £1; ‘Graph’ sticky notes, £4.25 a block; and ‘Geometry Stickies’, £4.50 a block; ‘Graph Tapes’ (red/blue, green), £6 a roll; ‘Shape’ steel scissors (triangle green), £22.50; all from Present & Correct.
- Double satin ribbon (crow), 60p a metre, from VV Rouleaux.
- Background, brown kraft paper, £5 a 10-metre roll, from John Lewis
Sarah Hogan8/10Festivals, fiestas and news flashes
Look out for vintage ephemera you can use for wrapping – such as old French newspapers, copies of the Beano and Monopoly money. Try companies like RE, which has a store in Northumberland and also sells its dazzling selection of fun recycled and rare pieces online.
- Envelope made of newspaper, from a selection, from The Old Cotton Reel at Etsy.
- ‘Stalogy’ masking dots, £4.50 for pack of 3; Post-it page markers, £5.49 for pack of 5; and ‘Energy’ Post-it coloured sticky notes, £14.29 for pack of 6; all from Cult Pens.
- ‘Mosaic Bright’ washi tape, £2.95 a roll, from MT Masking Tape.
- ‘Sacred Heart’ newspaper decoration, £15.50; coloured jute twine, £1.50 a roll; both from RE.
- Background, ‘Plain Colour Roll Wrap’ paper, £3.49 a 2-metre roll, from Giftwrap UK
Sarah Hogan9/10Vintage vibes
It is easy to buy vintage postcards and ephemera online (try Etsy), and at markets and car-boot sales. Then use them as a basis for choosing paper and ribbon for a coordinated bag of gifts. From black-and-white photography to graphic design, there is a starting point for any taste. We found a set of vintage clan tartan postcards, which have a fun, shortbread-tin vibe, and then picked bright papers and ribbons to match.
- Vintage tartan postcards, £5 each, from Cavalier Postcards at Etsy.
- Recycled double-satin 38mm ribbon (ink, scarlet, tangerine), £4.25 a 5-metre roll; 25mm ribbon (sunflower), £3.75 a 5-metre roll; and 15mm ribbon (green), £3.25 a 5-metre roll; all from John Lewis.
- ‘Plain Colour Roll Wrap’ paper (red, yellow, lilac, dark blue, dark green, grey), £3.49 a 2-metre roll, from Giftwrap UK.
- Narrow tartan woven ribbon, £1.85 a metre, from VV Rouleaux
Sarah Hogan10/10Cottoning on
Unbleached cotton – or calico – is cheap when bought in quantity and is easy to decorate using acrylic paint or leftover emulsion. The easiest way to wrap a present with fabric is to place the item in the middle of a square piece at a 45-degree angle, then fold the fabric around the gift and tie the ends together with a knot. Here, unbleached cotton painted with zebra stripes has been secured with horn pins.
- Lightweight calico cotton, £3.50 a metre, from Dalston Mill Fabrics; with bespoke zebra stripe pattern, painted by Annie Millar.
- Large horn safety pins, £19 each, from Beyond Measure.
