The average person in the U.S. spends $1,048 during the winter holidays. Between buying gifts and holiday travel, it’s no surprise why it’s the biggest spending season of the year.
But, what good is spending money on gifts if the presentation falls flat?
The right gift wrap can transform even the simplest of gifts into a treasured gift from a loved one. The trouble is, wrapping gifts is a major source of holiday clutter and stress.
Luckily, we’re here to help. Read on to learn how to avoid the most common present wrapping mistakes so you can enjoy a relaxed (and organized) holiday season.
1. Not Leaving Enough Time to Wrap Presents
Even when you buy gifts well in advance, present wrapping always seems to fall by the wayside. If you don’t make wrapping presents a priority, you’ll be that person who’s frantically wrapping presents on Christmas Eve.
Plus, your wrapping might look sloppy and you’ll go into a panic when you realize you’re out of tissue paper.
Instead of waiting till the last minute, plan to wrap presents right after you buy them. That way, you won’t be rushing around at the last minute.
2. Forgetting to Put Name Tags on Gifts
A common wrapping mistake people make is forgetting to label their gifts as soon as they wrap them. There’s nothing more frustrating than seeing a pile of wrapped presents, but you don’t know what’s in them.
To avoid this problem, write out the gift tag before you start wrapping. You’ll know exactly who that wrapped present is for. Tape it on and start wrapping the next gift.
3. Not Keeping Gift Wrapping Supplies Organized
Searching your closets and drawers for wrapping paper, tape, and bows is a waste of time during the holiday season. Save yourself the hassle by investing in a hanging gift wrap organizer.
Stash wrapping paper, gift bags, and tape in one handy location and you’ll have everything on hand to wrap presents. When the season ends, put everything back in the organizer and you’ll be set for next season.
4. Not Designating a Space for Present Wrapping
If you don’t have a space to wrap gifts, you’re more likely to put it off to the last minute. That’s why you should designate a place with a flat surface to wrap presents.
Use a desk in a spare bedroom, a work table in the garage, or even a spare table in the basement as your holiday wrapping station. Leave your supplies there and head to that spot as soon as you buy a gift off your list.
If you have limited space, use the kitchen table or even the living room floor to wrap presents.
5. Relying Solely on Wrapping Paper
Wrapping paper can be expensive and so much of it isn’t recyclable. Plus, as the holidays get closer, it’s harder to find the best designs.
Getting creative with your wrapping can save you money and add a personalized touch to your gifts. You can use spare pieces of fabric, unused wallpaper, or even tablecloths.
You can also use plain brown craft paper to wrap gifts. Add some ribbon or piece of evergreen or make a simple polka dot pattern with a marker.
6. Turning to Store-Bought Gift Bags for Everything
Gift bags are handy for last-minute wrapping, but the bags aren’t cheap. If you’re traveling for the holidays, it’s more difficult to pack gift bags than wrapped boxes.
That said, you don’t have to invest in a bunch of gift boxes. You can wrap presents in cereal boxes, shoe boxes, or even make your own gift bag out of wrapping paper.
You could even put the gift in a reusable storage container or basket and make it a part of the gift. Or better yet, you can save old gently used gift bags throughout the year in an organizer and re-use them when needed.
7. Stressing Over Hard-to-Wrap Presents
Bulky gifts like bicycles, play sets, and large quilts are notoriously hard to wrap. They often don’t come in boxes which makes them difficult to wrap.
That said, you shouldn’t stress if you don’t have the perfect box or enough wrapping paper to cover it. The most important thing is to keep the gift a surprise until the recipient can open it.
You can try tablecloths, DIY gift bags made from wrapping paper, or even oversized holiday gift bags from the dollar store to wrap oddly-shaped gifts.
8. Running Out of Wrapping Supplies
Have you ever tried to wrap your last present of the season only to be a few inches short on wrapping paper? You either have to switch to a gift bag, get creative, or head to the store for more supplies.
The best way to keep this from happening is to stock up on supplies at the end of the season. Early January is one of the best times to buy wrapping paper. You can find gift wrap, gift bags, bows, and gift tags for huge discounts.
Restock your wrapping paper storage containers at the end of each season so you have enough supplies for next year.
9. Not Disguising Obvious-Shaped Presents
Books, jewelry, and DVDs make great gifts. But, it’s easy to guess what they are before you open them, if you wrap them as is.
Luckily, there’s a solution. Try wrapping a small jewelry box in a shoe box or even a plant pot to throw them off the scent. Your recipient will delight in the surprise as well as your gift.
10. Misjudging the Amount of Wrapping Paper You Need
One of the most common wrapping mistakes is not using enough wrapping paper. You’re left with a gap of a few inches that shows the box. You might need to cut a larger piece of paper, cut a small one to fill the space, or switch to a gift bag.
The best way to avoid this is to check the amount of paper before you cut. You can always cut some off if it’s too big of a piece, but you can’t put it back on.
Start Organizing Your Holiday Gift Wrap Today
It’s never too early to get your gift wrap supplies in order. You can keep separate wrapping organizers for holidays, birthdays, and other gifts to keep things organized.
With these tips, you can enjoy stress-free gift wrapping at the holidays and all year long.
If you’re in search of more ways to live a clutter-free life, Regal Bazaar can help you get organized. Check out our complete collection of organizational products today.