10 Gift Wrapping Tips for the Holiday Season
I was listening to a podcast one of these days and the guest who was a successful entrepreneur was asked what’s the most important personality trait the entrepreneurs must have in order to succeed in their businesses.
He said, “if you break a cookie in half to share, you shouldn’t be hesitating to give a bigger piece to others.”
Thinking about others first or being in service to others is important for many professionals and businesses today. I wouldn’t call it a personality trait, but rather a part of our humanity. The good thing is that this can be learned.
It’s also an essential attitude for someone to be really good at gift wrapping. It’s probably the most important personality trait you must have as you learn this art.
Think of the different ways you can surprise someone (in a good way!)
If you give someone half a cookie, how would you present it so that it becomes a mini surprise that will bring someone smile instead of just giving a cookie broken in half?
I remember back in the school days in Japan, we used to give small snacks to each other. They’re like tiny gifts: cookie, chocolate, candy, etc. and we often wrap them in napkins with cute patterns then seal it with decorative tape or yarn, or put them into little bags with cute stickers. And it was exciting to give and receive those gifts and the wrapping showed your manners.
No matter how small the gift is, if you can think about a way to entertain the receivers with the presentation of your gift, you can be a true gift-giving master!
With that in mind, here are my 10 tips to create the perfect presentations for your holiday gifts.
1. What’s their favorite color?
Just as wearing your favorite color makes you feel more “you”, when someone receives a gift wrapped in their favorite color(s) it will bring their mood up! It’s a small way to show you know them and you care about who they are.
A splash of color can really liven up a gift wrap. Make sure to choose one that the receiver will like.
2. The handwritten message
Doesn't it make you feel that someone thought about you when you receive a handwritten message? It’s more personal and it makes you imagine them writing it. If you don’t like your handwriting, keep it simple, just a few words will do. The gesture is important - it could be just a tag with a name, "To xx" or "Merry Christmas", this completes the personalization for your package.
Gift giving is all about being personal and connecting. Make it easier by adding your personal message to your gift.
3. Add ornamentations
Adding a holiday ornament to your gift such as silk or paper flower, candy cane, etc will brighten up the the overall feel of the presentation (plus it becomes an extra gift for your receiver!) It’s a beautiful way of marking the festive season and creating a visual sense of abundance.
Bring nature in your gift wrapping with slices of dry fruit or spices. Involve all senses for a complete gift giving experience.
4. Paper Pleats
Add a few folds to your paper and create a refined look for your gift wrapping. The extra effort will make the receivers feel really special, having received such a carefully wrapped gift! It’s especially effective with solid color papers or those with small motifs. It adds a focus point for the eyes and adds more depth and texture to the package.
Japanese gift wrapping is famous for the elaborate pleating designs. These work best with regular shapes as they can be easily showcased on the flat surface. Use contrast paper to create a “belt” for a little bit more elegance.
5. Think inside the box
The presentation inside the box is as important as the outside. Use tissue papers or the shredded/crinkled paper to make better presentations inside the box, while protecting the content. You can carry over the same theme as the outside of the package, create pleats designs with tissue papers, and/or use ribbon to tie and secure the gift. Remember, your goal is to heighten the anticipation of the person about to open it and give them something to “discover”.
Inside of the box is just as important as outside of the box. Be sure to carefully wrap the gift items in tissue paper before you move onto creating the outside wrapping. Thoughtfully protecting the items is just another level of refinement within the art of gift wrapping.
6. Neat presentations
Make sure your paper is wrapped around the box tightly and folded in straight lines. Use double sided tape, so that it’ll be concealed and no tape will show on the outside. Some holiday gift wrap papers are thin and easy to tear, so pay extra attention when wrapping around the corners and edges of the box - if you pull too tight, it can tear. You can try and double it by folding it in half (if the size permits) or use two sheets. Alternatively, wrap the box with a double layer of tissue paper and then use the wrapping paper on top.
“Neat” relies on symmetry, balance and consistency. Keep these in mind if you’re aiming to create an elegant or luxurious presentation, or when you have multiple items to wrap and they’re all for the same recipient.
7. Use scraps for decoration
Use the scrap paper left from your wrapping to create a matching gift card or a paper bow. It's a great way to personalize your package and you’ll be reducing your waste too! If you need inspiration check our the Free Videos in the Learning Center .
Gift toppers are perfect to really make it special. By making them your own, you can easily match them to fit in your wrapping theme.
8. Eco-friendly style
Speaking about reducing waste, it’s really easy to give gifts in an eco-friendly style. There are some really nice eco-friendly papers available, Wrappily.com - one of my favorite brands. Another option would be Love Vivid , who have an exquisite collection of papers made in India.
Other recommended alternative wrapping materials are soft burlap, brown kraft paper, magazine or newspaper sheets, fabric squares etc. I like to use Furoshiki to create an elegant look and slightly more Japanese inspired. A rule of thumb would be to make sure it’s visually aesthetic and makes the gift look better than it would without the wrap.
Gift wrapping without costing the Earth. As technology advances, there are more and more beautiful looking, eco-friendly wrapping materials available. Wrappily already proved it’s possible.
9. Use tapes wisely and creatively
Excess use of clear/double-sided tape is totally unnecessary and it'll be harder for the receivers to open their gifts. Make sure to place only a small piece of tape to close your package. One thing to keep in mind is the strength of the tape To make it more fun and creative, use washi or decorative masking tapes as part of your wrapping designs.
Double sided tape is ideal when you want your gift wrapping design to appear seamless and neat. Use a good quality one, but use it sparingly.
10. Don't let shipping stop you from making a beautiful presentation
If you're shipping or traveling with your gifts, protecting them while keeping a nice presentations is a challenge. Make sure you use soft types of ribbon so that the bows don’t get completely squashed in the transport box or in the luggage. Grosgrain, silk or satin ribbons are good choices for keeping the shape. Alternatively, Furoshiki fabric gift wrapping is also great as they're strong and flexible and won’t get damaged while being transported.
Furoshiki wrapping style is the ultimate zero-waste approach on gift giving. Use it as a carrier or make it part of the gift itself!
I hope these tips help you upgrade your gift wrapping this holiday season!
You can learn all of these techniques through Shiho Masuda Gift Wrapping Academy!
Visit the Learning Center for a collection of free video tutorials and other resources, or check the available online course using the button below.
Happy Holidays!