During the holidays, gift wrapping can be a laborious part of preparations, but with a little planning and a few simple techniques, you can transform this task into an enjoyable and creative process. House & Garden sought advice from paper design, style, and packaging accessory experts, offering a complete lesson on how to make your gifts look impeccable.
Pre-Wrapping Preparation The first step in achieving a professional result is organization. Create a wrapping kit with everything you need: double-sided tape, a good pair of scissors (not kitchen shears), kraft paper, jute twine, and tags. Preparing these tools in advance reduces stress and makes the process more efficient.
Before you begin, make sure the object you are wrapping is presentable — remove unnecessary packaging and use a few layers of protective paper inside for fragile items.
The Basic Wrapping Technique One of the most common mistakes is using too much paper, which can make the corners look messy. To avoid this, wrap the paper around the gift before cutting it to size: this ensures that it covers completely and leaves only a little extra material for overlap.
Double-sided tape is recommended for a clean finish without visible marks on the exterior.
