Gift Wrapping Ideas: Beautiful Ways to Wrap Presents
A beautifully wrapped present is the first thing anyone sees, long before they know what's inside. It needn't be elaborate or expensive. A few thoughtful choices - the right paper, a good ribbon, a small natural detail - are usually all it takes.
These are our favourite gift wrapping ideas, from simple everyday finishes to Christmas gift wrapping ideas for the whole pile under the tree. If you'd like help with the folding itself, our step-by-step guide to how to wrap a present neatly covers the technique.
Start With Paper and Ribbon That Belong Together
Coordinate, don't match. The most polished presents pair a patterned paper with a ribbon picked out from one of its colours. A deep green ribbon on a red and green Christmas print, or a dusty pink ribbon on a gingham, looks considered without being fussy.
Choose a good weight of paper. Heavier paper folds crisply and doesn't tear at the corners, which instantly makes a gift look neater. Browse our wrapping paper for prints that work all year round.
Use sheets rather than rolls. Flat sheets save cutting down to size, sit neatly in a drawer and keep your wrapping table tidy.
Let the ribbon do the work. A generous length of cotton ribbon, tied in a full bow, lifts even the simplest paper. Our cotton ribbons are by Studio Carta and sold by the metre, so you can buy exactly what you need. For a bow that holds its shape, see how to tie the perfect ribbon bow.
Simple Gift Wrapping Ideas That Look Special
Mix patterns on one present. Wrap the gift in one print and add a band of a second paper around the middle, a few centimetres wide, before tying the ribbon over the top. Two prints with a shared colour always sit happily together.
Make the most of double-sided paper. Fold back the edge of the seam so the reverse shows as a neat stripe, or use the second side as a contrasting band. It also means no plain white shows when you pleat or gather the ends.
Try brown kraft paper with a coloured ribbon. Plain kraft paper is a quiet, lovely backdrop. Add a bright ribbon, a sprig of greenery and a handwritten tag, and it looks entirely deliberate.
Add washi tape details. A strip of washi tape can seal a seam, edge a tag or run in a stripe across plain paper. It holds well and looks decorative rather than functional.
Finish with a wax seal. A wax seal pressed over the ribbon where it crosses, or over the seam of a parcel, gives a present an old-fashioned, letter-like finish.
Cut out simple shapes. Stars, hearts or little trees cut from card or spare paper can be threaded onto ribbon or stuck to plain wrap. White stars on a dark paper look especially striking.
Natural Touches
Dried flowers. A small bunch of dried lavender, statice or grasses tucked under the ribbon adds texture and a gentle scent.
Sprigs of greenery. Rosemary, eucalyptus, holly or a little fir cutting slipped into the bow is the simplest finishing touch there is, and it costs nothing if you have a garden.
Pine cones, berries and citrus. In winter, a small pine cone, a sprig of berries or a slice of dried orange tied into the ribbon feels instantly seasonal.
String and raffia. For a pared-back, rustic look, swap ribbon for natural string or raffia, ideally with something green tucked underneath.
Tags, Notes and Handwritten Details
Write it by hand. A handwritten tag is the detail people remember. Even a single line - a name, a small joke, a "for later" - makes a present feel personal.
Make the tag part of the design. Choose a tag that complements the paper and ribbon, and think about where it sits. Threaded onto the ribbon close to the bow usually looks best.
Use a photograph. For family presents, a small printed photo of the recipient in place of a tag is charming, and makes it clear whose gift is whose.
Tuck in a small card. A mini card slipped under the ribbon gives you room for a proper message. Our gift wrapping accessories include everything you need to finish the job.
Wrapping in Fabric
Borrow from furoshiki. The Japanese tradition of wrapping gifts in cloth is one of the most beautiful ways to present a gift. Place the present diagonally in the centre of a square of fabric, bring two opposite corners up and tie them, then tie the other two corners over the top.
Use what you have. A tea towel, a silk scarf or a square of linen all work well, and the wrapping becomes part of the gift. It's especially useful for awkward shapes that paper doesn't like.
Christmas Gift Wrapping Ideas
Choose a palette for the whole pile. Pick two or three Christmas papers that share a colour and use the same ribbon throughout. Under the tree, the presents look like a set rather than a jumble.
Go vintage. Vintage-inspired Christmas prints feel nostalgic and warm, and pair beautifully with deep red or dark green ribbon. Browse our Christmas gift wrapping collection.
Bring in the garden. A sprig of holly, a few berries or a little fir cutting tucked into each bow ties every present together.
Add a sticker or seal. A festive sticker over the seam or the centre of the bow is a quick, tidy finish when you have a lot to wrap.
Keep it recyclable. Choose paper without glitter, foil or plastic coatings so it can go in the recycling on Boxing Day, and use cotton ribbon that can be saved and reused - it's lovely for hanging tree decorations the following year.
Make an evening of it. Set aside an evening, put on a favourite Christmas film and gather everything before you start: paper, ribbon, tags, sharp scissors and a good tape dispenser.
Our Favourites for Christmas Wrapping
Ideas for Awkward Shapes
Round gifts and cylinders. Candles, tins and tubes look wonderful gathered at each end like a sweet wrapper and tied with ribbon. Our guide to how to wrap a cylinder or round gift walks you through it.
Bottles. Wine and spirits are easiest wrapped with a gathered neck and a generous bow. See how to wrap a bottle as a gift.
Soft or lumpy presents. Fabric wrapping, or a simple box wrapped in paper, is often kinder than trying to fold paper around something with no edges.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I make a simple gift look special?
Use a good-quality paper, a generous length of ribbon in a coordinating colour and a handwritten tag. A small natural detail, such as a sprig of greenery or a dried flower tucked into the bow, finishes it beautifully.
What are some easy Christmas gift wrapping ideas?
Choose two or three Christmas papers that share a colour, use the same ribbon on every present, and add a sprig of holly, rosemary or fir to each bow. The whole pile will look coordinated with very little effort.
What can I use instead of wrapping paper?
Fabric such as a tea towel or scarf, brown kraft paper, or a pretty box all work well. Fabric wrapping is especially good for awkward shapes and becomes part of the gift.
How do I make gift wrap more sustainable?
Choose recyclable paper without glitter, foil or plastic coatings, use cotton ribbon or string that can be reused, and keep tape to a minimum. Washi tape and fabric wrapping are both good options.
Should ribbon match the wrapping paper?
It looks best when it coordinates rather than matches exactly. Pick a colour that already appears in the paper's pattern, or choose a deep neutral such as dark green, deep red or black.
The Most Important Thing
The best gift wrapping ideas are rarely the most elaborate. Good paper, a ribbon you love, a handwritten tag and a small natural touch are enough to make someone pause before they open it. That moment is what the wrapping is for.
Explore our Christmas gift wrapping and wrapping paper, designed in our North London studio, alongside our ribbons and gift wrapping accessories.