Decorating & Design
December 16, 2021
65 Of House & Home’s Best Holiday Gift Wrapping Ideas
Whether you’re wrapping gifts for a hardworking hostess or adorning presents for family and friends, there is no shortage of gift wrapping inspiration in our pages. When you put so much effort into decorating the Christmas tree, why not have beautiful presents to match?
Get inspiration from 65 of our favorite gift wrapping ideas!
When wrapping your gifts, add pretty ribbons and cords, then elevate the look by attaching tassels or bells as toppers.
Create your own painted brushstroke gift wrap like florist Alison Westlake (aka Coriander Girl), and complete the look with foraged accents.
Find the DIY instructions here.
Create your own reusable Hanukkah crackers or borrow the same technique to wrap up a magazine as a gift.
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Instead of buying new holiday paper, wrap your presents with images from your 2021 calendar.
For smaller items, use the whole calendar page as gift wrap and, for larger items, start with a foundation of kraft paper, then cut out decorations (like this star motif) or scenes from your calendar, and simply glue them on.
See how to make this wrap here.
Use cardstock, old calendars or wallpaper ends to make these festive treat cones and fill them with goodies. This is a clever way to wrap all kinds of small homemade goodies.
See how to make them here!
Natural greenery isn’t just for your mantel! The next time you’re out for a walk, pick up some individual sprigs, dried flowers or leaves and tuck them underneath the ribbon of each present for a festive and fragrant dose of nature.
To take this natural greenery look to the next level, try cutting and arranging birchbark, leftover scraps of wrapping paper and fallen foliage into miniature designs.
Give your old greeting cards the attention they deserve (rather than sitting in a box at the back of your closet). Create two slits on either end of the card, insert a ribbon and wrap it around the present.
Put your painting skills to the test with this super easy paint project! Elevate kraft paper by brushing on sweet little bows in a dainty light pink color (or whatever hue speaks to you). No ribbon necessary!
Calling all calligraphers (or those with gorgeous handwriting)! Personalize your presents with a handwritten holiday greeting that captures the spirit of the season.
Don’t know what to do with all of your wrapping paper scraps? Turn them into kirigami bows — it’s an origami technique that involves cutting and folding paper.
H&H‘s Kai Ethier shares a tutorial here.
Not only are these whimsical bags perfect for carrying holiday treats, they also double as decor. Using a white paint marker, draw little house details on plain paper bags. Punch two holes at the top of the bag, fold and secure with a ribbon.
Designer Alison Milne takes a sustainable approach to gift wrapping by dying Belgian linen with turmeric, avocado pits and blackberries. “The colors are unique, and we end up with wraps that double as hand towels,” she says.
Pumpkin spice for the holidays? Yes please! Luxurious silk ribbons in muted blue, rust and brick red are the perfect topper for metallic-accented paper.
Designer Ami McKay upcycled a “Merry Christmas” garland and turned it into a custom letter gift tag. Kraft paper with tree stamps, pom pom ribbon and natural greenery create an understated yet impactful display.
Dip the corners or edges of white kraft paper into diluted dye, leaving it for a few seconds and up to a minute. Lay on a flat, protected surface. When dry, wrap your gifts!
Celebrate the eight days of Hanukkah (the other two presents are not shown) with these crafty paper bags. Cut out decorative paper into rectangles for your candle bases, and glue them onto the bags. Next, cut yellow “flames” out of tissue paper and add them to the top of the candles.
Monochrome wrapping paper — in polka dot and foliage prints — with saturated red ribbons creates a cool festive display when piled all together under the tree.
Who says gifts need to be bundled up in wrapping paper? Lynda Reeves uses a mix of fabric and silk gauze to create a luxe and elegant DIY unwrapping experience. “Chose a shade that will complement the silk gauze that’s going on top,” she says.
Click here for step-by-step instructions.
Switch up your classic holiday palette this year with sophisticated shades of blue. Complete the look with a fresh candy cane and luxe satin ribbon for a wintry touch.
Next to the winter-white tree, a collection of saturated presents commands attention. Don’t be afraid to pair contrasting hues together — the brighter and bolder, the better.
Sometimes simple is best. With cream wrapping paper and an understated silk ribbon, these gifts fit perfectly in this timeless dining room. “I wrap things early because for me, wrapping is part of decorating,” says homeowner Tara Hurst.
“For a seaside twist, I fastened seashells and small silver ornaments to a few gift boxes with organza ribbon and twine,” says homeowner Heather Ross, who masters the natural-meets-nautical aesthetic for the holidays.
It’s no surprise that green was a trending color! From shades of moody evergreens to soft sages, this hue has proved its staying power year-round. The combination of green ribbon and kraft paper gives these gifts a homey feel under a lush tree.
Adding branches and winter greens to your gift wrapping adds rustic charm. Bonus points if you use real foliage, which will give your presents that festive evergreen scent.
Transform simple white gift boxes with silk ribbon in sweet hues of mint, turquoise and blush for a sugarplum fairytale come to life.
Get Christmas tree decorating inspiration on H&H TV.
Stylish leftover wallpaper in contrasting patterns and hues — like black and white stripes mixed with painterly botanical prints — gives your Christmas vignette a youthful feel.
To keep gifts organized, place them in woven baskets for a dose of natural texture under the tree. Win major points with your little ones by adding holiday stuffed animals and wooden decorations.
Wrapping presents in layers of soft textiles — linen, burlap, velvet, tulle — adds an extra dimension of texture and luxury.
White and black boxes with high-contrast string have a mod, graphic appeal.
Use basic craft supplies to create stylish displays with plenty of holiday cheer. Learn how to make the DIY Painted Gift Wrap, Cutout Gift Wrap and Holly Gift Tags pictured.
Japanese pleats bring panache to any present. UK-based gift stylist Jane Means shares how to make them here.
Here’s a clever way to give basic paper gift bags a luxe upgrade: carefully remove the handles and discard, then thread a piece of silky ribbon through the holes on each side, knotting each end to create a new handle.
For eco-friendly gift wrap, use of scraps of paper to create layers on presents.
Get crafty and decorate your presents with easy-to-make origami stars. Get the DIY instructions here.
For a more organic feel, use kraft paper and fresh greenery tied with simple grosgain ribbons.
Glossy satin ribbons add a touch of luxury to simply wrapped gifts in quiet patterns.
Adding festive ribbon is an easy way to dress up non-seasonal wrapping.
Kraft paper is the perfect backdrop for a mod, washi-tape masterpiece. Buy tape in different widths and colors, then create your own too-pretty-to-rip pattern. Hint: add some string for a bit of texture and don’t feel constrained to grid-like designs.
Furoshiki, a traditional Japanese cloth-folding technique, is a waste-free alternative to wrapping paper which acts as part of the gift. Learn how to wrap presents in tea towels here.
Sprays of evergreen are enhanced with a scrap of birch bark, which could also double as a personalized label.
The richly patterned paper used here has a slight Scandi flair, lending Nordic charm to the Christmas tree.
Pinecones are the perfect foil for gilded accents, like snowflake ornaments and bells.
Get more easy nature-inspired holiday decorating ideas.
White boxes are dressed up with dove grey and buttery yellow ribbons to make a welcoming vignette in this entryway.
Play with patterns under the tree and stick to a strict palette for a uniform look, like these presents wrapped in black and white striped and polka-dotted paper.
Yarn in unexpected hues add some pep to kraft paper.
We turned metallic paper fans into luxe toppers in one super easy step: just fully extend the fan and glue the two ends together. Attach to beribboned boxes and you’re done.
Designer Jennifer Worts’ Christmas decorations are all about the color. Gifts under the tree are wrapped in fuchsia and lime green with mod ribbons as accents.
Woodsy printed wrapping paper, featuring evergreens and stag, complement the natural vibe of the house.
Skip the predictable bow in favor of intricate paper toppers. They’ll instantly elevate even the most basic wrapping paper and can also double as tree ornaments — so they feel like an extra gift.
For full instructions, click here.
Icy blues and snowflake decorations bring a seasonal note to the gifts under the tree.
Love It Or List It Vancouver‘s Jillian Harris’s copper-toned tree gets the full treatment with metallic-toned gift wrapping to match.
Instead of stuffing a gift certificate into an envelope, roll the paper up and insert in a cork-topped test tube.
Rich purple, blues and gold are Christmas classics — you can’t go wrong with these regal colors!
Pastel wrapping paper might be an unusual choice, but these ones from The Paper Place still feel festive. Plus, left-over paper can be used year-round!
Carefully coordinated yellow wrapping paper matches the interior of this home perfectly.
Use different patterns to differentiate gifts under the tree. Choose something playful for the kids, like this gummy-festooned print (top middle, bottom left) and something more sophisticated for the adults.
Humorous wrapping paper designed and hand-printed by Stephanie Cheng featuring cheeky dogs is made even more delightful with punchy ribbon.
Robin’s egg blue velvet ribbons glam up simple brown packaging.
Borrow some of the sparkle and twinkle from the tree down to the presents. Glittery green wrapping paper with a thick candy-cane patterned ribbon feels extra special.
Sprigs of snow berries were incorporated in the Christmas tree decorations as well as the gifts, making for a cohesive and well-thought-out display.
Nothing says winter like a cozy plaid! Mix and match different colorways and scales for a fun and playful grouping of gifts.
Stock up on shipping tags for the perfect personalized present topper.
Plump and perky satin bows add luxurious tactility to geometric wrapping paper.
This DIY Gift Box would bring an extra special touch to a small in size, but thoughtful present.