Stephen Anderson
Table of Contents
The holidays are a joyful time filled with giving gifts to loved ones. But dealing with the piles of wrapping paper, ribbons, bows, and gift bags afterwards can be a headache! As a mom who loves the holidays but hates the clutter, I’ve tried just about every storage solution for gift wrapping supplies. In this guide, I’ll share everything I’ve learned about keeping gift wrapping organized.
Why It’s Important to Organize Wrapping Supplies
The holidays generate a lot of waste from wrapping paper, tissue paper, gift bags, ribbons, bows, and more. It’s estimated that each year in the United States, we use enough wrapping paper to wrap a present for every person on the planet!
All that paper and plastic takes up a lot of space. Without a good organizational system, it’s easy for gift wrapping supplies to take over closets, drawers, and spare rooms in your house. Unsightly messes and clutter can put a damper on your holiday cheer.
But fear not—with a little planning and effort, you can get control of those unruly rolls of wrapping paper and jumbled bins of bows. Read on for my best tips and tricks for taming the holiday wrapping paper beast!
Storing Wrapping Paper Rolls
Let’s start with the bulkiest item on the list: rolls of wrapping paper. These large cylinders can be tricky to corral. Here are some excellent ways to store wrapping paper rolls:
Closet Shelf Organizers
Installing closet organizers with angled shelves is ideal for neatly standing up wrapping paper rolls. Adjustable dividers keep the rolls separated and prevent them from unrolling.
Rolling Utility Cart
A rolling cart with wire shelves is perfect for stashing wrapping paper in a closet or other out-of-the-way spot. The portability means you can easily roll it wherever you need to wrap gifts.
Over-the-Door Hangers
Specialized over-the-door hangers have rods across them for neatly lining up wrapping paper rolls. Hang one on the back of a closet door or on a standing rack.
Garment Bags
Slide wrapping paper rolls into large garment bags hung on a closet rod. Use one bag for birthday paper, another for holiday paper, etc. to keep organized.
Under-Bed Storage
Keep wrapping paper out of sight but within reach by storing rolls under the bed in plastic bins. Label the bins by occasion.
PVC Pipes
For a budget-friendly option, slide rolls of wrapping paper onto PVC pipes cut to size. Stand pipes upright in a corner of the closet or basement.
Ideas for Storing Tissue Paper, Bags & Ribbons
In addition to rolls, you’ll also need to organize reams of tissue paper, piles of gift bags, balls of ribbon, and more. Here are some of my favorite solutions:
Clear Plastic Bins
Divided clear storage bins are ideal for keeping tissue paper, bags, ribbons, bows, and other small items visible and sorted. Label the bins.
Storage Chest/Trunk
A vintage-looking trunk or chest is perfect for hiding messy wrapping supplies. Use decorative tins or boxes inside to organize.
Closet Pole Hangers
Install extra rods/poles in your closet to hang gift bags from. Use clothespins to attach bags by their handles.
Utility Cart or Cabinet
A rolling cart or small cabinet with shelves and drawers provides plenty of space to neatly organize all your wrapping accessories.
Over-the-Door Shoe Hangers
Hang gift bags from over-the-door shoe organizers. The see-through plastic pockets make bags easy to see.
Ideal Places to Store Wrapping Supplies
Now that you have ideas for how to store all your wrapping paper and supplies, where exactly should these storage solutions go in your home? Here are some prime spots to stash it all:
- Spare closet or pantry
- Under guest beds
- Basement or attic
- Back of main closet
- Garage shelving
- Mudroom lockers
- Unused cabinet in office or craft room
- Bottom kitchen cabinets
- Laundry room shelves
Look for unused space in your home that can be converted into a gift wrap station. I turned an awkward corner in my basement into a wrap closet! Get creative with carving out your own gift wrapping space.
Creating a Portable Wrapping Paper Kit
When the holidays roll around, you’ll likely need to do some gift wrapping in various rooms or while traveling. Make the process easier by putting together a portable wrapping paper kit:
- Decorative bin or box to hold supplies
- Tape, scissors, tags, pens
- Tabletop dispensers for tape, ribbon, and bows
- A few favorite rolls of wrapping paper
- Tissue paper, bags, ribbons, gift tags
Keep this kit in a central location so it’s ready to grab and wrap on the go! I pack mine in a cute cardboard box with handles.
10 Tips for Staying Organized All Season
- Shop early – Stock up on wrapping paper, supplies after holiday sales in January.
- Only buy what you need – Avoid impulse buys that create clutter.
- Toss or donate old/leftover supplies – Start fresh each season!
- Assign a home for everything – Be consistent returning items to their designated spots.
- Label storage bins and shelves – Easily identify where items belong.
- Unsubscribe from catalogs – Reduce paper clutter and temptation to buy more.
- Wrap as you shop – Wrap gifts as they’re purchased to avoid last minute piles.
- Break down boxes – Flatten immediately after unwrapping to recycle or store.
- Reuse when possible – Save gift bags, tissue paper, ribbons to use again next year.
- Maintain organization – Spend 5 minutes each day tidying up the gift wrap station.
FAQs About Organizing Gift Wrapping Supplies
How do I best store wrapping paper rolls?
Some excellent options are over-the-door hangers, garment bags on closet rods, under-bed bins, utility carts, and PVC pipes in a closet corner.
What’s the best way to organize tissue paper, gift bags, bows, etc?
Clear plastic storage bins, trunks/chests, hanging closet poles, over-the-door shoe organizers, rolling utility carts, and cabinets work great.
Where’s the ideal place to keep wrapping supplies?
Dedicate space in a spare closet, basement, attic, garage, mudroom, under guest beds, or an unused cabinet or corner of a craft room.
How do I create a portable wrapping kit?
Use a bin or box filled with essentials like tape, scissors, pens, paper, tissue, bags, ribbons, bows, and small dispensers. Store centrally so it’s easy to grab and wrap anywhere.
What are tips for staying organized all season?
Shop early, only buy what you need, purge old supplies, assign homes for items, label storage, wrap gifts as you buy them, break down boxes immediately, reuse when possible, and tidy up daily.
Can I repurpose things like shipping boxes for wrapping?
Yes! Save shoe boxes, product packaging, shipping boxes, and other things you’d normally recycle to wrap smaller gifts in. Add your own decorative touch with wrapping paper or gift bags.
What are non-traditional alternatives to wrapping paper?
Be creative with materials like brown kraft paper, newspapers, maps, pages from old books, fabric, scarves, bandanas, and more. Eco-friendly and budget-friendly!
Is it okay to use gift bags more than once?
Absolutely! Just be sure used gift bags are still in good condition each time you reuse them. If not, then recycle.
How do I get wrinkles out of storage wrapping paper?
Try hanging wrinkled rolls in the bathroom while you shower to let the steam release the wrinkles. You can also iron on the lowest setting or try placing in the dryer with a damp towel.
Key Takeaways for Organizing Gift Wrapping Supplies
- Designate an out-of-the-way space for gift wrap storage like a closet, basement, attic, or garage.
- Use storage solutions like bins, bags, carts, trunks, cabinets, shelves, and rods to corral all supplies.
- Label everything clearly so family members stay organized too.
- Shop for wrapping supplies early and only buy what you realistically need.
- Create a portable wrapping kit for easy gift wrapping anywhere.
- Be diligent about returning items to their proper storage spots after use.
- Get creative repurposing materials as eco-friendly wrapping alternatives.
- Maintain organization throughout the holidays to start the new year clutter-free!
I hope these tips help you finally get all those rolls of wrapping paper, piles of tissue paper, and tangles of ribbon under control! Let me know if you have any other clever storage solutions for keeping gift wrapping supplies organized. Wishing you happy holidays with minimal wrapping chaos!
