Having an organized storage solution and approach to gift-wrapping results in less stress, mess and wasted time.  Read below for tips and ideas for how to get organized and simplify your gift-giving experience so you can reduce stress and overwhelm and focus on the joys of giving.

What kind of gift wrapper are you?
The type of gift wrapper you are defines your needs for gift wrapping supplies and storage.  Decide what kind of gift wrapper you are or aspire to be to best determine what you need.  Buying the wrong supplies or storage containers that don’t suit your needs results in clutter, wasted time and gift-giving frustration.

• I never wrap gifts – This is you if you don’t want to wrap gifts and have figured out how to out-source the task.  Either you regularly give gifts unwrapped (It’s the thought that counts, right?) or you have them wrapped at the place of purchase.  If you never need to wrap gifts, you don’t need to spend money or storage space on supplies.  Stop reading here and go do something more important.
• I wrap gifts only during holidays. This is you if you only pull out paper and bows for the major gift-giving holidays.  During the holidays you may wrap a few or many gifts and during the rest of the year you don’t have gift-wrapping needs.  Being a sometimes gift wrapper means you need a supplies for a particular season or holiday and you need a way to store supplies out of the way most of the year.
• I wrap gifts all year long. – This is you if you wrap gifts for holidays, birthdays, just-because and otherwise.  Often people in this category are parents of children who attend birthday parties.  Being a regular gift wrapper means you need to have a variety of supplies (depending on the occasion) and a storage solution that makes gift-wrapping convenient and accessible.

Ways to Simplify Gift-Wrapping
If you are a sometimes or frequent wrapper, gift-wrapping doesn’t have to be complicated.  Simplify things by figuring out what types of events you regularly give gifts for and decide on an aesthetic.  Say, for example, your gift-wrapping needs are mainly for birthdays and Christmas.  Pick a look for kid birthdays and/or adult birthdays and the holiday.  Buy supplies that fit these themes.  As you use up your supply, replenish along the lines of the same theme or choose another.  If your tastes change before you run out of supplies, let go of what you aren’t using and only keep the supplies you like.

Identifying a Place to Wrap and Store Wrapping Supplies
The way to save time and reduce waste and mess with gift-wrapping is to consolidate all the supplies you need to make an item gift-giving ready.  This means having everything you might need, not just wrapping paper, tissue paper and ribbon, but also tape, scissors and markers.  You don’t want to spend time finding tools and supplies when you’re ready to wrap.  Spend some time consolidating your gift wrapping supplies and tools and acquiring the things you’re missing.

Once you have all of your tools and supplies together think about how you like to wrap gifts.  Do you prefer to work on a table or is wrapping on the floor okay?  If you wrap gifts regularly (once a month or more), where can you both store and wrap without spending a lot of time getting set up or cleaning up?  For people who wrap only during a particular season, is there a place to leave out wrapping supplies for the season and then put them away for long-term-storage?

Containers and Storage Solutions for Gift-Wrapping
The key to getting organized about gift-wrapping is to do this step last.  You can not do this step successfully until you are clear about what type of gift-wrapper you are and what your storage needs are in terms of volume of supplies and location.  If you have clarity at this point, read on.  If not, spend some time on the ideas above and make some decisions before moving on.

Here are some ideas for storage solutions for gift-wrap tools and supplies for all types of gift-wrappers.

Portable solutions:

• Gift wrapping storage bags – These bags are designed to be portable gift wrapping stations.  They typically hold several rolls of wrapping paper and have space and compartments for storing gift bags, tissue paper, ribbons and bows and tools.  Often made of fabric, they usually have zipper closures and handles for carrying. They can be stored in a closet or under a bed. Pictured is a product made by MasterCraft.

• Gift wrapping storage bins – You can use a long plastic storage container to store gift wrap and tools.  If you plan to store a box under a bed, consider a rolling under-bed container.  Another option is a vertical container that can stand or lean inside a closet.
• Gift wrap bucket – Similar to transforming a 5-gallon bucket into a portable toolbox, you can also use a 5-gallon bucket as a portable wrapping station buy outfitting the bucket with a shop bucket tool organizer.  This is a canvas or leather piece that skirts the outside of the bucket adding storage pockets.  You might also consider adding inserts to the inside of the bucket to make sections for wrapping paper and other supplies that won’t fit in the exterior pockets. Pictured is an idea created by Martha Stewart.

• Gift wrap cart – This storage solution has the potential to hold a large number of supplies and to be portable if on casters.  Carts like these may even have a solid top that can be used as a work space for wrapping. Pictured is a product made by Elfa.

Hanging solutions:

• Closet hangers – Designed to hang on a closet bar, these containers can hold a small amount of supplies and tools, while still being easily accessible in a closet.  Often made of plastic or canvas, these containers have pockets or straps for attaching supplies.  Pictured is a product made by Wrap iT.
• Over- or back of door organizers – These organizers either permanently mount onto the door or hang against the door.  They can be made of covered metal with baskets, shelves and hooks for supplies or be made of fabric or plastic with pockets and pouches.  Pictured is a product made by Elfa.

Contact us for more ideas on how to organize and manage your gift-wrapping or for support in decluttering and getting organized to reduce the stress and mess of gift-giving.