To gain some insight on gift-wrapping from an expert, we reached out to Annabelle Borke, the founder of Tinseltown Gift Wrapping in Los Angeles. First, we wanted to know why it's important to wrap our gifts nicely at all. "Gift-wrapping is a unique medium because it serves two purposes- first as a functional means of hiding the present from view, but also as a work of art!" Annabelle told Bored Panda. "It sits under the tree and acts as a decoration all season, culminating in its opening. It's an opportunity for the sender to give their artistic touch to the gift, and a way for them to express how they want the gift to be received. We're asked sometimes to make the wrapping 'funny' for instance, from senders who want to make sure that the gift is seen as the gag gift that it's meant to be. Gift wrapping is wonderful in that sense in that it really gives the sender the chance to comment on the gift before it's ever opened."

Annabelle was also kind enough to share some of her dos and don'ts of gift wrapping. "Most of the time an imperfect wrap job stems all the way back to the cutting of the paper," she noted. "Do measure the paper and cut it to be the right size before taping or folding. You want the length to go all the way around the gift and the width to go about 3/4 of the way up the sides of the box."

"Don't panic if it all goes south," Annabelle reassured us. "You can always save a bad wrap job by adding an ornamental piece to the top (like a candy cane, sprig of rosemary/pine, or an ornament!)"

"Do get creative with your ornamental pieces! They can even be a part of the gift like lip gloss, a decoratie spatula, or makeup brushes!"

"Don't worry if you have a bald spot on your gift!" Annabelle added. "You can use a complimentary wrapping paper as a patch for a fun twist- just make sure to fold the sides so that the patch doesn't show any cut edges! That way your patch will look like you've used fancy folding techniques in your wrapping!"

We were also curious what Annabelle recommends for wrapping those pesky, non-conventional shaped items. "Fabric can be an extremely forgiving material to wrap with!" she shared. "If you have large items (Barbie dream house for instance) you can always use a decorative bed sheet or fun piece of fabric to pull up over the gift and cinch at the top! You can use fun ornamental pieces on this as well like a nice big lollipop! You can also use tulle for a more elegant look or burlap for a rustic look. If you don't have access to lots of fabric, you can always do the 'peppermint' wrap, where you roll the gift in wrapping paper and cinch on both sides to make it look like a little peppermint candy. Tie the ends off with ribbon for a cute presentation!"

When it comes to some of the most beautifully wrapped gifts Annabelle has ever seen, she told Bored Panda, "I really like a monochromatic color scheme. I think my favorite gifts I've ever received or wrapped have been a solid paper with a solid matching ribbon and an ornament hanging down (probably in the same color as well)."

But don't feel like you have to break the bank simply on wrapping materials. "It's important to remember that you don't need to buy a ton of different holiday papers in order to wrap for the holidays!" Annabelle says. "If you keep a roll or two of solid color papers, you can use them year round for all holidays! Around the winter holidays, just add an ornament or sprig of eucalyptus and suddenly your paper will transform into the perfect holiday look!"

"Instead of buying each recipient a different roll of wrapping paper (and then having to store it all year!) I'm a big believer in using the same paper for everyone, but differentiating by the ribbon/ ornamental piece combo!" Annabelle told Bored Panda. "If you had kraft paper for instance and bought a 5-pack of different color twines, your gifts would all look so beautiful and cohesive under the tree, without having to keep rolls and rolls of paper around all year. Besides taking up less space, twine and ribbon come in handy year round! You can always tie a nice bow onto a bottle of something and suddenly it's a gift!"

"In my years as a gift wrapper, I've learned that it's the final flourishes that really add panache to a gift and show how much you care," Annabelle shared. "Whether it's as simple as a gift tag with the person's name written in a nice cursive, the final flourish will draw the eye away from any imperfections and show them just how much you care!"

If you'd like to check out Annabelle's company Tinseltown for even more inspiration or to get some presents wrapped if you live in LA, be sure to visit their website right here and their Instagram right here!

What’s your go-to method for wrapping Christmas presents? Do you perfectly measure out wrapping paper, delicately fold each corner to keep boxes perfectly shaped, and tie beautiful bows on every package? Or are you more of a “purchased a festive bag and tossed the present inside” person? No matter where your skills lie when it comes to gift giving, I’m sure your loved ones appreciate the time and energy that you put into picking out the perfect present. But there’s just something nice about lovely packaging, so why not go all out this year and put in a little extra effort?

If you’re wondering where the tradition of gift wrapping came from in the first place, you might be surprised to know that it’s been around for thousands of years. Better Homes & Gardens explains that people who practiced traditional Korean folk religions during the Three Kingdoms Period believed that, “Wrapped items were a symbol of protection and good luck, so giving a gift wrapped in cloth was a way to bestow protection and good fortune upon the recipient.” Gift wrapping was also a tradition in Japan during the Tokugawa period in the 1600s, and even baby Jesus received wrapped gifts from the wise men back when he was born. Although fabric and small treasure chests were the go-to “wrappings” during those times, the tradition was the same, and I’m sure people loved receiving a thoughtfully presented gift.  

Gift wrapping today is a bit different than it was thousands of years ago, all thanks to the invention of Christmas cards. In the mid-1800s, Christmas cards began to be sent all over Europe and the United States, and as printing became easier and more accessible, card manufacturers began selling wrapping paper that matched some of their cards. But Hallmark can be credited for creating the classic paper gift wrap that we all know and love today. According to Better Homes & Gardens, the Hall brothers were running a stationery store in Kansas City in 1917 when the first wrapping paper was born. 

Apparently, the brothers had run out of the tissue paper that was popular for wrapping gifts in at the time, so they started to print huge rolls of the patterned wrapping paper we’re familiar with today. Cut to two years later, and Hallmark was pumping out huge quantities of gift wrap to be sold all over the country. Nowadays, Americans spend over $3 billion on gift wrap each year, so it’s safe to say that the trend hasn’t slowed down.  

We now know a bit about the background of gift wrapping, but you might still be wondering why we do it, from a psychological perspective. Is a gift really more exciting or more cherished when it’s presented in packaging? As it turns out, it may be. According to a 2019 study exploring the impact of neat gift wrapping, the way a present is presented might provide insight into the relationship between the gift giver and the giftee. Scanlux Packaging further explained these findings, “Nice gift wrapping is a symbol that the gift giver is setting a price on the relationship with the recipient. As a result, it creates a more positive experience overall for the receiver.” The more effort one puts into wrapping a gift, the more important the relationship seems to that person.

Humans are pretty simple creatures. We like attractive things, including presents that are wrapped beautifully. And one study found that wrapping is one factor that affects how attractive we consider a gift to be. Have you ever played a game of White Elephant? The most fabulously wrapped presents tend to be snatched up first. The same study also found that participants were even more likely to express joy when given a wrapped gift than when they were presented with an unwrapped present. “The gift’s wrapping and outer appearance have a lot to do with creating the joy of anticipation in the recipient,” Scanlux Packaging explains. “This joy, together with the surprise of the gift itself, will not be present if a gift is given unwrapped, and this will be immediately noticeable.”

If you’re on a tight budget this year or you’re trying to wrap gifts in a more sustainable way, have no fear! You are still capable of presenting beautifully wrapped gifts without having a huge impact on your wallet or the environment. First of all, don’t underestimate the power of newspaper. It can certainly be used to wrap a present with, and it might even be more charming than store-bought wrapping. In the same vein, if you have a stack of brown paper bags from the grocery store piled up in your home, now might be the time to put them to use. They can be cut and used just like wrapping paper. Or if you’d like to present your gift in another component of the present, many stores sell cute, reusable tote bags for less than the cost of gift wrapping, so that’s always an option as well! 

If you have any old maps, pamphlets or fliers hanging around, those can be upcycled into cute wrapping paper as well. Don’t be afraid of presenting gifts in objects either. Have too many jars or cookie tins taking up space in your pantry? Dress one up with a bow, and it can be the perfect home for a holiday present. Also, I assume this goes without saying, but gift wrapping can often be recycled. If it’s paper that you’re gentle with and don’t tear, you can likely trim it to be used for a future present. And if it’s a bag with tissue paper, no effort will be required other than storing it in your closet until the next holiday season. Presenting our gifts beautifully is a great thing to do, but it should never cause stress or make you wonder if you’ll be able to afford rent that month. 

Another creative way to spice up your gift wrapping game is to go foraging for decorations. Depending on where you live, you can likely find pinecones, spruce branches, flowers, holly, winter berries or dried leaves to add to your present. It may not seem like much, but a few added decorations on top of your gifts will make them stand out and show your loved ones how much effort you put into their presents. Not to mention the fact this decor is eco-friendly, free and probably smells delightful!

If you’re still at a loss when it comes to wrapping your gifts, there are plenty of tutorials online to help you turn your presents into masterpieces that are almost too beautiful to open. Or you can try to bribe a friend with Christmas cookies and mulled wine to get them to do your wrapping for you… At the end of the day, it is the thought that counts when it comes to giving gifts. So whatever you end up placing under the tree on Christmas is sure to make your friends and family members gush with joy.

Has this list inspired you to channel your inner Christmas elf and whip out all of the fanciest bows and wrapping paper you can find this year? Keep upvoting the gifts that you would be thrilled to find waiting for you this weekend, and let us know in the comments if you have any other innovative ideas for how to wrap the perfect gift. Then, if you’d like to find even more creative gifts and wrapping methods that we’ve featured on Bored Panda before, you can find more here and here!