Simplify your gift wrapping supplies with these smart tips to declutter, organize, and create a minimal-ish, all-season supply of gift wrap that looks beautiful without costing a fortune or taking up too much extra storage space.
As we enter the season of the year when many gifts are purchased and wrapped, I’d love for you to consider adopting a “minimal-ish wrapping system” that will carry you through the entire year of gift giving without the need to buy and store dozens of different supplies.
With a little intentionality, you can create a minimal-ish wrapping system that looks stylish and works for every occasion.
Here’s how to declutter, organize, and streamline your wrapping supplies so you’re always ready to wrap a beautiful gift!
1. Declutter Before You Organize
Before you can create an efficient gift wrap setup, start by sorting through what you already have.
- Lay everything out: Wrapping paper, gift bags, ribbons, bows, tags, boxes — everything.
- Toss or donate: Anything torn, outdated, or too specific (like holiday-only prints you never use or a happy 30th birthday bag).
- Consolidate duplicates: Keep only what you actually reach for.
You’ll likely find that a fraction of your collection covers most of your needs.
For example, one year, we did all green paper for Christmas and made an actual tree from the gifts. It was easy, fun, frugal, and required minimal gift wrap.
2. Choose a Neutral, All-Season Color Palette
Skip seasonal paper that only works once a year. Instead, go for a timeless, flexible color scheme (a.k.a. lots of neutrals.)
- Stick to neutral colors: Purchase bulk rolls of kraft brown, white, black, or metallics like gold or silver that will work for any gift occasion throughout the year.
- Use seasonal accents: Swap ribbons and tags depending on the occasion — red or green for Christmas, pastels for birthdays, or natural twine for a rustic charm.
With a neutral foundation, your wrapping supplies instantly become multi-purpose.
Plus, the wrapping paper can become as special as the gift itself if you let your kiddos personalize it each time!
3. Think Outside the Box
Think outside the box and consider some of these options.
- Brown Kraft bags: Simple, inexpensive, perfect for any occasion — and you can easily liven them up with fun tissue paper, ribbons, or raffia.
- Functional wrapping: Use a tea towel, wooden bowl, wicker basket, mason jar, reusable shopping bag, or another part of the gift as the wrapping.
- Non-wrapping: Sometimes your gift doesn’t even need to be wrapped — a simple ribbon and gift tag will do the trick.
4. Curate Your Supplies
Obviously, what you choose for your wrapping supplies is up to you, but here are a few ideas to get you thinking a bit more “minimally”.
- 2-3 rolls of paper (I do kraft brown, white, and 1 color)
- Kraft brown gift bags in a couple of different sizes
- A variety of ribbons, bows, and twine (this is where you can have more fun)
- Tissue paper (either stick with neutrals or get more creative)
- Gift tags and/or cards
- Scissors
- Tape
5. Use Smart Storage
If you have a minimal stash of gift wrap, you won’t need a huge amount of storage (bonus!) However, you’ll want to store it in a place that’s easily accessible whenever you need to quickly wrap a gift.
I use a giant boot box to store all my ribbons, bows, twine, tape, scissors, and gift tags. I keep it on a shelf in our den closet. A slim storage box would also work.
I keep my rolls of butcher block wrapping paper tucked in the corner of that same closet. And I use one gift bag to store all my other gift bags inside.
6. Stop Saving Stuff You Won’t Use
Moving forward, don’t feel obligated to save every cute gift bag or scrap of ribbon you receive as gifts — especially if it doesn’t fit with your neutral, minimalish wrapping supplies.
Trash anything that isn’t in great condition and donate anything usable that doesn’t work with your supplies.
It might be difficult at first, but it feels really good when you don’t have gift wrap supplies bulging out of your closet every time you go to wrap a gift.
7. Keep It Tidy All Year
After every gift-giving moment, spend 3-5 minutes resetting your supplies (yes, that’s usually all the time it takes if you keep things simple).
- Put everything back where it belongs.
- Recycle or toss scraps.
- Note what needs replacing before you buy more.
Small habits keep your system clutter-free and ready to go anytime throughout the year.
Minimal-ish gift wrapping isn’t about being lazy, cheap, or “doing less”… it’s just about doing it smarter. A streamlined, all-season setup saves space, time, and money while ensuring your gifts always look thoughtful and well-presented.
Add this mini-organizing project to your to-do list this week and enjoy wrapping gifts this holiday season and all year long!
What are your favorite year-round wrapping supplies?
wendy Conaway says
Where did you donate your good gift wrap? I am seeing a lot of places don’t accept it.
Andrea says
Hi Wendy — we have several thrift stores in our area that all take gift wrap (even partially used rolls of wrapping paper).
Our kids’ school also takes any type of (non-Santa) gift wrap for their Christmas “Love Bazaar”.
Jen says
Thanks to you I now have a much smaller stash of gift wrap supplies. It was insanely out-of-hand! I’m donating a large box of tissue, wrapping paper, and ribbon. What’s left are the items I really like and will use. I love the idea of butcher paper and white paper, decorated with colorful ribbon and stickers which take up much less room than rolls and rolls of paper in various themes. Thank you for sharing your great ideas.
Andrea says
oh yay — this is fantastic. I know you will love all your extra space and probably get even more creative the next time you need to wrap a gift! I’m always paring down my stash (especially after Christmas) and I’m much more choosy about what I save. It makes the process so much quicker and easier!
Thanks for sharing your success!
Michelle says
What exactly is butcher block paper?
Lori Martin says
When my kids were in preschool the favorite gift wrap was produced by my kids. I wish I saved some of it! They would spend hours coloring and painting on the butcher paper or large art easel paper. Great craft project that gave a special, personalized touch. Family members loved it and spent time discussing the paper with ‘the artist.’
Andrea says
yes, we’ve done this a lot too — especially with the white craft paper 🙂
Jenny says
Please, please, either donate or recycle the paper products! There’s no need to put them in the landfill. I am lucky to have weekly curbside recycling, but we take all our paper to the various schools that get fundraising money for it. It’s called Paper Retriever or Retrieval- you can google it or any similar company.
Debbie says
I’ve been using the butcher block paper for a few years now and I really like it. Others give us gifts by using gift bags and I usually keep them if they’re in great condition. I still have a couple rolls of Christmas gift wrap left from when I used to use it. I’ve found some uses for it when doing gift tags or wrapping empty boxes to use as decor around the house or porch. I’ve also used old Christmas cards or photo cards given to us for gift tags. I cut out a person’s photo from the photo card and paste it on the gift tag. The gift tag will show their photo, name, and maybe an art or saying from the Christmas card.
Andrea says
this is a great idea Debbie (about cutting the pictures out of the cards to use for gift tags)! I might “steal” that idea for a post I’m working on with Christmas cards for later this week!
Ann says
Great post! I’m going to clear out some that I never choose! That’s why I STILL have them…they are never my first pick.
Andrea says
haha — I know, we just keep hanging onto those “ugly” bag because we never want to use them!
Stephanie says
I occasionally go through my gift bags and gift wrap too. I have really downsized that area in the last couple of years because I found that many gift bags weren’t being used and I had had them for years. I buy Christmas gift wrap on sale after the holiday BUT am going to start using the butcher block paper, like you suggested. What a great idea! You can use it for any occasion. I might eventually go to the butcher block gift bags after I use the ones I have. Thanks again for the inspiration. I always find new ideas on your site. :-). Congratulations on the birth of Clara!
Andrea says
Yes, the butcher block paper is great because it CAN be used for any and every occasion — just change up the ribbon or bow and you have a new holiday or season!
Erin Heckber says
I love using butcher block paper. I am curious about the white, it is thick enough that you can’t see through? Where did you get it?
Andrea says
it should be at any craft store — that’s where I get the butcher block paper and the white paper. I usually let the kids color on the white paper (like if it’s for their cousin or grandparent) so then you definitely can’t see through it. However, if you had a really dark or bold package, you could always double up the paper (it’s pretty cheap for a huge roll!)
Kari says
Thanks for the inspiration. I think I’ll tackle this today! I know I still have some wedding themed gift bags from my bridal shower and wedding 10 years ago and some baby themed ones from the birth of our first child 7 years ago. It’s definitely time for those to go!
Andrea says
yeah, we definitely still had a few wedding bags from our wedding tucked in there! We just don’t get to many weddings anymore and if we do, I just use the butcher paper or ship the gift online!
Rhonda says
Same for me…wedding 10 years ago and first kid 7 years ago…my bags and wrap is organized, but there is definitely too much. Thanks for the ideas.
Andrea says
it’s a quick little project that will probably make a big difference over the holidays when you’re wrapping lots of gifts!