52 Best Gift Wrapping Ideas for the Most Festive Holiday Ever
Flex your creative muscles this season with some original Christmas wrapping ideas.
Every item on this page was chosen by a Woman's Day editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
Another holiday season is here, which means it's time to decorate, party plan, and make a list of gifts to buy. After you finish shopping, the dreaded task will be upon you: wrapping your gifts. Do you need gift wrapping ideas? While you can certainly wrap in a basic fashion — you know, with store-bought gift wrap and tape, or even easier, a bag with tissue paper — there are ways to elevate your wrap job if you want to make the giving extra special. Or, if you don't know how to wrap gifts, there are some simple tips and tricks to learn that we can help with.
If you're doing all of the wrapping this year, you'll need a plan. Which gifts don't need fancy wrap jobs (like the ones for kids who will rip them open so fast, they won't even appreciate the wrapping)? And which gifts are going to someone special who would love to see a thoughtful work of art before even discovering what's inside? Then, there are gifts that are not easily wrappable because they don't come in a perfectly rectangular box. What's a gifter to do?!
Don't stress, because we've rounded up the coolest gift wrapping ideas. They range from easy to super-special and more involved. If you don't already have the skills, you will soon thanks to the easy-to-follow tutorials and shoppable products below. So go ahead and heat up the hot chocolate, then make a day of gift wrapping and Christmas crafts with the kids for a family-friendly winter activity.
Pretty In (Millennial) Pink
Lean into the Barbiecore trend by crafting your own modern gift wrap in hot pink, white, and black tones. Start with fun printed paper, then get creative with letter stickers, ribbon, and pom poms in complementary shades.
Get the Modern Pink Gift Wrapping tutorial at Studio DIY.
Printable Holiday Stickers
A color printer and sticker paper sheets are all you'll need to DIY these adorable holiday stickers, thanks to the free printable template. Stick them on plain or patterned gift paper for a delightful pop of Christmas cheer.
Get the Printable Holiday Stickers Printable at A Kailo Chic Life.
Santa's Belly
Give a nod to the man with the bag by transforming your gift boxes into a Santa suit.
Get the Santa Belly tutorial at Frog Prince Paperie.
Mini Boxwood Wreaths
Add a touch of greenery to your gifts with complimentary ribbon and twine to create a naturalistic wreath.
Get the Mini Boxwood Wreaths tutorial at Nick + Alicia.
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Wrapping Paper
It only takes a few simple shapes to transform brown paper into the most famous reindeer of all.
Get the Rudolph Wrapping Paper tutorial at Frog Prince Paperie.
SHOP CARDSTOCK
A Rustic Touch
For a rustic yet elegant presentation, add natural Christmas elements like rosemary, eucalyptus, or cedar to your wrapping. A little goes a long way with things you can find in your backyard.
Get the Rustic Touch tutorial at A Piece of Rainbow.
Santa and Elf Sacks
Give your gifts in a DIY bag this year. Using our templates as a guide, trace and cut out paper legs, shoes, belt, beard, and collar from card stock and scrapbook papers. Use a glue stick to attach the paper elements to gift bag and let dry. Then, use hot glue to attach the buttons and let dry.
Get the Santa and Elf Gift Sack templates.
Folded Paper and Plant Decor
Make intricate details out of plain brown paper by creating folds and sticking greenery inside the gaps. Then, add tiny Christmas stickers on top.
Get the Folded Paper and Plant Decor tutorial at Kate's Creative Space.
Christmas Light Wrapping Paper
Let your presents shine as bright as your tree with these wraparound string lights.
Get the Christmas Light Wrapping Paper tutorial at Boxwood Avenue.
TrendCustomDesign Custom Santa Sack
For bigger, oddly-shaped gifts, sometimes wrapping paper just doesn't cut it. But these personalized Santa sacks fit almost anything — plus they're adorable and you can personalize them, too.
Ornament Add-On
One way to quickly elevate a simple bow is to add an ornament on top. A wreath ornament works well, like this one used by Randi Garrett Design. The possibilities for getting creative with this are truly endless.
Watercolor Wrapping
Turn white tissue paper into a hodgepodge of art with this DIY watercolor wrapping pair.
Get the Watercolor Wrapping tutorial at Julep.
Christmas Tree Yarn Gift Topper
Jazz up a rectangular shaped box wrapped in kraft paper with some green and red yarn. Take a strand of green yarn and put a dot of hot glue on the top center of the box and stick the start of the yarn down. Make another dot of hot glue on the bottom right corner and continue the string of yarn down and stick the yarn down and cut. Repeat until the yarn makes a tree shape and is as full as you would like. Then cut out a length of red yarn and feed it through the green strands to look like a garland.
Stamped Tissue Paper
Spice up traditional white tissue paper with this festive stamp idea to bring some extra cheer to your friend or loved one.
Get the Stamped Tissue Paper tutorial at Crafting Chicks.
Stick-On Letters
Dig out that half-used pack of letter stickers from your kid's last school project and spell out a holiday phrase on the gift box.
3D Gift Wrap
Instead of some simple paper and bows, make the wrapping paper interactive by taping 3D objects like crayons, candy, or, in this example, designing the paper like a street and attaching a real plastic car to it.
Get the 3D Gift Wrap tutorial at Lines Across.
Wrappily Warhol Santa by Allport Editions
Have an artsy person on your list? Deviate from the typical Santa, and try a cool-looking gift wrap like this Warhol-inspired Santa.
Fa La La Felt Ornaments
Add some festive flair to a simple white gift box with felt ornaments in the color of your choice.
Get the Fa La La Felt Ornaments tutorial at A Splash of Something.
Dog Bone Gift Wrapping
We all know at least one dog lover, so give their fur baby a gift they deserve with this adorable milk bone wrapping idea.
Get the Dog Bone Gift Wrapping tutorial at Let's Mingle.
Cardboard Box Snowman
Great for giving multiple gifts to someone, go big with this snowman, made out of three different wrapped boxes. Complete the gift with all the accessories a snowman should have.
Get the Cardboard Box Snowman tutorial at Smart School House.
Olivia Muenter is a freelance writer and former fashion and beauty editor who writes about fashion, beauty, lifestyle, relationships, travel, home decor, and more for Woman's Day and beyond. Her work has appeared in Bustle, Refinery 29, Glamour, Byrdie, Apartment Therapy, Philadelphia Magazine, and more. When she's not reading (or talking about reading on Bad on Paper, the bookish podcast she co-hosts), you can find Olivia working on her first novel, curating the perfect playlist, or shopping online.
Ysolt Usigan is a lifestyle writer and editor with 15+ years of experience working in digital media. She has created share-worthy content for publishers Shape, What To Expect, Cafe Mom, TODAY, CBS News, HuffPo, The Bump, Health, Ask Men, and Best Gifts. A working mom of two, her editorial expertise in parenting, shopping, and home are rooted in her everyday life.
40 Best Gifts for Coffee Lovers
34 Christmas Party Games for Kids and Adults
What Is Día de Los Reyes, or Three Kings' Day?
50 Great Gifts Under $30 for Everyone on Your List
