Gift Wrapping Ideas & How-To

The clean-fold method

This is the tidy technique that works for any box.

1. Roll out enough paper to cover the box with about 3cm of overlap on the long side and enough at each end to reach roughly two thirds up the box height.
2. Sit the box face down in the centre. Bring the two long edges up to meet, fold the top edge under by 1cm for a crisp line, and tape down the seam.
3. At each open end, push the two side flaps in flat, then fold the top flap down and the bottom flap up into a neat triangle. Tape.
4. Turn the parcel over so the seams sit underneath and the smooth face shows.

Tip: use double-sided tape on the final folds so no tape shows on the outside.

Finishing touches that lift it

• Layer a colour. A band of contrast tissue paper under the ribbon adds depth for pennies.
• Add a topper. A curled ribbon spray, a bow or a sprig of foliage turns plain paper into a present.
• Name it. A gift tag stops the guessing at a party and finishes the look. Write it before you attach it, never after.
• Match the palette. Two colours plus one metallic accent always reads as considered rather than busy.