Give better gifts this Christmas with wrapping tips from the experts

Ah, gift wrapping: some people are naturally gifted and genuinely enjoy the task of selecting beautiful paper, carefully folding, taping and tying bows but for others, it’s a disaster waiting to happen. If you identify with the latter, gift wrapping only adds to the stress of organising Christmas and is probably something you’d rather pay someone to do. But it doesn’t need to be complicated (or stressful).

Whether you love or loathe it, gift wrapping is an essential part of any Christmas. From choosing the right paper to helpful tips for tape and ribbon, take your wrap skills to the next level this year with stylish yet simple festive ideas and wrapping tips from expert gift-wrapper Vivienne Anthon.

‘Shadow Palms’ mural (3x1m), $280, Milton & King. ‘Boston’ wall lights, POA, Laura Kincade. Mirror, $1950, The Vault Sydney. Piper ‘Spindle’ console in New Oak $1905, GlobeWest. ‘Sovereign’ vase, $80, and ‘Noelle’ townhouse tealight holders, from $36 each, all Provincial Home Living. ‘Classic’ ornaments in Silver, $399/24, Balsam Hill. ‘Gold & Green’ wreath, $310, Rose Van-Eyk. Nickel dish, $399, Alfresco Emporium. ‘Smoke’ candle holders, $149/two, Luxe & Beau. ‘Dawn’ taper candles, from $9 each, Studio Billie. Large white bow, $335, Rose Van-Eyk. Small gifts in Nine Muses Textiles ‘Point Deux Stripe’ wrapping in Cardamom, Tigger Hall Design. Blue silk ribbon, $25.95/3m, Bespoke Letterpress. Large gifts in ‘Plymouth’ fabric in Amalfi, POA, Warwick Fabrics. ((Photography: Lauren Trompp | Styling: Sophie Wilson)|(Photography: Lauren Trompp | Styling: Sophie Wilson))

1. Wrapping paper

“The biggest mistake people make is cutting too much paper,” says Vivian,” you only want the sides of the paper to reach three quarters of the way up your gift, and meet in the middle.”

It’s worth selecting paper that has a bit of weight and thickness to it, especially if you’re planning on printing your own. You want to be able to pull the wrapping paper taut around the object for a neat finish and thin paper can often tear at this point. “And to make your wrap look crisper, pinch along all edges with the pads of your fingers for sharp, well-defined creases.”

“Wrapping materials needn’t be limited to paper,” says Vivian. “Try using old sheet music, foreign maps, newspapers or beautiful fabrics like muslin, silk, burlap and cheesecloth.”

2. Tape

For a seamless look, double-sided tape is a great option, although it doesn’t work on papers that have a rough or textured finish. You can also purchase a box of sticky dots, which is a great alternative to tape.

How to wrap gifts seamlessly

There is a way to wrap gifts that don’t show the seam, says Vivian. “Always start with your paper in portrait aspect (long side up) and the gift in landscape position at the bottom of the sheet, leaving just enough at the bottom to fold up and over the gift by a few centimetres. Fold the top of the paper down so the edges of the paper meet on the corner, and tape down so your seam is on the corner edge and invisible, not down the middle.”

‘Monterey Pine’ tree (274.5cm), $3299, Balsam Hill. ‘Sofia’ sofa in European linen, $6489, Crafted. ‘Hydrangea’ paper, $39.95/30 sheets, Bespoke Letterpress. Nine Muses Textiles ‘Frou Frou’ wrapping in Forest, Tigger Hall Design. Ribbon, $27/10m, Inky Co. ((Photography: Lauren Trompp | Styling: Sophie Wilson)|(Photography: Lauren Trompp | Styling: Sophie Wilson))

3. Ribbons

Ensure the size of your ribbon works proportionally with your gift. Avoid placing a thin ribbon on a large box, for instance, or a wide ribbon on a small jewellery box. “Spend more money on quality ribbon that can withstand tying and pulling, but use less of it per gift by tying around the narrowest part of the package,” says Vivian.

“Ribbon, twine and cord are all excellent options, and consider tying small gifts like key rings into your bows for extra embellishment.” Another option is using a ball of jute string, which can be embellished with beads.

4. Gift boxes

Vivian says there’s no need to wrestle with awkwardly shaped gifts: “Put odd-shaped gifts into boxes for easier wrapping.” And if you’re searching for a suitable box to house an object, recycle old boxes from previous years or utilise shoe boxes. Another solution is selecting a suitably sized paper bag.

‘Hydrangea’ paper, $39.95/30 sheets, and silk ribbon, $25.95/3m, all Bespoke Letterpress. Nine Muses Textiles ‘Frou Frou’ wrapping in Forest, Tigger Hall Design. ‘Festive Silver Tonquin’ ornaments, $99 each, Wedgwood. ‘Noblesse’ cocktail glass, $100/two, Nachtmann. Palecek ‘Kenis’ tray, $1140, and bonsai scissors, $35, both Kate Nixon Store. ‘Elements’ rug in Beige, $2200, Cadrys. ((Photography: Lauren Trompp | Styling: Sophie Wilson)|(Photography: Lauren Trompp | Styling: Sophie Wilson))

5. Keep it simple

You can almost spend as much money on the wrapping of a gift as you do on its contents! Keep costs down by using one or two different wrapping papers, then dressing each gift with ribbons, tags or even intriguing twigs. “Successful gift wrapping has a rule of three: the shape of the gift, how you wrap it, and how you embellish it.”

‘Fern’ wallpaper in Beige, $280/10m, Milton & King. ‘Monterey Pine’ Christmas tree with LED Clear Lights (274.5cm), $3299, and BH Essentials ‘Classic’ ornaments in Silver, $399/24, all Balsam Hill. ‘Sofia’ three-seat sofa in European linen, $6489, Crafted. Large white bow, $335, Rose Van-Eyk. White and Silver ornaments, $40/four, Provincial Home Living. ‘Hydrangea’ tissue paper, $39.95/30 sheets, and blue ribbon, $25.95/3m, both Bespoke Letterpress. Nine Muses Textiles ‘Frou Frou’ wrapping in Forest, Tigger Hall Design. Satin ribbon, $27/10m, Inky Co. ‘Camille’ cushion, $280, and ‘Sylvie’ cushion, $310, both Merci Maison. ‘Everyday’ cushions in Powder Blue, $89 each, both Pepperwhites. ‘Woodland’ cushion, from $119, Alfresco Emporium. Floor lamp, $2750, The Vault Sydney. Coffee table, $2065, GlobeWest. Trinket jar, $14.95, French Knot. Salted butter caramels, $19.95/150g, Simon Johnson. Vintage teapot, $185, Love After Love. Vintage pot, $185, Pepperwhites. Rug (230x160cm), $2200, Cadrys. ((Photography: Lauren Trompp | Styling: Sophie Wilson)|(Photography: Lauren Trompp | Styling: Sophie Wilson))