Gift wrap, while beautiful and essential for presenting gifts, can quickly become a clutter culprit in our homes. If you’re nodding in agreement, you’re not alone! Many of us appreciate a beautifully wrapped gift and often find ourselves reluctant to discard those pretty gift bags and rolls of paper, especially considering their cost. Reusing gift wrap is not only budget-friendly but also a more sustainable choice. However, accumulating these items without a proper storage system can lead to chaos.
This guide is dedicated to providing you with brilliant and practical storage solutions for all your gift wrap essentials. Whether you’re dealing with a mountain of gift bags, rolls of wrapping paper, ribbons, or tissue paper, we’ve got ideas to help you declutter and organize, making gift wrapping a breeze and saving you money and space in the long run.
Before diving into storage solutions, it’s crucial to tackle the first step in any organization endeavor: decluttering. If your collection of gift wrap has grown excessively, it’s time to streamline. Consider reading our article on how to declutter gift bags for helpful tips to reduce your stash to a manageable amount. Once you’ve decluttered, you’ll have a clearer picture of what you need to store, making the organization process much more effective.
Saving gift wrap for reuse is a smart move for both your wallet and the environment. The following storage ideas are versatile and can be adapted for Christmas gift wrap, birthday supplies, or any occasion-specific wrapping materials.
Space-Saving Strategies for Storing Gift Wrap
Utilize a Large Gift Bag as a Container
One of the simplest methods is to employ a “bag-in-bag” system. Carefully flatten your gift bags by folding them neatly and then store them inside the largest gift bag you own. You can categorize them by size within the larger bag for easier access. This creates a portable and contained storage unit.
For an elevated approach, consider hanging this large bag. As one reader suggested, “I fold all my bags flat and put them in the largest one. Then, I slip the handles of the large bag over a clothes hanger and hang it in my craft closet. It’s perfect – off the floor and easy to browse when I need a bag.”
File Flat Gift Wrap in Plastic Bins
Expanding on the “filing” concept, plastic containers offer another excellent storage solution, particularly for flat gift wrap like bags and folded paper sheets. Reader Margie recommends, “I store them in a large plastic container, using dividers to separate categories like birthday, wedding, and baby shower bags.” Dividers are key to quickly locating the right bag for any occasion. This method is ideal if you have a diverse collection of gift bags for various events and need quick, categorized access.
For those with smaller collections, an expandable file folder can serve a similar purpose. This compact method is perfect for neatly filing and categorizing a limited number of gift bags and even coordinating tissue paper.
Employ a Hanging Gift Wrap Organizer
If shelf or container space is limited in your home, a hanging gift wrap organizer is a fantastic alternative. These organizers are designed to hang in closets or on the back of doors, maximizing vertical space. They typically feature multiple pockets and compartments to hold gift bags, rolls of wrapping paper, ribbons, and other supplies.
Our site features a review of a hanging gift bag organizer that provides more details on this type of product. These organizers keep everything visible and easily accessible, making wrapping gifts more efficient.
Reader Serena uses this method and shared, “I don’t have a huge family to shop for, and we’re all big on reducing waste (and cost), so I save bags and use a bag hanger. It keeps them clean and sorted, and wrapping is a breeze. My old system of bags within bags always resulted in crushed bags.”
Repurpose an Over-the-Door Purse Rack
Think beyond its intended use! An over-the-door purse rack can be ingeniously repurposed to organize gift bags. The individual hooks are perfect for hanging bags of various sizes, keeping them off the floor and easily visible.
Reader Alicia shared her clever solution: “I categorize my bags and store them in plastic bags, like the ones sheets come in, then hang them on the back of my closet door using an over-the-door purse rack from Walmart.” This method is particularly effective for keeping categorized bags readily accessible and neatly stored.
Hang Gift Bags on Coat Hangers
For a budget-friendly and customizable approach, coat hangers can be used to hang gift bags in a closet. Organize bags by occasion or type on each hanger for easy browsing.
Casey explains, “I hang mine on coat hangers in the guest room closet, categorized by event – Christmas, birthdays, babies, and solid colors. I have a LOT, and we attend many birthday parties.” Another reader, Anisa, added, “I used to do the bag-in-bag method, but finding the right occasion was a hassle. Hanging them by occasion on clothes hangers in the kids’ playroom closet works much better – easily visible and accessible!”
For heavier loads of gift bags, ensure you use sturdy hangers to prevent bending or breakage. Alternatively, consider using hanging garment bags to contain and categorize groups of gift bags on hangers.
Store Gift Wrap in Baskets on Shelves
Baskets offer an aesthetically pleasing and functional storage solution, especially for open shelving. Fold gift bags and rolls of wrapping paper neatly and arrange them in baskets by color, size, or occasion. This method keeps your gift wrap organized while also contributing to the visual appeal of your storage space.
April, who utilizes this method, shared, “I found shelving on the side of the road and spray-painted it to freshen it up! I added bags to baskets, organized by color and folded, making them easy to grab and still look nice on the shelves.”
Get Creative with DIY Gift Wrap Storage
For a touch of personalization and resourcefulness, consider a DIY storage solution. Melinda creatively repurposed an old bulletin board, adding chicken wire to the front to slide gift bags in and hang gift tags. “Not the best pic, but I took an old bulletin board and added chicken wire in front… now I just slide my bags in and can hang gift tags, etc. on the outside from the chicken wire!”
This is a charming idea, particularly if you have a smaller collection of visually appealing gift bags that you want to display. It adds a decorative element while keeping your gift wrap organized.
Conclusion: Streamline Your Gift Wrap Storage
Organizing your gift wrap doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By implementing these creative storage solutions, you can effectively manage your collection of gift bags, wrapping paper, and supplies. Whether you prefer a simple bag-in-bag system or a more elaborate DIY approach, the key is to choose a method that suits your space, collection size, and personal style. Embrace these ideas to transform your gift wrap clutter into an organized and accessible resource, ready for the next gift-giving occasion.
For more home storage inspiration, explore our {A-Z} Storage Solutions & Ideas round up page. You can also discover additional gift wrap organization ideas in our Organize Wrapping Paper & Supplies Challenge.
If you have your own unique gift wrap storage solutions or photos to share, we’d love to see them! Submit your idea here and contribute to our growing collection of organizational tips.
Explore More Organizing Ideas
Christmas Storage Solutions & Organization Ideas
Getting Rid Of Holiday Clutter Hall Of Fame
Return to Home Page
