Wrapping Up Gift Wrap Clutter

Wrapping Up Gift Wrap Clutter

By Basic Organization team member Debbie Baker

If you only have time to read one book on organizing (and who, besides maybe a Professional Organizer, is motivated enough to read more than one!) Peter Walsh’s book It’s All Too Much is an excellent choice. I just finished reading it and found it informative and inspiring. His mantra is to declutter your life so that you can have a richer and more fulfilling today. Don’t be beholden to stuff accumulated from the past or kept on the chance that you may need it in the future. The book is motivating, easy to read, and has lots of practical advice and tips on how to declutter and organize.

Peter’s advice on this subject hit home with me – the accouterments of gift wrapping!

I didn’t have to be in this business long to realize keeping them under control wasn’t just an issue for me. It is so easy to let the volume of wrap, bags, ribbon, tags, etc grow and grow. They are all so pretty and festive! Next thing you know, you practically need a separate room in your house.  Or possibly a large portion of a closet to house all of these things.  There will never be enough Birthdays, Christmases, Hanukkahs, or babies born to use up everything in your inventory! Let it go! Claim back the space in your home taken up by this supply of stuff that doesn’t warrant it.

Peter has a wonderfully simple suggestion: pare your gift wrap supply down to a large roll of brown paper. Add several rolls of ribbon in a variety of colors. These will work for different occasions, such as red, blue, and green. That’s it!

For those times you want to use a gift bag use a brown bag and the same ribbon. Or if that is too simple for you, invent a signature look that is versatile and flexible enough to span all events and seasons, such as a signature color paper/bag, ribbon, and gift tag.

But keep it simple! The supplies will fit in a very small area, and everyone will recognize your gifts for their distinctive, elegant wrappings.