Gift wrap hacks & organization – National

For gift bags, magazine holders are a game-changer. They’re the perfect shape, they stand neatly on shelves, and they make categorizing by holiday or occasion incredibly easy. Label them clearly so you can grab exactly what you need in seconds. And yes—place them on a shelf… beside the elf… on the shelf.

When it comes to cards and gift tags, an accordion file folder is the most efficient and compact option. You can separate items by person, occasion, or even by size if you like keeping things ultra-streamlined. Everything stays protected and flat, so nothing gets bent or lost. Plus, it’s portable—perfect for wrapping sessions anywhere in the house.

For ribbon lovers, a ribbon stand with vertical spools makes dispensing and cutting incredibly smooth. You can stack colours, textures, and finishes all in one place and simply pull what you need.

If you prefer everything closed away, a ribbon tackle box keeps spools contained, easy to dispense and snip, and easy to transport. Either way, you get fewer tangles, less mess and more joy.

Bows are both beautiful and bulky, but lose their appeal if crushed, making stacking containers the ideal solution. They allow you to separate by size and colour and port bows around, restock and have a good visual on your stock for maximum creativity. This also keeps rogue glitter from spreading everywhere—your floors will thank you. And you’ll always know exactly where your holiday or birthday bows live.

To store wrapping paper, you can absolutely take the DIY route by repurposing an old shipping box, a clean garbage bin, or a tall laundry basket. These vertical containers keep your rolls upright, tidy, and easy to access. If you prefer something purpose-built, there are several ways you can go about storing your rolls. First up, a storage bag that can hold up to 25 rolls and keep paper clean, dry, and dust-free would be great for parking in a garage, basement or attic.

If you have closet space in a craft room, opt for a hanging organizer that has dedicated pockets for tape, scissors, and tissue.

And since it’s always easy to find space under a bed, check out an under-the-bed storage box that’s got a number of compartments for rolls and ribbons to keep everything unified and out of sight.

A few small but mighty accessories can make wrapping so much easier. Silicone-covered metal strips act like reusable “wrap savers” to keep rolls closed, but elastics or bulldog clips can work too. These simple tools prevent unraveling, ripping, and overall frustration. And they take up almost no storage space.

If you struggle with wrangling tape while wrapping, a gift-wrapping tape gun is a total efficiency booster. You pop in your tape, glide, and go—it speeds up your workflow and keeps one hand free to hold paper in place. It’s especially handy when wrapping awkwardly shaped items. Once you try it, regular tape dispensers feel prehistoric.

For an even more streamlined option, try a tape-dispensing gift wrap cutter. It gives you smooth, even cuts and dispenses tape without ever losing the end of the roll. It also keeps your hands safely away from scissors, which makes wrapping both easier and safer. This is one of those tools you didn’t know you needed until you use it.

And finally, don’t forget the “6–7 wrap” if you have kids and want to watch them cringe on Christmas morning – ha!