Royals present wrapper shares her expert Christmas wrapping tips
An alarming number of Brits can’t successfully wrap presents but according to this royal wrapping expert it’s because we’ve been doing it wrong.
Jane Means, who has wrapped for the Royal Family as well as a long list of other celebrities, has shared some of the biggest mistakes and top tips for making the perfect gift look even better this Christmas. She shared with The Motor Ombudsman her top ten tips for ensuring you don’t fall short on your wrapping ever again.
Jane explained: “Wrapping presents can seem like a simple task, but most people struggle with it. Using too little or too much paper, folding it in the wrong places, and drowning it in far too much tape can make the process much more cumbersome and stressful than it needs to be.”
Common niggles are often not being able to find the end of the tape, running out of paper, cutting a sheet too small or being faced with a round present. All of these things can make what should be a simple task one that we dread, but by changing things up, you can avoid all the frustration and arguments and have perfectly wrapped presents.
For all different shapes and sizes, different techniques are required, the expert suggests. Starting with a simple box, using double-sided tape will allow for a professional finish and a seamless look, especially if you’re making sure that there’s no excess paper making your life more difficult.
Although, with a more awkward shape on the other hand, choosing a flexible material will make wrapping far less stressful. So, using tissue, cellophane or a fabric will allow it to mould more easily around the shape than traditional wrapping paper. If an item is especially bulky, it’s best advised to wrap it in a paper tablecloth, which is far easier and much more inexpensive.
When it comes to gifts that are extra-large, Jane suggests using brown packing paper as your base and adding a decorative print across the middle, finished with ribbon. Meaning it will still be eye-catching but a lot cheaper than using a whole roll of wrapping paper, with ribbon that looks a little bit lost.
As for the tags you’re adding on to your gifts, this can very quickly ruin all of your hard work if not done carefully. She suggests you write them out first before placing them on top immediately so you don’t forget who they’re for now that they all look the same.
Your finishing touches are what really make gift-giving look extra-personal and have your wrapping stand out from the crowd. Why not amp it up a bit by adding fresh foliage, baubles, feathers or even some old recycled Christmas decorations? You could even take it one step further and inject some personality with dried flowers or by adding photocopied old photos to the top of your gift.
Plan ahead for these things and buy in bulk this year, as you typically need more materials than you think, and you don’t want to run out in the middle of wrapping – whatever you don’t use, you can just use next year. When it comes to saving time, as well as money, don’t be scared to bulk wrap a couple of gifts together, as a stack of presents can look fabulous and save you materials in the meantime.
Above all, Jane reminds everyone at this time of year to enjoy the experience; it doesn’t have to be as stressful as it looks. Set yourself up in a comfortable environment, play some music, pour yourself a glass of wine, or even invite friends and make a night of it in good company.
