There was a time, roughly 1948 to 1972, when the gift-wrap counter on the fourth floor of a department store was a destination. You handed over a shoebox and a woman named Dolores handed back something that looked like it should be in a museum. Dolores is gone. Her technique is not. This is it.
Everything below works with any wrapping paper, but it works best with a heavy, well-printed roll. Ours is 90 gsm, edge-to-edge print, in glossy or matte, and you can see the whole line in the House of Prancer gift wrap collection.
What You Need
- A roll of wrapping paper (the heavier the better; thin paper tears at the corners)
- Double-sided tape, or regular tape and the willingness to hide it
- Sharp scissors, not the kitchen ones
- Ribbon: satin, grosgrain or velvet, half an inch to one inch wide
- A hard flat surface. A dining table. Never a bed.
- A box. Soft items go in a box. Dolores did not wrap a sweater naked and neither will you.
Step 1: Measure the Paper So You Cut Once
Set the box on the paper, top side down. Roll out enough paper to wrap all the way around the box with about two inches of overlap. For the ends, the paper should extend past each end by roughly three-quarters of the box’s height, which is what gives you clean triangular folds instead of a wad.
Cut in one long motion. If the scissors glide along the paper rather than snipping, you will get a straight edge. Snipping gives you a sawtooth, and a sawtooth shows on the seam.
How much paper is on a roll? Every product page in our gift wrap collection lists the roll dimensions under “The Particulars.” As a rule, a standard roll covers several shirt boxes or one large pillow box with room to spare. Measure before you commit to a print you cannot re-buy in time.
Step 2: The Seam Goes on the Bottom, and It Is Straight
Fold one long edge of the paper over by half an inch so the raw edge is hidden. Bring the other edge up and over the box, then bring the folded edge on top of it, down the center of the bottom of the box. Pull it tight. Tape under the fold with double-sided tape so nothing shows.
On a print with a visible repeat, like Naughty List Social Club or Gingerbread Bears, line the seam up on a row of the pattern. It takes ten extra seconds and it is the difference between “wrapped” and “wrapped by someone who cares.”
Step 3: Corners That Could Cut Glass
Turn the box so one open end faces you. Push the top flap of paper down flat against the end of the box. The sides will naturally fold inward into two triangles. Crease those triangles with your thumbnail so they are sharp, then fold the bottom flap up and over.
Before you tape that bottom flap, fold its raw edge under by half an inch. Now tape it. Repeat on the other end. If the end looks like an envelope, you did it right. If it looks like a dumpling, pull it off and start again. Paper is cheap. Dignity is not.
Step 4: Ribbon Goes Around Once, Not Four Times
The mid-century look is restrained. One ribbon, crossed on the top, tied on the top, ends trimmed on the diagonal. Cut a length of ribbon about four times the longest side of the box. Lay the box face up, bring the ribbon around the long way, cross it on the bottom, bring the ends up the short way, and tie on top.
Color matters more than quantity. Gold on black for Gelt Men or Festival of Lights. Navy on cream for Deck the Halls Firefighters. Hot pink on Neon Ornament if you want it to look like it came from a nightclub, which is fine.
Step 5: A Bow With Attitude
Skip the stick-on bow. Make a two-loop bow from the ribbon you already tied: form two loops like you are tying a shoe, pull them snug, then fluff and trim the tails to the same length. If you want more volume, make a separate four-loop bow from a short piece of ribbon, cinch the center with a twist of wire, and tie it onto the cross with the tails of your first ribbon.
On a loud print, a simple bow wins. Mrs. Claus Is a Queen is already wearing a gown; she does not need a bigger bow than hers.
Step 6: The Tag
Tuck a small folded card under the ribbon. Write the name on the inside, not the outside, so it reads as a secret. If the box is for someone on the Naughty List, you can say so on the tag. Dolores would have raised an eyebrow. She also would have laughed.
Glossy or Matte: Which Finish to Pick
| Finish | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Glossy | Dark backgrounds, neon, gold and metallic prints; anything under tree lights | Shows fingerprints; wipe the box before you put it under the tree |
| Matte | Cream and pastel prints, editorial gifts, boxes that will be handled a lot | Creases are slightly more visible, so fold once and fold right |
Common Mistakes (That Dolores Never Made)
- Wrapping on the bed. The paper sinks, the corners go soft. Use a table.
- Visible tape. Double-sided tape or tape under a folded edge. Always.
- Cutting the paper too short and patching it. Measure first. Two inches of overlap on the long side, three-quarters of the box height on the ends.
- Four ribbons. One ribbon. Maybe two if they are different widths and the same color.
- Wrapping the night before. Wrap in batches the week the paper arrives. For eight nights of Hanukkah, that is a non-negotiable; see our Hanukkah wrap guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much wrapping paper do I need for a box?
Length: the perimeter of the box going the long way, plus two inches. Width: the length of the box plus one and a half times the box height. When in doubt, lay the box on the roll and measure directly.
What is the best wrapping paper for sharp corners?
Heavier paper. Thin dollar-store rolls tear at the corners and show every crease. A 90 gsm sheet folds cleanly and holds its shape, which is why the whole House of Prancer line is printed on it.
Does the print run on both sides?
Our rolls are printed edge to edge on one side, with a small margin on the reverse edge. Fold the raw edge under at the seam and that margin disappears.
Need something to wrap? The gay Christmas gift guide has ideas sorted by who you are shopping for, and the New Arrivals collection has the latest prints.
Shop the gift wrap collection →
The wrapping is part of the gift. Dolores knew. Now you do too.