The time has come to bribe siblings to wrap our Christmas presents for us.
Wrapping gifts divides opinion. Either it’s a soothing experience to encase gifts carefully selected for loved ones with beautiful paper, or it’s a total disaster. Take Rowan Atkinson’s gift wrapping fiasco in Love Actually for example. Stress central.
No matter your wrapping skills, it’s always easy to admire one’s chosen wrapping paper for the year. Whether opting for a traditional holly-clad print or kitsch Gen Z colourways, there’s no greater feeling than standing back and marvelling at your perfected papered tower of gifts under the tree.
Forget present shopping, paper shopping is where the real fun happens. You can mix and match depending on the recipient or occasion. Under-the-tree gifts may require a more formal covering, such as baroque florals or traditional tartans, whereas stocking fillers can boast more playful styles, as if they have been handpicked by elves working away in Santa’s grotto.
Likewise, parents and grandparents may appreciate something with a touch more opulence, while siblings are prime targets for novelty designs.
As with pretty much all now-hyper-commercialised Christmas traditions, the wrapping of gifts is an ancient practice. The first use of wrapping paper is documented in ancient China. Paper was invented in the second century BC, meaning wrapping was a thing long before Christmas ever was.
Wrapping a gift was believed to bring protection and good luck to the recipient. Later in the 1600s, the Japanese used fabric as opposed to paper for wrapping gifts, adopting a style known as furoshiki which is still used to this day for both wrapping and the creation of fashion accessories.
From 1917, the decorative wrapping paper we know and love today started being sold in bookshops. This is still the case, as anyone can wander into their local bookshop and gently run their hands over the textured artisan wrapping sheets proudly displayed inside. Or - you could nip into Sainsbury’s and pick up a cellophane-covered roll for a cheap and cheerful solution. Whatever floats your boat.
Discover some show-stopping wrapping paper options to enchant loved ones this Christmas, from striking stripes to sleighing pets and more…
Shop now
Selfridges Poinsettia Pack of Five
Watch floral and fauna sprawl across your chosen gifts with this beautiful offering from Selfridges. Romantic colourways complement punchy blooms which can be elevated with a red velvet ribbon for some additional festive flair.
Buy now £15.00, Selfridges
Anthropologie Emily Taylor for George & Viv Sleigh Party Christmas Wrapping Paper Roll
Serve up an extra dose of cheer with this adorable wrapping paper. Watch swathes of furry friends whizz past on their tiny sleds in this festive print designed by Emily Taylor for George & Viv.
Buy now £8.00, Anthropologie
John Lewis Christmas Cottage Star and Santa Gift Wrap
Have a holly jolly Christmas with some friendly Santas in tow. Suitable for all ages and genders, this failsafe print is a grin-worthy buy.
Buy now £4.00, John Lewis
Typo Christmas Wrapping Paper Roll
A supremely stripy print is a surefire way to grab attention. Bundle up your gifts with this statement-making design which is an uber-fun option for all.
Buy now £3.50, Typo
Whistlefish Woodland Animals Wrapping Paper
Sprinkle sophistication over your gifts with a natural-inspired vista. Featuring scattering squirrels, blooming florals and delicate sprigs, the paper is a versatile pick for both winter and spring occasions.
Buy now £1.85, Whistlefish
White Company Champagne Coupe Wrapping Paper
Keep it classy and glassy. The White Company is a favourite among yummy mummys and minimalists for good reason. The products are undeniably elegant and some are even covered in wine glass illustrations - ideal for those with a penchant for the finer things in life.
Buy now £10.00, White Company
Caroline Gardner Sausage Dogs Christmas Wrapping Paper
If you live in London, you’ll no doubt have been confronted with the city’s obsession with dachshunds. The petite pups have even infiltrated Christmas, with Caroline Grdner becoming one of many designers to incorporate the beloved hounds into her wrapping paper collection.
Buy now £2.50, Caroline Gardner
Selfridges Christmas Treats No.2 Pack of Five Wrapping Sheets
Minimalists will gravitate towards Selfridges' simple yet equally stylish designs. Perfect for unfussy fathers and partners, this fern green design is a contemporary take on the classic Fir tree symbol.
Buy now £15.00, Selfridges
Cox & Cox Festive Bows Recycled Wrapping Paper
Wrapping paper is to blame for a huge amount of waste during the Christmas period. Shop sensibly and opt for a recycled offering - an even more tempting thought when it’s as beautiful as Cox & Cox’s bow-clad paper.
Buy now £14.50, Cox & Cox
Amelia Illustration Bengal Cat Christmas Wrapping Paper
Cat people, we hear you and we see you. Amelia Illustration’s Bengal cat wrapping paper is for those who have been relentlessly ploughing through the dog renditions in an effort to source a feline alternative. A meow-wow moment.
Buy now £5.50, NOTHS
Heather Evelyn Diamond-print Wrapping Paper
Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but more specifically diamonds are a Gen Z girl’s best friend when in pink print form. This vibrant design is ideal for teens and tweens who obsess over checkerboard trends and twee colourways.
Buy now £5.00, Selfridges
Etsy Luxurious Dark Nutcracker Suite Christmas Gift Wrapping Paper
Cue the Sugar Plum Fairy theme tune. This baroque-style wrapping paper brings the fairytale to life. Smart nutcrackers stand amidst rich red florals and blooming botanicals set against an inky black backdrop to create a realistic folkloric print for all to admire.
Buy now £3.50, Etsy
