There's something very special about the ritual of wrapping Christmas presents. A quiet evening once the little ones are asleep, the sound of paper rustling and a growing collection of parcels waiting to find their way under the tree.
Of course, some years it's less of a peaceful ritual and more of a last-minute wrapping session with sticky tape attached to everything except the gift. We've all been there.
Whether you're beautifully organised or still searching for the scissors on Christmas Eve, we thought we'd share a few simple ways to make your presents feel a little more personal this year. Including a small gift from us to you.
A little Christmas gift from Bam Loves Boo
We've created a set of printable Christmas gift tags to add a little something special to your wrapping. Simple, sweet and designed to work with all sorts of gifts, whether you're wrapping presents for babies, grandparents, teachers or the special people in between.
Print them at home, cut them out and add your own message on the back. We love tying them onto a parcel with cotton string, ribbon saved from another gift or a little piece of twine.
Printing tip: For a slightly more substantial feel, print onto thicker paper or light card. You can also use ordinary paper and attach your tags to a piece of recycled cardboard.
1. Give fabric a second life as wrapping
A lovely piece of fabric can be just as beautiful as wrapping paper. Think cotton offcuts, a scarf you no longer wear, a vintage tea towel or a small square of fabric tucked away from a sewing project.
Wrap it around your gift, gather the corners and tie them together with a simple knot. You can keep the look relaxed and a little imperfect. That's part of its charm.
The best part is that the fabric can be folded away and used again next Christmas, passed on or repurposed around the home. If it's particularly beautiful, it almost becomes part of the gift.
2. Make a swaddle part of the present
For a new baby, a swaddle can make a gorgeous alternative to traditional wrapping. Rather than hiding a baby gift inside paper, wrap it gently in a soft swaddle and tie it with a ribbon.
The swaddle becomes something practical for the new family to use long after the celebrations. It's a thoughtful way to combine two useful gifts in one, particularly for baby showers, first Christmases and welcoming a new arrival.
We have a collection of beautiful swaddles if you're looking for inspiration. Try folding the fabric neatly around a boxed gift, or gathering it into a simple bundle with a handwritten tag.
3. Keep brown paper simple
Good old brown paper can look surprisingly lovely with very little effort. It works with almost any ribbon or string and makes a beautiful backdrop for a handwritten tag.
We especially love it paired with natural textures. A small sprig of rosemary from the garden. A ribbon saved from last year's presents. A little paper decoration made by the kids. You really don't need much.
If you'd like to keep things lower waste, try reusing plain paper that's still in good condition or repurposing paper packaging from parcels. Some wrapping papers and decorations can't be recycled, particularly plastic-coated, foiled or glittery ones, so check your local recycling guidance.
4. Put those little reusable bags to work
Have you ever received something in a lovely cotton bag and thought, I'll definitely use that again? Christmas is the perfect opportunity.
Reusable fabric bags are wonderful for small gifts, particularly awkward little items that are hard to wrap neatly. Think baby socks, a little toy, a book or a few small treasures collected for a stocking.
Simply slip the gift inside, pull the drawstring closed and add a tag. They're quick, tidy and useful for storing little things afterwards. We love finding ways for packaging to keep being useful rather than heading straight for the bin.
5. Let the kids make the finishing touches
If you have little helpers at home, wrapping presents can become a fun activity in itself. Set out a few simple supplies and let them make their own decorations.
They might stamp shapes onto plain paper, draw pictures for gift tags or decorate paper with crayons and pencils. Even a small hand-drawn heart can be a sweet addition to a present for a grandparent.
Older children might help write tags, choose ribbons or decide which wrapping belongs to which person. The results might not be perfectly coordinated but they'll certainly be full of personality.
6. Use what you've already got
Before buying wrapping supplies, have a rummage through the cupboards. Leftover ribbon, paper bags, scraps of fabric, gift boxes, twine and old Christmas cards can all be given another turn.
A pretty illustration from a previous Christmas card might make a wonderful new tag. A cardboard box can become lovely wrapping with string and a handmade label. You don't have to make everything from scratch or have a perfectly matching collection of parcels.
A little thoughtfulness goes a long way
Whether you love beautifully coordinated parcels or you're firmly in the wrap-it-the-night-before camp, we hope these ideas make Christmas gifting a little easier and more enjoyable.
The gift inside is what matters, along with the thought that went into choosing it. And wrapping can be part of the fun rather than another thing to get perfectly right.
If you're still looking for a few lovely things to tuck beneath the tree, we've also put together our Christmas gift guide for babies and toddlers.
From our little family to yours, happy wrapping 🎄
