The Wrapping Paper Standards

Over the weekend, I shared a few Instagram stories while wrapping some gifts. I was blown away by how many messages I received, asking where I buy my paper, ribbons, etc. So today, I am letting you in on my little, wrapping secrets.

David calls it “the wrapping paper standards”. Last year, he tossed an Amazon box under the tree, that he had taped closed and written: TO JENNA on in sharpie. His excuse? He can’t meet the Wrapping Paper Standard, so he was gonna let me wrap for him.

The secret? Pick a good theme. Our tree is covered in white lights, with white, gold, and silver ornaments. I wanted to bring the same style down to the gifts under the tree. You can’t see it, but we have a luxe faux fur tree skirt down there. I didn’t love the idea of a metallic silver present (seemed VERY Vegas), so I swapped silver for black.

I am very, very bad at the actual wrapping part of gifts. Like the taping of the paper. No hospital corners. Seriously – half the gifts have little scrap, Frankenstein pieces of paper taped to cover gaps. But I hide it all with ribbons and flair, and always get SO many compliments on my wrapping skills.

I love layering ribbons. I buy thick black, white, and gold, and then add in skinnier ribbon, and textured ribbons to create dimension. Glitter trees, little ornaments, bells, and candy canes can take the place of traditional bows. I also like to pick up wrapping paper in a bunch of textures and prints, but in the same color families. From a solid black to a black and white stripe, to a gold and white stripe, to a gold polka dot print, it all ends up looking cohesive, even though it is all different.

^ Layering a thick, black ribbon, with a thinner white ribbon, and then topping it off with a sold sequin ribbon makes this little gift look extra special!

Shop some of my favorites for this year’s wrapping paper standards below: