How Pro Organizers Store All Their Leftover Wrapping Paper
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When you’re filled with the holiday spirit after decorating your home and buying gifts for the family, it’s easy to go a little overboard with the wrapping paper. Who can resist rolls of glittery snowflakes, cheerful plaid patterns, and shiny gold foil? But once the festivities have wrapped up, that leftover paper can quickly become an unruly mess.
Don’t just recycle it and start over again next year, though. Professional organizers have found clever ways to store wrapping paper and keep it organized for next year. Here’s how they do it.
Be Selective About Which Paper You Keep
First and foremost, be selective about what you’re going to keep. Are you actually going to reuse that Taylor Swift-inspired wrapping paper now that the Eras Tour is nearly over? Gift-wrap trends come and go, and hanging on to too much just leaves you with a wrapping paper graveyard.
“Pick one wrapping paper you really like, that’s versatile for different occasions, and keep that one,” says Jane Stoller, a professional organizer known as “Organized Jane,” and author of Organizing for Your Lifestyle.
Build a Wrapping Station
If you have enough space in your home, why not build a full-blown wrapping station where your paper can stay all year long? That’s what Nicole Gabai, professional organizer, founder of B. Organized, and author of The Art of Organizing, did inside a big closet using three large drawers.
“The top drawer has all my gift bags and plastic boxes with ribbons, scissors, and tape. In the middle drawer, I have all my tissue paper in different prints and colors, and many rolls of wrapping paper. The bottom drawer is my holiday drawer with pre-made bows, cards, and holiday wrapping paper,” she explains. “I wanted it all tucked away.”
If you don’t have room for a wrapping station, don’t worry—just find a designated area for your supplies.
“Finding that home for wrapping paper is the most important thing. It helps you see exactly what you have, saving you time and money,” says Carroll Cartwright, professional organizer and founder of Neatly and Co.
Store It Upright in an Umbrella Stand
Depending on your home, it can often be easier to find a place to store wrapping paper upright rather than horizontally.
“I have a nook under my stairs in which I have built-in rods to store some wrapping paper, and I use an umbrella stand to store my wrapping paper rods vertically. It tucks into a tiny little corner,” Cartwright says.
She also uses a pretty bowl to stash tape, scissors, and gift tags so everything’s within reach when it’s time to wrap.
Hang It in Your Closet
Stoller keeps her leftover wrapping paper to an absolute minimum and stores it horizontally in a cupboard or closet for easy access. But she has another recommendation for people who want to keep a bit more wrapping paper on hand (and out of sight) until the next holiday season.
“You can use clothes pins on hangers to keep a few sheets of wrapping paper hung up in the back of your closet where no one can see them,” she suggests. “That works really well.”
Cartwright has seen a similar option work just as well for her clients.
“You can get these gift wrap organizers that hang over a door to put all your ribbon and wrapping paper in,” she says.
Tuck It Under the Bed
The space under your bed can be prime real estate for storing wrapping paper, says Gabai.
“Whether you just get a long flat storage box that slides under the bed or a container with specialty slots just for wrapping paper, there are all kinds of ways to do it,” she says. “You can also get clear boxes for your scissors, tape, tags, and any other supplies you need. You want everything at your fingertips.”
With a smart storage system in place, your wrapping paper will stay neat and accessible, making it easier—and more fun—to reuse those festive leftovers next holiday season.
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