Brits are divided on many elements of Christmas gifting, from the last-minute Christmas Eve shoppers to those who started in July. We’re especially split on our attitudes towards gift wrapping, with half (50%) saying they find it difficult to wrap presents. One in six (16%) ask someone else to do their wrapping for them.
Perhaps predictably, women are less likely to need help with wrapping than men, with only 8% of those surveyed saying they’d ask someone to help them. Despite this, 48% of women said they struggle with wrapping presents and making them look special.
Gifting has become an art form for many, with lots of care taken to present loved ones with a carefully wrapped gift. So the Christmas team at NEXT have unveiled their top gift-wrapping trends for the 2024 season, working with gift-wrapping expert Aoife Forbes to share tips and tricks for Brits wanting to make their presents feel extra special this year.
Gift wrapping expert Aoife shares her top trends for gift wrapping this year below:
“There has been a lot of love for sustainable and reusable wrapping, such as brown paper and fabric. Brown paper can act as a perfect ‘blank canvas’ for decorations such as cinnamon sticks, sprigs of holly or paper doilies. I think using fabric such as a Christmas Tea Towel tied with ribbon makes a second gift alongside the present and can be enjoyed every year afterwards.
“So many of the wrapping paper motif trends are amongst my favourite things including candy canes, stripes, pink bows, bows and even more bows. The bows trend especially has been coming through in fashion and interiors all year and now in Christmas decorations and wrap. These motifs work well alone or in combination with other colours; I personally love pink and green together.”
For those who don’t understand the fuss when it comes to gift wrapping, Aoife explains why taking care with your wrapping is important:
“I feel it adds so much to the whole experience when a gift is wrapped with love and care. It can be really personalised and decorative parts can then be kept as keepsakes.
Gift wrapping is a way of showing someone how much you care about them and how much thought you have put into a present. Being creative and using your hands are also proven ways to boost mental health. So in a way, you are caring for yourself too.”
“I’m on a bit of a mission to show how great gift wrapping doesn’t have to be expensive or wasteful. With a bit of care and imagination, gifts can be easily transformed with simple tricks. For example, adding natural foliage or adding a tree decoration with ribbon can make gifts look ‘too pretty to open’ and is a sure way to add an extra smile to recipients’ faces.”
Aoife’s top tips for wrapping novices:
- Take your time and do your wrapping on a table, not the floor.
- Try not to use too much paper. Too much at the edges turns into bagging sides and is trickier to look neat.
- Use sharp scissors – you can sharpen them by cutting kitchen tin foil.
- Use double-sided tape rather than sellotape to hide joins, this instantly elevates wrapping.
- Put the main ‘join’ down the middle of the gift, over to the edge – this makes it look less visible.
- Try and make your creases as sharp and your folds as tight as you can.
- If you find tying bows tricky, then don’t. By using thick ribbon, you can make a knot in the centre look just as striking. Ribbons with wire trims on the sides work really well for this look.
- Pop flowers, sheaves of wheat or foliage through the ribbon, not only does it look lovely but it can draw attention away from any gaps or odd edges!
NEXT shares the gift wrapping trends of 2024.
Burgundy everything
Burgundy has been everywhere this season, from the runways to home interiors and NEXT predicts it to be huge when it comes to all things Christmas too. Expect burgundy baubles, bows and wreaths to start to appear in lots of homes over the coming weeks as people jump on the trend.
When it comes to wrapping styles, it’s expected that burgundy and dark green will both feature heavily this festive season. Whether you opt for a minimal block-coloured paper or one with a classic Christmas motif, you’ll be super on trend with these colours. For those who like a modern take on a traditional style, opt for a brown paper base accessorised with a velvet ribbon and sprigs of festive foliage.
Bows
Bows are another universal trend that people have gone mad for this year. Started last Christmas with Barbie-inspired pink tree bows, this trend is set to be even bigger this year. When it comes to wrapping, finishing off your gift with a flourish of ribbon might be a must for many already, but for those who haven’t taken up the trend just yet – now is the perfect time.
Not only are ribbons and string bows popular, but bow motifs on wrapping paper and gift bags will also be huge this year.
Gonks
Gonks have long been a symbol of Christmas in Nordic countries but have recently become a popular figure in the UK. They are everywhere this Christmas season, making cute decor pieces to style and adorn your tree. They also feature on lots of wrapping paper styles this year, offering a playful option to wrap your gifts.
Highland-core
NEXT has named Highland-core as one of its biggest trends for the Christmas season, encompassing some of the Scottish highland’s most iconic symbols. Whether you love a classic tartan theme or a fun highland cow motif, this wrapping theme is sure to bring your loved ones some Christmas joy.
The Hamish collection at NEXT offers products for pets, homeware and men’s and women’s fashion all in the highland-core theme.
To shop gift-wrapping products and for more gifting inspiration, visit the Next website.