The most eco-friendly and simple way to wrap your gifts is to use what you have.

Last year’s paper gift bags, festive pieces of fabric or holiday-themed cloth napkins, and even those cards that were too pretty to throw away… they all make unique embellishments for your sustainably wrapped gifts. 

But it can be hard to keep up with all those items from year to year.  That’s why it can be helpful (and fun) to set up a gift-wrapping station in your home.


A DIY gift-wrapping center can help you organize items such as:

• paper gift bags
• fabric gift bags
• decorative boxes
• large pieces of recycled or craft paper
• your children’s artwork to use as wrapping paper
• odds and ends that make festive embellishments

You don’t need brand new organizing bins and tools. Look through the closets or basement to find baskets or containers to hold markers, tape, scissors, spools of thread, and pretty images from old holiday cards to use for gift tags.  Pinterest is filled with ideas on fun ways to dress up old vegetable cans to hold gift or craft items.

Whether it’s a closet or a storage bin under a bed, you can create a system that helps you gather all your gift-giving supplies in one place.

• Set up your station near where you usually wrap gifts
• Keep a flat surface (or a clear space of floor) for wrapping nearby
• Place baskets or boxes or bins to store recycled wrapping papers
• Set up smaller tubs for natural twine, recycled tags, bows, and other embellishments
• Add scissors, tape, and a marker or pen

• If space allows, store the gifts you plan to give in the same place (hidden away from any curious eyes)