Do you feel like you’re always buying new wrapping paper or gift bags at Christmas? You struggle to remember what you have at home or your wrapping supplies are buried in a basement or scattered in closets. It may seem like buying new stuff is easier than digging for your current supplies but this just leads to inevitable clutter.
So today we’re starting off this Christmas Declutter with wrapping paper and gift bags.
Gather Supplies
Gather all of your wrapping paper and gift bags in one room. Don’t worry if your Christmas rolls are mixed in with other items – we’ll get to that in a minute. You’ll also need a pair of scissors and a wastebasket or recycling bin.
Sort
Start by separating the holiday items from all the other items such as birthdays, baby showers, and wedding themed paper and gift bags. Set those items aside and don’t worry about them today.
Now go through your wrapping paper rolls and cut off damaged or small odd pieces. Toss any rolls and random small bits that you say you’re going to use but you never seem to find the right package to fit the piece.
If you’re feeling ambitious, get rid of old prints that you dislike and avoid using on packages.
When that’s done, move on to the gift bags. Just as before, toss anything that is badly wrinkled and damaged. If you still have more bags than you think you will use in three Christmases, consider donating a portion or tossing the used ones.
Organize & Store
Time to clean up the mess you made. Start by consolidating your gift bags into one container and stack them generally by size. I use a small basket but you can use something as simple as one of the larger gift bags.
Next, group your wrapping paper rolls into categories. Some examples I use are kids, fancy, and extra long. Whatever makes sense to you, just keep it broad – too much detail and it becomes work to put away.
I store my short rolls in a clear garment bag hung in a closet and the extra long ones in an old sturdy waste basket. You can also use long shallow bins designed to slide under the bed or containers made specifically for wrapping paper. Just make sure to measure your longest roll before purchasing as most of them don’t accommodate those long ones.
Finally, put everything away and take out the trash.
Final Thoughts
And remember, the best gifts are the kind you don’t need to wrap! Time spent with the ones you love, delicious foods and drinks, or a shared experience. Don’t buy a gift card you have to wrap, rather pay for the meal or experience while you share it with them.
See you tomorrow.