I decided to write an article on organizing your gift wrapping supplies for two reasons: 1) Many of my clients need help organizing their gift wrapping supplies, and 2) I needed to organize my own supplies.  It does not matter whether or not you devote one entire closet for your supplies or keep them on shelves somewhere in your home, once they are organized, you’ll see how much easier it will be to wrap that birthday, holiday, or special occasion gift the next time you have to.

I followed my own SPCA (sort, purge, containerize, assign a home) process for my project, and I use the same process when I work with my clients.

1. Sort into separate piles, keeping like with like.

• Birthday: wrapping paper, gift bags, tissue paper, bows
• Holiday: wrapping paper, gift bags, tissue paper, bows and/or ribbons
• All-occasion: wrapping paper, gift bags, tissue paper, bows and/or ribbons
• Empty gift boxes

2. Purge – Since most of these items are paper, recycle that which is ripped, stained, bent out of shape, too little to use anymore, or you just don’t need.  If the material is not made out of paper, discard.

3. Containerize – I used clear, empty plastic bins that I had leftover from one of my other organizing projects.  The best part about clear plastic is that you can see through them.  If you are not using clear plastic, label the bins for easy reference.  If you don’t have any bins at all, you can either buy them or buy the actual bins that are made solely for gift wrapping supplies.  Just make sure you figure out the size you need.  You’ll know because when you sorted and kept like with like, you’ll see how much you actually have.  I was comfortable keeping my birthday and all-occasion tissue paper, bows, and ribbons together.  For me, the less containers I have, the easier it is to store and then retrieve.  But, for you, you may want additional containers.

4. Assign a Home – I put my supplies on a metal shelf in my basement, but you can put them anywhere that is convenient for you.  If you are going to use a closet, make sure the containers fit on the shelves.   I did keep a couple of empty gift boxes, and I either flattened them or stored them close to the plastic bins.

The greatest benefits are now that you have a home for these supplies, it’ll be easier to find them when the time comes for you to wrap your next gift, and you’ll have a place to put new supplies.  Remember, there is no right or wrong way to organize.  What fits your needs is the right way.

By the way, when all was said and done, I was able to recycle quite a bit, which left me with extra storage space, and it only took me 1 ½ hours to complete my project.  Now, this project is done, and I can move onto my next one!   Remember, there is no right or wrong way to organize.  What fits your needs  is the right way.

BB’s Clutter Solutions is located in Cherry Hill, NJ and serves New Jersey (north and south), Philadelphia and its Pennsylvania suburbs, and New York City.  Contact information: www.bb-clutter-solutions.com, info@bb-clutter-solutions.com, 856-912-0077.