Looking for gift wrapping techniques that go beyond a bow on a box? Think neat paper pleats, colorful knots and little gold-colored details.
These ideas give you plenty to choose from, whether you love a bright floral print or prefer plain brown wrapping.
You can keep it simple or go all out with a folded fan. I especially love the small finishing touches here.
Even a red cord or a pretty tag is worth borrowing for your next gift.
Gift wrapping ideas worth saving
blue pleats and a little flower
We’re starting off strong with these gorgeous blue folds. I love the overlapping diagonal lines and that tiny gold-colored flower.
If you want to follow this look, keep the decoration small. A thin cord across the pleats is plenty.
a colorful floral knot
How cute is this floral wrap? The red flowers and green leaves look so pretty against the blue background.
That big knot on top is my favorite part.
Read also: 20 Olive Green Wedding Invitations and Matching Stationery Ideas
Try a patterned wrapping cloth for your own version. I’d skip an extra bow and let the tied ends be the decoration.
Read also: 20 Last Minute DIY Housewarming Gift Basket Ideas to Try
red folds and a paper rosette
I am obsessed with this all-red wrapping. The pointed rosette sits over a sweep of diagonal folds, with a white card tucked behind it.
Keep your card plain if you want a similar look. There’s already so much to love about the folded paper.
purple stripes and floral flaps
Can’t decide between stripes and flowers? This wrapping-in-progress brings both together.
The purple striped flap folds across the floral section while part of the brown box is still showing.
For a similar pairing, choose two patterns with a color in common. This muted purple is so pretty in both.
pink hearts for a pillow
A pillow doesn’t give you the same straight edges as a box, so here’s a different starting point. Pale pink paper with tiny gold-colored hearts is being brought around the patterned cushion.
If you’d rather work with crisp corners, you could put your pillow in a box first. Keep the heart print for that sweet finishing look.
dark wrapping and leafy stems
This may just be one of my favorites here. I love the green leaves spread across the dark wrapping and the tan bands crossing in the middle.
The little coiled flower is such a pretty alternative to a bow. Try a similar round topper if you want to borrow that detail.
silver folds around a circle
Wrapping something round? This silver package has folds gathered toward the center, with red ribbon crossing over them.
I love the red against the silver. For your own version, place the ribbon intersection over the point where the folds meet.
three green ribbon stripes
Don’t want to add a big bow? No problem!
Three green ribbon strips run down this brown package, with a shorter strip being positioned across them.
Try repeating one ribbon color like this instead of mixing several. The bright green looks so good on the plain background.
roses and diagonal folds
The floral-print fans are going to love this! Pink roses cover the pale blue-green paper, with overlapping angled folds taking shape across the front.
I’d leave off a large topper for this version. Those flowers are already worth showing off.
a gold-edged fan
How pretty is this fan-topped package? I am in love with the gold-colored border around the pleats.
The white wrapping has a delicate repeating pattern underneath.
A narrow gold-colored band runs down the front. Keep that little detail if you want the fan and the box to match.
bottle wrap with a pleated front
Here’s a lovely idea for a bottle gift. Brown wrapping rises around the bottle while a long pleated section opens up the front.
The dark brown bow and curled ribbon finish it off. I especially love how the bottle neck stays visible above the paper.
pastel paper and a blue bow
This blue bow is just too pretty. The pale printed paper folds into overlapping points above it, with a matching ribbon running down from the top.
Choose a bold ribbon if you want to try this combination with another pastel print. You don’t need to add more decorations.
big floral paper curls
Who says your topper has to be ribbon? These loose paper curls use a bright floral print like the wrapped box behind them.
I love the pink flowers against the turquoise background. You could use a cluster of matching paper curls on top of your gift instead of a separate bow.
red stripes and an oversized fan
If you are looking for a true eye-catcher, then this one is for you. The red-and-white stripes spread out across a huge fan above the package.
I love that the bow has a zigzag pattern rather than more straight stripes. Keep both patterns in the same colors if you want to try that mix.
newspaper and red cord
Don’t want to go overboard with the decorations? Try newspaper with a simple red cord.
It crosses the package in both directions and ties into a loose bow.
That little touch of red is my favorite part. Choose a page you’re happy to have visible before wrapping your gift.
floral folds with a red edge
This small floral package is so cute. The angled folds overlap across the front, with a narrow red strip showing along the top.
Try picking out one color from your paper for a similar border. The red here matches the little berry shapes beautifully.
brown parcels and floral tags
If you like keeping your wrapping simple, this one is for you. Brown paper, string bows and little floral tags make such a pretty combination.
I especially love the mix of pink and white tags. You could use different tag colors to tell your gifts apart while keeping the wrapping the same.
a sweep of gold paper
Sometimes the color is the detail worth saving. Here, a broad sheet of gold-colored paper is being folded over a rectangular gift, with its white reverse still visible at the open edge.
For a finished version, I’d try a small black bow against the gold. No patterned paper needed.
orange slices and brown wrapping
I love this brown package with its orange slices and cinnamon sticks. A tan ribbon crosses the front, with a small string bow over one of the slices.
If you want a simpler version, borrow just the orange slice at the ribbon crossing. It’s such a pretty little detail on its own.
dark green folds and pale ribbon
Last but definitely not least, we have this dark green wrapping with fine pale lines. The overlapping pointed flaps are being arranged around a light ribbon running down the center.
I love the pale pink ribbon against the green. Keep that color pairing if you want to try your own folded-paper look.
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And as you know, I seriously love seeing your takes on the looks and ideas on here - that means the world to me! If you recreate something, please share it here in the comments or feel free to send me a pic. I'm always excited to meet y'all! ✨🤍
Xoxo Alessandra