Have you ever stood bewildered, wrapping paper, scissors, and Sellotape in hand, staring at an oddly shaped gift that needs wrapping and wondering where to start?

According to research by GWP Group, people in the UK use a total of 227,000 miles of wrapping paper each year, with the average household using about four rolls. 

But if you’ve ever tried to wrap an awkwardly-shaped gift and ended up wasting a load of wrapping paper in the process, you’re not alone. 

Whether it's a bottle of bubbly Skinny Sparkling Rose or a bulky kitchen appliance, some festive gifts are determined to challenge your wrapping skills. 

So, if you want to avoid wasting too much paper, you need our guide to tackling those tricky wrapping scenarios! Read on to learn more. 

How to wrap awkward shaped Christmas gifts

Cylinder Shaped Gifts (Wine and Prosecco bottles)

This is the classic Christmas conundrum. How to make that bottle of wine or prosecco look presentable. Here’s the foolproof method:

• Place the bottle diagonally on a sheet of wrapping paper. 
• Roll up the wrapping paper, leaving extra at either end. 
• Twist one end closed like a sweet wrapper. 
• For the top, gather the paper around the neck of the bottle and secure it with a sparkly ribbon. 

For an even easier option, order our ready-boxed Skinny Sparkling Rose Prosecco!

Bulky Gifts (Air Fryers and Kitchen Appliances)

Large boxes with awkward handles need special attention when it comes to wrapping. You can choose from two options:

1. The Box-Within-A-Box Method. 

This involves finding a larger (more regular-shaped!) box that the appliance box fits neatly inside. Once you’ve found it, pad the empty spaces out with bubble wrap or colourful tissue paper. Then just wrap the outer box as normal.

2. The Direct Wrapping Technique

This option is slightly trickier but might look neater. You just need to measure the paper to cover the longest side plus about 3 inches. Create clean corners by folding and creasing the wrapping paper firmly, and use double-sided tape for invisible seams. You can also add a wide ribbon if you need to hide any imperfect edges. 

Small Stocking Fillers

Small gifts deserve a big impact! Whether it’s bottles of Skinny Coffee Syrups or a few bags of high-protein Chocaholic Crispy Balls, here are some creative ideas on how to present those little treasures. 

1. Sweet Shop Style. 

Use colourful tissue paper or cellophane. Twist the ends like wrapped sweets, and add some curling ribbon for extra impact. This option is ideal for jewellery, skincare, and gift cards. 

2. Mini Gift Bags

Make up some tiny custom gift bags using wrapping paper. Use decorative hole punches at the top, then thread colourful ribbon through the holes and hang them on your Christmas tree. This a great choice if you’re wrapping chocolates, earrings or stationery gifts. 

3. Origami Boxes

We love this option for wrapping up earrings or small tech accessories. You’ll need some sturdy wrapping paper or origami paper. Once you’ve made your boxes, add a tiny bow or name tag. You can even stack multiple boxes if you have a set of themed presents to gift. 

Awkward-Shaped Gifts

For soft items like plush toys and clothing, you can use the roll-and-twist method. 

Roll the items up tightly and wrap them like a Christmas cracker, tying the ends with some festive ribbon and adding a gift tag to finish. 

For irregular shapes like kitchen appliances and sports equipment, the paper bag technique is a good shout. First, create a custom-sized bag using wrapping paper, folding and securing the bottom. Pop the item inside, then fold the top down and secure it with some decorative sticky tape. 

Professional Finishing Touches

If you want to make sure the gifts you give are the best presented under the tree, you’ll need to invest in a few tools:

• Sharp scissors for cutting the wrapping paper
• Double-sided sticky tape
• Festive ribbon in a range of different widths
• Gift tags and bows

Try layering different wrapping papers to add interest to your gifts or mixing textures (for example, recyclable wrapping paper with a foil ribbon and natural twine.) You could even add natural elements such as pine cones and cinnamon sticks or make personalised gift tags using your favourite photos from 2024. 

Finally, remember that imperfect wrapping can often be saved with a little creativity. A well-placed bow, a sprig of holly, or a handmade gift tag will quickly transform your wrapped gifts. 

And sometimes, the most unusually shaped presents look the most spectacular under the Christmas tree…