I created this post back in 2013 and because it has been so popular I like to update it every few years with new ideas. Simple brown paper is environmentally-friendly, readily- available and inexpensive. Every year I vary my gift wrap but I always add brown paper to the mix. It is clean simple, and almost any color ribbon or adornment looks great on it. You can find inexpensive brown boxes at Amazon, Marshalls, or Homegoods that don’t even need to be wrapped. All you need is an interesting tag and some pretty ribbon. Below I rounded up 12 creative gift wrap ideas using simple brown paper. I have linked to sources at the bottom of the post.
12 Creative Gift Wrap Ideas Using Simple Brown Paper
Love this pretty option from Seeking Lavender Lane. with dried fruit and bookpages.
Almost every year I combine brown paper with some sort of pattern under my tree. In 2019 it was gold polka dots, terra cotta rag ribbon, and brown satin ribbon. Somehow I found the polka dot boxes a Marshalls. That was a lucky find. I made the gift tags on Canva. You can find all the details on this wrapping in my post My Christmas tree, simple gift wrap and downloadable tags here.
I love this idea from Always Rooney. If you have artistic kids or grandkids they can take this project on, no ribbon is needed. How fun is that?
This was my combination from 2018. As you can see I have a thing about stripes and polka dots. No stripes or polka dots are allowed this year I promise! Well, I best not commit yet.
I love this combination of green, black and red from
Love this variation on simple brown paper from Place of my Taste here. They will show you how to do the gift tags as well.
Love the pretty gift tags on these packages from Place of My Taste.
I love this idea from See and Savor. Who knew brown lunch bags could be so clever?
A few years ago I combined matte silver, red and green satin ribbon, and black and brown stripe papers for a fun mix.
My friend Annie from Most Lovely Things is a creative genius when it comes to minimalism. She can take simple brown paper and make it fabulous.
Tulip and Sage’s clever mix of caramel yarn, charcoal & white paper elevates the simple brown paper.
SHOP WRAPPING PAPER
I hope you found this article 12 Creative Gift Wrap Ideas using Simple Brown Paper helpful if you are thinking of using brown paper. I will be adding brown paper to the mix again this year. More on that later. While searching for nightstands for my son and daughter in law I noticed that Ballard Designs has some great ribbon and gift wrap on sale here.
You might also enjoy this post Five Instaworthy Takes on Holiday Wrap here. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and friends. How is your Christmas coming along? Have you started shopping?
Annie Diamond says
Cindy! Thanks for including me in your round-up! I do love a package wrapped up in brown paper! So many creative ways to do it!
blogfixer says
Hi Annie you have it mastered love your brown paper packages!!
Karen B. says
Just what I needed. I’m in the middle of a move and my brain is not focused on Christmas as it would be normally. This post is extremely helpful. Clever and creative. Thanks, Cindy
xo,
Karen
blogfixer says
Hi Karen! Good Luck with your move
Carolyn says
My dream job when I retired was always to be a gift wrapper at a nice department store. My heart would stop as I watched the ladies (and occasionally men) measure the box and choose from a sea of paper rolls (never any excess). Then they would pick a satin, taffeta or grosgrain ribbon to match. Nothing in that gift box could compare with the outside beauty of the wrap. Alas, I’m retired and it’s all gift bags. I still love to create and receive a beautiful, thoughtfully wrapped package. Yours inspire me. Maybe I will open a shop with French silk ribbons on rolls and cotton stock stationery.
blogfixer says
Hi Carolyn
Bags are so much easier and get multiple uses. I use a lot of bags as well. I always recycle all of my ribbon (to my family’s chagrin). Most of the paper is too thin these days. Let me know if you open that shop!
Karen says
Cindy:
This is Awesome, all these beautifully wrapped gifts, One year wrapped in all White Butcher paper, with plaid.
Love presentation of pretty wrapped gifts.
Thank you
🎁🎁🎁🎁❤️💚🎄🎄
blogfixer says
Hi Karen
White butcher paper is another good option. I did a post several years back on that as well!
Marguerite says
Cindy, these wrapped gifts are so simple, creative and beautiful! The Holy Grail for holiday decorating, IMO! A very happy Thanksmas to you and family. Let’s all remember where we were emotionally last year at this time., and give thanks.
Cindy Hattersley says
Hi Marguerite
Yes so thankful that we can be with our families this year! Thank you for reminding us!
Katherine allan says
Hi Cindy,
I so appreciate the creativity, like you I LOVE LOVE LOVE to gift wrap, the presentation is everything isn’t it?
You do that so well, and it looks like you have so much fun doing it.
Sending you a blessed and joyful Thanksgiving Day. You are a blessing to us all.
Cindy Hattersley says
Hi Katherine
Yes I do enjoy the wrapping and you are so right. Presentation is everything. Thank you so much for your support. I so appreciate all of you!
Gray says
ANOTHER THING WE HAVE IN COMMON! I love to wrap presents. And I have a scheme every year! And I like it to look well in my home (so red and green doesn’t work 🙁 …) Thanks for all the gorgeous ideas. I love the one with kraft and writing on the paper – I am doing kraft and white next year (i know, i know), so that would be great! Make sure to show us a picture of this year’s wrapping.
Cindy Hattersley says
Hi Gray
I keep thinking I will get festive and do red some year. I actually had purchased some great red block print pillows for my old house. Maybe in my next life!! I will definitely do a wrapping post when I get some presents to wrap!!
Harriet says
All these packages are beautiful! I have always thought that a beautifully wrapped gift is a part of the present. Wrapping paper can get expensive though so our family tries to get creative using newspaper, outdated maps as well as brown paper bags dressed with beautiful ribbon, some that we saved from previous gifts. We also reuse our holiday cards as gift cards. It’s fun to remember who sent the card and figure out a way to cut out the design. Happy Holidays!
Vivian says
I love all of the beautiful ideas! Please tell me how do you use the reused holiday cards as gift cards? Thank you!
Cindy Hattersley says
Hi Vivian
If you click on the link, it will lead you to the post where she shows you how. I have done it as well. If you just save the cards you love. Use the fronts, punch with a hole punch, tie a pretty ribbon on them and voila!!
Cindy Hattersley says
Hi Harriet
I have found great paper at Marshall’s and Home Goods over the years. I love newsprint, white and brown kraft paper as well. I recycle all my ribbon, drives my family nuts!!
LA CONTESSA says
BEAUTIFUL!
Sandra Sallin says
Love, love, love all of these. Thanks for all the creative ideas. Love your choices.
Mary Ann Pickett says
Thanks for including mine! Wow! I am pinning and also going to “up my game” for the rest of my Christmas wrapping!
Celia Becker @ www.AfterOrangeCounty.com says
I love to wrap gifts, always have, since I was a kid going to birthday parties. So I’m always on the lookout for wrapping inspiration. What a great roundup of ideas you shared here! I went Pinterest Pinning crazy! Merry Christmas!
Bill and Judy says
Steve and Cindy,
Beautiful wrappings!
May you all have a very Blessed Christmas and a Wonderful New Year!
Love,
Bill and Judy
Bron says
Some fabulous and creative ideas! Thanks for sharing. 🙂