Step 1: Remove everything and collect into one place.
If your gift wrapping supplies are all together, this should be simple, just pull it all out onto the floor or a clear surface nearby.
However, if you've got gift ribbon in your craft drawer, gift worthy boxes in the garage, wrapping paper under a bed, scissors and tape in your junk drawer, and gift bags under the kitchen sink... DON'T PANIC! We're about to fix that. Collect everything you need for gift wrapping into one place. It doesn't really matter where yet, the kitchen table or living room floor will do.
BONUS TIP: Take a quick pick of this so you can be extra proud of your after product!
Step 2: Decide how much is enough.
Before you start sorting, look at your pile of supplies. Is it WAY too much? Is it about right after some re-organizing? Make a decision about how much you want to keep. Most all of it? Cut it in half? Only keep a few favorites? Now that you've decided about how much, give it physical boundaries to make keeping to your goal easier.
Step 3: Find a home for all of it.
Do you have a certain bin you'd like it to fit in? A shelf in the hall closet? If you don't have anywhere in mind, go find a bin you have that would work well or a place in a dresser or closet. Then commit to only keeping what fits COMFORTABLY in that space.
Step 4: Pick your categories.
First, figure out what categories of supplies you have. This will probably include some or all of the following: tools (tape & scissors), ribbon, bows, extra accessories (cute things to tie on to gifts after wrapping), gift tags (aka to/from stickers and tie on's), wrapping paper (loose vs rolls if needed), tissue paper, gift bags, small decorative boxes, and larger cardboard boxes (you intend to wrap).
Now decide if all these categories are keepers. Have you been only wrapping with wrapping paper in the last year? Let go of your gift bags and tissue paper. Only using gift bags? Let go of your wrapping paper, boxes, and, ribbons. Mostly tying on ribbons and not using the sick on bows? You get the idea. Really think through what makes you the happiest to use and let go of the categories you don't. Of course you can decide to keep every category you have, but if you do so, make sure to be EXTRA selective about what you do keep in each of those categories.
Note on tools: If you have TONS of extra scissors and tape, pick your best wrapping paper cutting scissors & clear or neutral colored tape to store with your wrapping items. You'll thank me later! If you only have one pair of scissors and one thing of tape in your house, decide if it would be really valuable / time saving to get another set to go with your gift wrapping things, Or if you're happy to truck across the house every time you want to wrap something, that's fine too. Just make sure to keep them in a place that is semi-close and easy to find.
Step 5: Sort & declutter.
Next it's time to start sorting & decluttering. Pick up one item at a time and ask the following set of questions:
Is this damaged or faded enough that I will avoid using it to wrap a gift? - If yes, add to trash or recycle pile. If no, continue.
Is this something I've had for more than 2 years and avoided using? - If yes, either declutter it (trash, recycle, or donate) or decide to use it for the next gift you give (put on the top of your supplies during the "Put it all away" stage). You probably don't want more than 4 items in this 'use ASAP' category. If no, continue.
Is this too big or annoying to store? (aka think very large cardboard box or massive foofy bow) - If yes, either declutter it (trash, recycle, or donate) or add it to you 'use ASAP' category' but again you only want about 4 items in this category. If no, continue.
Is this something I could use to wrap a gift I'll have coming up in the next year? - For example, if you bought some wedding wrapping paper last summer for a wedding gift you gave? Is there a high-likelihood you'll be giving out another wedding gift this year? And if not, maybe declutter this item. Or at the bare minimum, only keep 1 type of wrapping paper that would work for a wedding gift. BONUS TIP: Try to only keep wrapping items that would work for multiple occasions (aka pretty gold paper could work for a wedding or a birthday). If you'll probably use this in the next year, continue.
Will the person potentially receiving this think it's cool or beautiful? - If no, let it go. If yes, continue.
Is this something I would love to wrap with? - If no, remember that your wrapping supplies should be something you feel great about gifting. If you don't love it, let it go. If you do love it, now it's time to put this in the correct keep pile and move on to the next item.
Obviously that's a lot of questions. Once you've gone through the entire list with 2-3 items, you can cut down to maybe only using 3 questions, "Is this damaged or faded? Is this too annoying to store? Do I love it?" That will weed out most of the junk. However if you come to a particular item you are struggling to decide on, maybe go back to this list (bookmark this blog post!).
IMPORTANT: If this is not only your wrapping space, but also that of your family's, be considerate while decluttering and maybe invite them to get involved in this process with you.
Once everything is sorted into your keeper categories or a declutter category such as trash, recycle, or donate... it's time to start putting things away!
But don't forget to deal with the decluttered piles!
Step 6: Find containers for your keeper categories.
It's important to be able to find everything easily so you enjoy the process of wrapping gifts. Now that you can see the amount you have in each keeper category, go find containers for each. For bows & gift tags you may just want zip lock bags, or maybe you have a fancy craft organizer laying around you want to use to store all the smaller items. Find something that works for you. I also recommend finding a medium-sized pretty box for all your small gift boxes, and perhaps a sturdy reusable grocery bag to store gift bags. Another important container is something sturdy to keep your tall wrapping paper rolls in. You can use a kitchen trash can, a flat under the bed bin, or a tall, thin box. If you don't have something like this, you can either just lean your paper inside a closet corner, or go out and buy a wrapping paper container. They're pretty handy if you like having a variety of wrapping paper. But keep in mind where you are planning to store the smaller items before you decide.
Step 7: Label for extra ease.
Label each container you created above. Labeling is essential if you want your family members to be able to find (and more importantly keep organized) these supplies as well.
Step 8: Put it all away.
Now that each category has an individual home, it's time to put it away in that big bin, or closet corner you picked out in step 3. If your wrapping paper is the only thing that doesn't fit, that's fine. However, if it doesn't fit or you REALLY have to cram to get it all in there, you might have to do a bit more decluttering. You want a wrapping supply space that is easy to get things in and out of.
Step 9: Show it off!
Bring your partner, child, parent, or close friend over to your new gift wrapping space and show it off! It's exciting to make progress on your home, and it will feel much more so if you share it with those you love.
BONUS FUN: Take a photo of your new gift wrapping space and post it on social media (if you took a before photo you can share that too) and tag me @elenasdeclutter and add the hashtag "giftwrappingsupplies" so I can see your sweet work! It means so much to me to help make a difference in your life and I'd love to see how you use this process.
Comment below your favorite gift wrapping supply or method.