Wrap presents with style

Give your gifts a festive finish and get creative with your presentation

Choose good-quality paper that won’t tear as the presents may be under the tree for a few days. Many papers have a grid on the back, which will help with placement and prevent too much wastage, and if using ribbon, cut the ends at an angle for a professional finish. A fun, kitsch way to finish off your wrapping is to tie the gift with colourful paper tinsel or fabric trims that can be re-used afterwards.

For Scandi-vibe wrapping, use brown parcel paper; a cheap option that looks stylish wrapped with twine or string. Or plain white paper for a crisper look, then finish off with a hand-written brown buff tag and some natural touches, such as real foliage, a twig of fir, or a piece of eucalyptus pushed through the string.

Try and avoid plastic or foil wrapping papers that aren’t recyclable and choose materials that can be re-used or re-purposed. An eco choice is to wrap presents in pieces of fabric. Head to

yourhomestyle.uk on YouTube to watch our furoshiki tutorial, where we show you how to wrap gifts using traditional Japanese wrapping cloths. Another lovely option is to wrap awkward shapes in a pretty scarf that becomes part of the gift.

‘ The panelling in here is much more elegant and subtle than the rest of the house but it gives the room the depth and interest that new-builds often lack, and it also created the perfect frame for my family portraits. The nesting tables were a £10 Facebook Marketplace bargain, and the green armchair throw is from The British Blanket Company’

‘Open shelves are perfect for festive styling’

‘ The built-in cupboards were one of my best ideas. They’ve created so much storage to keep toys and books, freeing up the shelves for display and styling’ ‘I chose the simple wood mantel because I wanted a minimal look. We went for a bioethanol fire, which doesn’t need a real chimney as it’s smoke-free, and there was no need to get someone in to install it as it’s free-standing. The fire is from Imaginfires and I bought some faux logs to add to the look’