Make your presents look extra-special without spending a fortune. Design expert Sophie Robinson shares her top tips
Sophie Robinson is a top interiors stylist and a regular on TV home makeover programmes. Says Sophie, 'The secret to successful wrapping is neatly folded ends. Before you cut the paper, wrap it around the gift. The paper should be wide enough to overlap slightly by no more than around 2cm (1in) when wrapped around the item.'
Christmas cracker
This is a nifty way to wrap awkward shaped items.
What you need: Tissue paper, scissors, sticky tape, ribbon
What you do: Fold a large sheet of tissue paper in half. Wrap the gift with 15cm (6in) paper each end and roll up as a cylinder, keeping it central, and securing with tape. Bunch up each end and pinch together in the centre. Use ribbon or string to secure each end. Gently tease the paper so it flares out. Decorate as you like with gift wrap, ribbon, bows and gift tags.
Feather wrap
A simple idea which will give your gifts a luxurious feel.
What you need: Tissue paper, feathers (from craft shops), sticky tape, scissors
What you do: Wrap your gifts in a few layers of plain white tissue paper. Next, lay a single sheet of tissue paper down flat, place a feather in the centre of the paper, put the gift carefully on top and then wrap so the feather is trapped in place.
Gift stack
A great idea if you are giving several gifts to the same person.
What you need: Wrapping paper, from a selection
What you do: Choose different wrapping paper in coordinating colours, arrange in a stack with the largest at the bottom and tie together with a big bow. Finish with a matching bauble.
Tree silhouettes
Easy but effective.
What you need: Wrapping papers in contrasting colours, pencil, craft knife
What you do: Wrap the present in paper. Place a piece of contrasting paper flat on a table and centre the parcel on it. Draw around the gift, put gift to one side and then draw a Christmas tree design on the contrast paper in the centre of this area. Cut half the tree profile with a sharp blade. Put the gift back on the paper and wrap, keeping the tree central. Fold the cut shape back to reveal the first paper underneath.
Decorative band
This is a time-saving yet stylish idea that makes your more expensive paper go further.
What you need: Scissors, tissue paper, wrapping paper, sticky tape.
What you do: Wrap the gift in a few sheets of tissue paper. Then cut out a wide strip of wrapping paper (check it's long enough to go round the present first) and fix in place. Finish by tying with a ribbon, or adding a bow, in the same colour as the tissue paper. Silver snowflake decoration, £1.50/pack of 5; tissue paper, wrapping paper, ribbon and trims, from a selection
Reader panellist Tamara Chapman learned how to wrap with Sophie:
'I was really impressed that such a simple idea, which was quick and easy to do, could lead to such professional looking results. I'm definitely going to try this tip for my present-wrapping at Christmas.'
