We’re always short of space in our house, so we try to be as organised as possible when it comes to occasional use items.
One of the things that was always a problem was organising all the things needed for gifting. Somehow I was always scrambling to get scissors, and then when I had scissors I couldn’t find sellotape, and then I’d go upstairs to get a bow and then come down again to one of the cats sitting on the outstretched roll of paper, or playing with scissors (seriously, the cats are crazy).
In the end the solution was presented to me by my friend Teresa, who proudly showed me the Really Useful Storage box she’d bought that addresses that specific problem. I spent a few months thinking about getting one because she was so enthusiastic about hers, and then in the end I bit the bullet. Even though it was more I wanted to spend, it was something I really wanted.
The box is long but thin, and although it doesn’t store super long rolls of wrapping paper, it does store most standard rolls. A shallow plastic tray rests above (on the side ridges of the box), creating a second layer above. This tray is divided into compartments so you can store things like bows and gift tags.
Here’s what’s in my gift wrapping box, to give you an idea:
– Rolls of wrap
– Gift wrap
– Tiny bows
– Homemade gift tags
– Other sizes of ribbon
– Scissors
– Sellotape
– Pens
– Greetings cards
Everything is handily kept together, and when I’m finished using it I simply close the lid, lock it in place, and slide it under the spare room bed. That way everything is safe from curious cats and it’s not in the way. I can remember where it is, and I’m no longer hunting scissors or sellotape around the house because someone’s moved them to use them for something else. There’s a designated gift wrapping system set.
And that’s all there is to it! Simply top up occasionally and you’ll never be hunting down your gift wrap or cutting ruined bits off the end of the roll again.
