6 DIY Storage Ideas for Wrapping Supplies to Declutter Your Life
Organize wrapping supplies and declutter your space with 6 clever DIY storage ideas. Learn to use everyday items to neatly store paper, ribbons, and bows.
It happens every time: a birthday or holiday sneaks up, and you find yourself digging through a closet, trying to find the one roll of wrapping paper that isn’t crushed. The tape is missing, you can’t find a single gift bag, and the ribbons are a tangled mess. This small moment of chaos is a symptom of a larger problem that plagues every home, big or small—the clutter of "just in case" items.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!
Decluttering with a Ryobi Drill and DIY Ideas
This RYOBI ONE+ 18V cordless drill/driver delivers 515 in./lbs. of torque and a 2-speed gearbox for versatile drilling and driving. Features a 1/2 in. keyless chuck and an LED worklight for convenience.
Tackling clutter isn’t about buying more containers; it’s about creating systems that work for your life. For me, that process often starts with a simple, reliable tool like my Ryobi drill. It represents the power to adapt your space to your needs, whether you’re mounting a shelf in a van conversion or assembling a simple organizer in a studio apartment.
Don’t let the term "DIY" intimidate you. It doesn’t mean you need a workshop full of tools and a background in carpentry. Sometimes, the best DIY solution is simply assembling a flat-pack product or cleverly repurposing an everyday item. It’s about seeing the potential in your space and having the confidence to make a small change that yields a big result.
The goal is to build a solution that fits the "in-between" spaces of your home—the back of a door, the sliver of wall behind a dresser, or the forgotten space under your bed. These projects are about reclaiming lost square footage. They are small victories that make daily life smoother and less stressful.
IKEA SKÅDIS Pegboard: A Vertical Solution
Organize your space with the IKEA Skadis pegboard. This versatile white board, measuring 30x22, offers a simple and stylish solution for displaying and storing your items.
Walls are your most underutilized asset in a small space. A pegboard system, like the IKEA SKÅDIS, takes everything vertical, getting your supplies off the floor and out of drawers. It’s a modular command center for creativity, not just a place to hang tools.
The beauty of the SKÅDIS system is its adaptability. You can use hooks for scissors and tape dispensers, small containers for gift tags, and shelves for cards and pens. By seeing all your supplies at a glance, you’re less likely to buy duplicates and more likely to actually use what you have. It turns a functional storage area into a visually appealing feature.
There are tradeoffs, of course. You have to be willing and able to drill into a wall, which isn’t always an option for renters. It also puts your supplies on display, so it requires a certain level of tidiness to avoid looking cluttered. But if you have the wall space, a pegboard is one of the most efficient storage solutions per square inch you can implement.
A Seville Classics Utility Cart Wrapping Station
This heavy-duty Seville Classics utility cart provides reliable storage and transport with a 500 lb capacity. Its durable steel shelves and handlebar make it ideal for commercial and home use.
Not everyone has a dedicated craft room or even a craft corner. For many of us living in smaller homes, the dining table or a patch of floor becomes the temporary wrapping zone. This is where a rolling utility cart, like the ones from Seville Classics, truly shines. It’s a mobile, self-contained station.
Think of it as a pop-up workshop. You can load the top tier with tape, scissors, and pens; the middle tier with ribbons and bows; and the bottom with gift bags and tissue paper. Tall rolls of wrapping paper can be stored in a canister attached to the side. When it’s time to wrap, you wheel it out. When you’re done, it rolls away into a closet or an unused corner.
The primary consideration here is the cart’s footprint. While mobile, it still occupies floor space, which is the most precious real estate in any tiny home or apartment. You need a dedicated parking spot for it. But if you have a closet with a bit of floor space to spare, a rolling cart offers unmatched convenience and keeps all your supplies in one organized, accessible place.
Sterilite Gasket Box for Under-Bed Storage
Protect your belongings with this Sterilite 54-quart gasket box. The airtight seal safeguards items from moisture, pests, and dust, while secure latches keep the lid firmly in place.
Sometimes the best storage solution is the one you can’t see. For wrapping supplies that you only access a few times a year, an under-bed box is perfect. I specifically recommend a Sterilite Gasket Box because that seal is about more than just keeping things tidy.
In an RV, basement apartment, or any space with fluctuating humidity, that gasket is crucial. It protects your paper goods from moisture, which can cause warping and mildew. It also keeps out dust and pests—a non-negotiable feature for long-term storage. This is a prime example of choosing a product for its technical features, not just its size.
The obvious downside is accessibility. This is not a system for someone who wraps gifts weekly. It’s designed for batch-wrapping sessions before holidays or for storing seasonal paper. If you try to use this for daily needs, you’ll just end up frustrated. This is a deep-storage solution, and it’s one of the best for protecting your investment in quality supplies.
A Whitmor Garment Bag Over-the-Door Caddy
In every small space, the back of a door is a golden opportunity. An over-the-door organizer, like the Whitmor gift wrap caddy that’s designed like a garment bag, is a brilliant use of this vertical real estate. It takes up zero floor space and is completely hidden when the door is open.
These organizers are designed with specific pockets for the job. Long, narrow compartments hold wrapping paper rolls, while smaller, clear vinyl pockets are perfect for gift tags, tape, and bows. It keeps everything visible and contained. It’s an ideal solution for a hall closet, office, or bedroom door.
Be mindful of the limitations. These caddies can’t handle extreme weight, so don’t overload them with dozens of heavy paper rolls. The depth is also limited, making them unsuitable for bulky items like giant bows or large gift boxes. But for a basic, well-rounded collection of supplies, an over-the-door caddy is an incredibly efficient and space-conscious choice.
Upcycling an Umbra Garbino Can for Tall Rolls
The simplest solutions are often the most elegant. The number one challenge with wrapping paper is corralling the tall, awkward rolls. The answer can be found in the home office aisle: a sleek, modern trash can, like the Umbra Garbino.
Its tall, sturdy design is perfect for standing up rolls of paper, preventing them from getting crushed or unspooling in a closet. You’re not buying a "wrapping paper holder"—you’re buying a well-designed cylinder that solves a specific problem. This kind of functional upcycling is a core principle of small-space living.
This is, admittedly, a single-task solution. It only solves the paper roll problem. You’ll still need a separate place for your tape, ribbons, and tags. But by isolating the most cumbersome items, you make the rest of the collection far easier to organize in a smaller box or drawer.
DIY Crate Organizer with Minwax Wood Finish
Achieve rich, even color on interior wood projects with Minwax Wood Finish in Red Oak. This oil-based stain penetrates deeply for beautiful grain enhancement in one coat and dries in just two hours for quick, easy application.
For a solution with a bit more custom charm, a simple wooden crate is a fantastic starting point. You can find them at any craft or hardware store. With a few modifications, a basic crate becomes a beautiful and functional all-in-one wrapping station.
The project is simple:
- Install a couple of small tension rods or wooden dowels across the top to hold spools of ribbon.
- Use a drill to add small hooks on the side for scissors.
- Stand wrapping paper rolls up inside or lay them flat.
- Finish the crate with a coat of Minwax Wood Finish to match your home’s decor.
This approach gives you a sturdy, portable caddy that’s more robust than a plastic bin and can be customized to your exact needs. It takes a little more effort than buying a pre-made organizer, but the result is a durable, personalized piece that neatly contains the chaos.
Labeling Your System with a Brother P-Touch
You can have the most ingenious storage setup in the world, but it will fail if you don’t complete the final step: labeling. An organization system without labels is just a collection of neat-looking boxes with mystery contents. A simple label maker, like a Brother P-Touch, is the tool that makes your system sustainable.
Once you’ve sorted your supplies into their new homes—be it a bin, a cart drawer, or a pegboard container—take two minutes to print a clear label. "Gift Bags – Birthday," "Ribbon – Christmas," "Tissue Paper – Neutral." This removes all guesswork. You’ll know exactly where to find what you need and, just as importantly, where to put it back.
This isn’t about being fussy; it’s about efficiency and reducing decision fatigue. When you’re in a hurry, you won’t have to pull down three different boxes to find the right gift tag. Labeling is the small, upfront time investment that pays you back every single time you need to wrap a gift. It’s what turns a pile of organized stuff into a true, functional system.
Ultimately, the perfect wrapping supply organizer isn’t one you buy, but one you create to fit your space and habits. Whether it’s a mobile cart, a hidden box, or a vertical display, the right system eliminates clutter and frees up your mental energy for what truly matters. Start with one of these ideas, adapt it to your needs, and reclaim a little more peace in your home.
