I recently organized a “use what I have” gift-wrapping closet that’s simple, functional, and ready for the season. This year I’ve been tackling small organizational projects around the house, sharing progress with the HomeBody Gathering Place community. Since October we’ve worked on areas like the mudroom, pantry cabinets, and coffee station. Moving forward I’ll keep sharing projects into 2025. Little-by-little progress feels so satisfying as spaces become less cluttered and more purposeful.
The guest room closet had become a catchall, so I focused on clearing it out and giving it a clear purpose. In a smaller home every inch matters, and a cluttered closet can quickly become a problem. My long-term plan includes wallpaper and a dresser repaint, but for now I prioritized quick wins so the space would be useful before the holidays. I wanted to declutter and organize with items I already owned rather than get distracted by bigger renovation ideas.
Thanks to a recent Bag-A-Day challenge in the HGP community, I had the motivation to remove a lot of accumulated items. I’ll be running another simplification challenge in January, and I’ll tackle another closet then. If you want weekly inspiration to simplify and refresh your home, consider joining the HomeBody Gathering Place community.
Once the clutter was cleared, I designed a practical layout. Assigning a clear function to a closet helps prevent it from reverting to chaos. Since I had recently purchased new wrapping paper, I dedicated most of this closet to gift-wrapping and packing supplies. The upper shelf holds guest sheets—stored in breathable containers I bought previously—and one side stores out-of-season clothing.
An over-the-door organizer I already owned turned out to be perfect for holding smaller wrapping supplies. It freed up a dresser drawer that had been stuffed with odds and ends, and even a casual toss into the organizer instantly created usable drawer space.
The dresser is a sturdy piece that was in the house when we moved in, so I repurposed it inside the closet. Its drawers now store rolls of wrapping paper, small boxes and bags, and a place to hide gifts until they’re ready to be wrapped.
To keep holiday ribbon organized, I repurposed a tension curtain rod I already had. It fits neatly on one side of the closet and holds spools of ribbon for easy access. A simple tip: tape the end of each ribbon spool when it’s not in use to prevent it from unrolling onto the floor.
Some ribbon remains in the door organizer and some on the rod, and there’s still room to add more. Using what I already owned made the update fast and budget-friendly, while still feeling intentional and tidy.
This closet doesn’t have a wired-in light, so I placed two rechargeable lamps inside to make the space bright and cozy for wrapping in the evenings. They’re portable, recharge easily, and have already found multiple uses around the house.
I displayed printable gift tags and a bit of Hygge artwork on linen boards I’ve kept from previous rooms. If you’re a HomeBody Gathering Place member, these printables are available in the member dashboard as a small seasonal gift.
Most of the wrapping supplies I used this year are from Rifle Paper Co., including coordinating cards, paper, and ribbon. I love the cohesive look it gives the closet and the happy feeling it brings when I step inside to wrap gifts.
Now that the space is organized and inviting, I’m looking forward to making a hot drink, turning on some music, and wrapping presents in a cozy, clutter-free spot.
