Home decorating with wrapping paper (or, can pink deer be displayed all year, pretty please?)

Perhaps the especially Christmas-y wrapping papers are best stowed for re-using on next year’s presents instead of using for decorations around the house (or recycling according to one of these ideas), but those gift wraps that don’t scream Holiday Paper can also find new life in your home office.

Try papering the back of a bookshelf (double sided tape makes this especially easy–I like to cut the paper to fit instead of removing shelves (because then I just take everything off one shelf at a time), but you can do it whichever way is easier for you.

You can also paper the inside of an armoire or hutch, or the inside of your desk drawers (my second-hand desk had been well used and the drawers were full of pencil scribbles–I used Modge Podge to glue in and protect some lovely patterned wrapping paper and now opening the drawer is a delight).

Whether you apply a top coat of Modge Podge (or other protectant) is up to you. The way I make the decision in my office is whether or not the paper’s likely to wear out quickly where it is. In a desk drawer, I always protect it. On the back of a bookshelf, I figure I’m likely to tire of it long before it starts to look dingy.

My other favorite thing to do with pieces of wrapping paper is to wrap magazine boxes. I decided to color-coordinate my boxes instead of going with an all-one color look. It’s definitely a less-modern look, but I like that it brings some extra color to the office space.

You can also frame pieces of especially pretty paper, or use the leftovers to wrap mats for photos and artwork–this is a project that’s high on my list as I haven’t started to hang *anything* on my office walls yet…

Do you have an fun plans for this year’s wrapping paper?

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