Fall Gift Wrapping Ideas: Warm Colors and Natural Textures

The simplest fall gift wrapping ideas borrow from what the season already looks like: brown paper, rust and mustard tones, rough twine and a leaf or two. The result feels warm and unfussy, and most of it can be made from a roll of kraft paper and a few scraps of colored paper.

These ideas suit any gift given in autumn, from birthdays and housewarmings to a host gift for a family gathering. Choose a palette, add texture with twine, and finish with one natural-looking topper.

Choose a warm fall palette

Four colors cover almost everything: rust, mustard, olive green and the soft brown of kraft paper. They are all warm and slightly dull, which is why they sit together so easily. Deep burgundy or cream can stand in for any of them.

The easiest rule is one neutral plus one or two accents. Kraft paper with a rust band and olive leaves looks rich; all four colors at full strength on one small box looks crowded.

Start with kraft paper

Kraft paper is the natural base for fall wrapping. It is strong and forgiving, holds a crease well, and takes stamps and pens without smearing. It is also easy on beginners because it rarely tears at the corners the way thin glossy paper does.

Wrap the box as usual, with the seam on the bottom, and run a thumbnail along every edge so the creases are sharp. Plain brown paper depends on tidy folds, since there is no pattern to hide a loose corner. For more ways to finish it, see these kraft paper gift wrapping ideas.

Solid matte papers in rust or mustard work the same way, and a plain kraft box next to a mustard one makes a good pair.

Add texture with twine and matte ribbon

Shine belongs to other seasons. For fall, choose materials with a visible texture.

• Jute twine: rough and casual, and it grips knots well. Wrap it around the box three or four times before tying so it reads as a band, not a single thin line.
• Baker’s twine: a little finer, good for small boxes and for tying on tags.
• Grosgrain ribbon: its ribbed surface suits kraft paper and holds a bow firmly. About 5/8 in (16 mm) wide works for a medium box.
• Fabric strips: a torn or pinked strip of cotton or linen in rust or olive ties like ribbon and can be reused.

When unsure how much twine to cut, tie straight from the ball and cut afterward.

Cut a cluster of paper leaves

Three paper leaves tucked under the twine are the signature detail of this look, and they keep far better than real ones.

1. Fold a small piece of paper in half. Scraps of about 2 x 3 in (5 x 7.5 cm) are large enough.
2. Draw half a leaf against the fold: a pointed oval, or a wavy oak-style edge.
3. Cut through both layers and unfold. The fold becomes the center vein.
4. Repeat in two more colors so you have one leaf each in rust, mustard and olive, in slightly different sizes.
5. Fan the three leaves so the stems overlap and join them with a dot of glue.
6. Slide the stems under the twine on top of the gift. A small piece of double-sided tape underneath keeps the cluster from shifting.

Scissors are sharp, so children cutting leaves need adult help.

Finish with a natural topper

Dried natural materials match the palette without any effort. Good choices are a small pinecone, a bundle of two or three cinnamon sticks, a dried orange slice, a few stems of dried grass or a sprig of greenery.

Tie the gift with twine first, then knot a second short piece of twine around the topper and onto the main knot. Attach these toppers last, because they are fragile and crumble if the gift is stacked or carried in a bag. More options, with instructions for a paper rosette, are in the guide to decorative gift toppers.

Layer bands and panels

A band of contrasting paper adds color to a plain kraft box in about two minutes. Cut a strip of rust or mustard paper no wider than one-third of the box length. Fold both long edges under about 1/2 in (1.3 cm) for clean lines, wrap the strip around the box and tape it at the back.

Tie twine over the band, or leave it plain and tuck a tag under one edge. A narrow strip of plaid or check paper works especially well as a band, because a little pattern goes a long way against brown. Variations such as off-center bands are shown in layered gift wrapping.

Keep tags simple

A fall tag only needs to match one thing on the gift. A kraft tag with a white panel, a leaf-shaped tag in olive card, or a plain cream circle tied with jute all work. Write the names before you attach the tag, and tie it into the twine knot so it cannot slide.

For more shapes and layering options, browse these gift tag ideas.

Quick fall combinations

Paper	Tie	Detail
Kraft	Jute twine	Three paper leaves
Rust, solid	Cream grosgrain	Kraft tag
Deep mustard, solid	Baker’s twine	Small pinecone
Kraft with a rust band	Olive fabric strip	Leaf-shaped tag

Plain kraft paper, fabric strips and twine can all be saved and reused. For the lighter, pastel version of the same approach, see spring gift wrapping ideas.