How to Create a Ralph Lauren Christmas Gift-Wrap Look: 7 Elegant Ways to Wrap Gifts in Tartan, Velvet & Deep Holiday Color
The Christmas gifts that look the most beautiful under the tree are rarely the ones covered in the most glitter, the loudest pattern, or the largest bow. They are the ones that feel intentional.
This year’s Ralph Lauren Christmas aesthetic is all about a return to warm, collected, timeless holiday style: rich tartan plaids, deep forest green, burgundy velvet, navy, warm ivory, traditional motifs, and gifts that feel as though they belong in a beautiful old home at Christmas time.
The good news: you do not need a mountain lodge, a grand staircase, or a luxury department-store budget to create the look. You only need a refined color palette, a few well-chosen wrapping papers, and the confidence to keep the styling edited.
Below, discover seven elegant ways to wrap gifts in the heritage-inspired Christmas style everyone is saving this season—plus the simple rules that make a gift collection look polished rather than overly matched.
Note: “Ralph Lauren Christmas” is used here to describe a widely recognized holiday decorating aesthetic. Haus of Wrap is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or licensed by Ralph Lauren.
Ralph Lauren Christmas Style
What Is the Ralph Lauren Christmas Aesthetic?
The Ralph Lauren Christmas aesthetic is a rich, nostalgic, quietly glamorous version of traditional holiday decorating. Think classic East Coast holiday style with a touch of English country-house charm: plaid, equestrian influences, layers of warm texture, polished dark wood, antique brass, taper candles, evergreen garlands, velvet ribbon, and deep jewel-toned color.
For gift wrapping, the look comes down to five ingredients:
- Heritage-inspired tartan or plaid
- Deep burgundy, forest green, navy, black, and warm ivory
- Classic stripes, traditional botanicals, toile, vintage Santas, or storybook motifs
- Velvet, grosgrain, satin, or cotton ribbon instead of shiny plastic bows
- Gift tags and small finishing details that feel personal, collected, and a little old-fashioned
The goal is not for every present to match perfectly. It is for the entire group of gifts to look like it belongs together.
Think of your presents as part of the holiday décor.
Christmas Wrapping Paper Colors
The Ralph Lauren Christmas Gift-Wrap Color Palette
Before choosing paper, begin with the color story. A limited palette is the fastest way to make a group of gifts look expensive.
For a heritage Christmas look, use:
- Deep burgundy or oxblood for richness and warmth
- Forest green or hunter green for a traditional, tailored base
- Navy for depth and a more unexpected classic touch
- Warm ivory or cream to brighten dark colors and soften the overall look
- Black, chocolate brown, or charcoal for contrast and a slightly more editorial finish
You do not need every color in every package. Choose two or three as your foundation, then repeat them across the tree through paper, ribbon, gift tags, and small decorative details.
For example, a strong Haus of Wrap holiday combination might be:
Forest-green tartan paper + cream illustrated paper + black-and-cream stripe + burgundy velvet ribbon.
It feels festive without looking like a generic red-and-green Christmas display.
Tartan Wine Gift Wrap
1. Wrap Wine or Champagne in Heritage Tartan
A bottle of wine, champagne, olive oil, or sparkling cider is one of the easiest gifts to make feel special with beautiful wrapping. Instead of placing it in a standard gift bag, wrap the bottle directly in tartan, plaid, or a deep-red botanical paper.
Choose a paper with a rich, traditional pattern. Tartan works especially well because it instantly brings the heritage Christmas mood without needing much else.
Finish it with:
- Burgundy velvet ribbon
- A narrow black grosgrain ribbon
- A cream gift tag with the recipient’s name
- A small evergreen clipping tucked beneath the bow
For a dinner-party hostess, add a handwritten note:
A little something for your holiday table.
Wrap It In
Candle Gift Wrapping
2. Wrap a Candle in Dark Paper and Velvet Ribbon
Candles are a classic holiday gift, but they can look surprisingly ordinary when handed over in their original box. Give the candle its own gift moment by wrapping it in a deep forest green, black-and-cream, navy, or dark botanical paper.
Choose a rectangular box if possible. Crisp folds are part of what makes this aesthetic work. The paper should feel structured, not loose or over-decorated.
Finish it with a narrow strip of velvet ribbon in burgundy, black, or dark green. Add a simple cream tag rather than a large novelty gift bow.
A single beautiful ribbon tied neatly around a dark package looks far more luxurious than multiple competing embellishments.
Wrap It In
How to Wrap a Coffee Table Book
3. Wrap Coffee-Table Books in Stripes, Plaid, or Toile
A coffee-table book is one of the best gifts for someone who loves interiors, fashion, travel, food, design, or entertaining. It is also one of the easiest gifts to make look beautiful because it already has a clean, substantial shape.
For the Ralph Lauren Christmas look, wrap a coffee-table book in:
- Navy-and-cream stripe
- Red-and-cream tartan
- A heritage-inspired toile
- A warm ivory paper with a small-scale illustration
- A dark green paper with a subtle botanical print
Use a wide burgundy velvet ribbon for a dramatic, classic finish. If the paper is already bold, keep the ribbon solid. If the paper is simpler, use the ribbon to introduce the rich color.
A book wrapped beautifully can become part of the coffee-table or console styling before it is even opened.
Wrap It In
Hostess Gift Wrapping Ideas
4. Wrap Hostess Gifts Like They Belong on the Bar Cart
For a holiday hostess gift, presentation matters. A lovely bottle of wine, gourmet chocolate, a candle, cocktail napkins, specialty coffee, fancy olives, or a small entertaining piece becomes far more thoughtful when it arrives wrapped.
Start with one main gift. Then add one smaller element, such as a card, ribbon-tied chocolate bar, or tiny candle. You do not need to create a full basket for the gift to feel generous.
For example:
- Wrap a bottle of wine in tartan paper.
- Wrap a box of chocolates in a coordinating cream paper.
- Tie both with the same burgundy ribbon.
- Add a small card.
This creates a collected pair that feels intentional rather than last-minute.
The best hostess gifts are useful, beautiful, and easy for the host to enjoy after everyone has gone home.
Wrap It In
Small Gift Wrapping Ideas
5. Wrap Jewelry and Small Gifts in Cream, Black, and Burgundy
Small gifts can get lost under the tree unless you make them visually meaningful. A jewelry box, beauty gift, small accessory, fragrance, or gift card can become one of the most elegant packages in the group.
For small boxes, choose a cream or ivory wrapping paper with:
- A fine black print
- A delicate small-scale holiday motif
- A miniature stripe
- A subtle botanical
- A deep burgundy or dark green pattern
Then add an oversized bow in a contrasting rich color. A small cream box with a wide burgundy velvet bow has the right amount of drama without becoming fussy.
If the gift is a gift card, wrap it in a tiny folded paper envelope or place it in a small box first. A beautifully wrapped gift card feels much more personal than one handed over in its store sleeve.
Wrap It In
Kids Christmas Wrapping Paper
6. Wrap Children’s Gifts in Storybook Christmas Paper
The Ralph Lauren Christmas look does not have to be serious or overly adult. Children’s gifts can still feel playful while staying inside the same elevated color story.
Look for wrapping paper inspired by:
- Vintage Santa illustrations
- Storybook winter scenes
- Classic toy motifs
- Gingerbread
- Woodland animals
- Nutcrackers
- Traditional ornaments
- Deep red and forest green holiday patterns
Avoid making every children’s gift neon, glittery, and unrelated to the rest of the tree. A vintage-inspired Santa or storybook print brings joy while still coordinating with tartan, stripes, and velvet ribbon.
Finish children’s gifts with red cotton ribbon, an ivory name tag, or a simple paper ornament attached to the bow.
The result feels festive, magical, and timeless—something that photographs beautifully but still feels fun for a child to open.
Wrap It In
Stocking Stuffer Gift Wrap
7. Wrap Stocking Stuffers in Small-Scale Prints
Stocking stuffers, gift cards, beauty products, books, gloves, small accessories, and little surprise gifts are easy to overlook. But these small packages are what make a tree feel layered and abundant.
Use small-scale paper prints for little gifts:
- Fine tartan
- Narrow stripes
- Tiny botanicals
- Small stars
- Miniature ornaments
- Compact geometric patterns
Smaller prints are proportionally better for small boxes and prevent the gift from looking swallowed by a large pattern.
Tie them with thin ribbon, baker’s twine, or a narrow velvet strand. Add a handwritten name tag to keep the look personal.
A group of small, carefully wrapped gifts placed together in a basket, on a tray, or beneath the tree instantly creates the feeling of a considered holiday ritual.
Wrap It In
Mixing Wrapping Paper
How to Mix Christmas Wrapping Paper Without Making It Look Messy
The trick to a beautiful tree is not choosing one paper for every gift. It is giving yourself a simple design rule.
Use three papers maximum for your main gift collection:
- One dominant pattern, such as tartan or a bold stripe
- One illustrative paper, such as a storybook Santa, botanical, toile, or winter scene
- One quieter coordinating print, such as cream, a tiny pattern, a simple stripe, or a subtle solid-looking design
Then repeat one or two ribbon colors throughout all the gifts.
For example:
| Element | Suggested choice |
|---|---|
| Dominant paper | Forest-green tartan |
| Illustrative paper | Cream paper with vintage-inspired Santa or botanical imagery |
| Quiet coordinating paper | Black-and-cream stripe or small burgundy print |
| Main ribbon | Burgundy velvet |
| Secondary ribbon | Black grosgrain or dark green satin |
| Gift tags | Warm ivory with handwritten names |
This gives you enough variation for visual interest while keeping the collection cohesive.
Luxury Gift Wrapping Tips
Five Details That Make Christmas Gifts Look More Expensive
You do not need foil, metallic paper, or elaborate bows to create a luxury gift presentation. The most elevated packages tend to rely on restraint.
Use crisp folds.
Crease every edge firmly and keep the paper taut around the gift.
Hide the tape.
Double-sided tape is ideal, but even regular tape can disappear when you place it underneath a fold.
Choose one focal point.
Let the paper, ribbon, or tag be the statement—not all three at once.
Repeat colors across the tree.
Repeating burgundy ribbon or ivory gift tags makes mixed wrapping papers look intentional.
Use a handwritten tag.
A simple handwritten name tag creates warmth that no printed sticker can replace.
The most beautiful gifts do not look overly styled. They look thoughtfully finished.
Heritage Christmas Wrapping Paper
Shop the Heritage Christmas Gift-Wrap Look
For a Ralph Lauren Christmas–inspired tree, choose wrapping paper that feels classic, rich, and a little unexpected. Look for tartan, deep botanical prints, warm ivory illustrations, tailored stripes, storybook holiday motifs, and refined dark color palettes.
Build a gift-wrap wardrobe rather than buying one roll for every present. Choose three or four papers that work together, then let ribbon and tags connect the full look.
A beautiful gift does not need to be extravagant. It simply needs to feel like someone cared enough to make the presentation part of the gift.
FAQ
What is the Ralph Lauren Christmas aesthetic?+
The Ralph Lauren Christmas aesthetic is a heritage-inspired holiday style built around traditional, cozy, and refined elements. It often includes tartan plaid, forest green, burgundy, navy, warm ivory, velvet bows, evergreen, taper candles, classic holiday motifs, and layered gift presentation. It is less about matching perfectly and more about creating a rich, collected, timeless feeling.
How do I create a Ralph Lauren Christmas gift-wrap look?+
Start with a limited palette of forest green, deep burgundy, navy, cream, and black or dark brown. Mix no more than three wrapping-paper patterns, such as tartan, a classic stripe, and a storybook or botanical print. Repeat one or two ribbon colors across the gifts, use cream gift tags, and keep every fold neat and crisp.
What wrapping paper colors look expensive at Christmas?+
Deep burgundy, forest green, navy, warm cream, black, charcoal, and chocolate brown tend to look especially refined for Christmas. These colors feel richer and more timeless than bright novelty shades, especially when paired with velvet or grosgrain ribbon.
Can I mix plaid and patterned wrapping paper?+
Yes. In fact, tartan looks best when it is paired with a quieter coordinating paper and one illustrative print. For a cohesive look, use one dominant plaid, one storybook, botanical, or toile print, and one small-scale stripe or cream-based pattern. Repeat the same ribbon and tag colors across all three.
What ribbon looks best with tartan wrapping paper?+
Burgundy velvet ribbon is a classic choice for tartan. Black grosgrain, dark green velvet, navy satin, or simple cream cotton ribbon also work beautifully. Choose a solid ribbon color that appears somewhere in the tartan rather than adding another competing pattern.
How can I make Christmas gifts look expensive without metallic wrapping paper?+
Luxury gift wrapping is more about styling than foil or metallic finishes. Use a refined palette, high-quality printed paper, sharply creased folds, solid ribbon, simple gift tags, and consistent colors across the group of gifts. Matte paper with velvet or grosgrain ribbon can look even more elevated than shiny metallic wrap.
What are the best gifts to wrap in tartan paper?+
Tartan paper is especially beautiful for wine bottles, champagne, coffee-table books, candles, hostess gifts, sweaters, scarves, and medium-to-large boxes. It can also work for smaller gifts when paired with a simple cream tag and narrow ribbon.
Is Haus of Wrap affiliated with Ralph Lauren?+
No. Haus of Wrap is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or licensed by Ralph Lauren. This article uses “Ralph Lauren Christmas” only to describe a broader holiday styling trend centered on heritage patterns, rich traditional colors, and elevated gift presentation.
Like fashion for your gifts.
This post is grounded in a current holiday trend that media coverage describes as a nostalgic, heritage-led look featuring tartan, deep red and forest-green tones, bows, and a polished “old money” feel.
