Christmas present wrapping made easy – how to wrap the most awkward of gifts

WHEN it comes to Christmas, everyone has their own traditions and way of doing things.

But here’s a revelation that is guaranteed to blow your mind – you may have been wrapping your presents wrong and there is a much easier way of doing it.

Most people wrap their gifts lengthwise, folding the ends in and securing them with multiple bits of tape, but there could be a quicker way.

Instead of lining up rectangular boxes in the middle of the paper, turn them at an angle so they sit diagonally on the wrapping.

Then fold the end two corners in and secure with tape, before pulling the third diagonal corner into the centre.

Finally fold up the final corner and tape it in place, and voila! The easy process takes just seconds and is favoured by department store members around the world.

With this handy technique, you’ll be able to race through your holiday wrapping and still have time to unwind with a mulled wine and mince pie.

And it turns out that it isn’t just presents that we have been doing wrong.

According to designer , the traditional method of wrapping Christmas lights horizontally in circles around the branches is not the way to do it.

He claims we should drape them vertically instead, as this prevents the glow from the lights from getting lost in the middle of the tree.

Francesco told : “This way every tip of your tree, from branch to branch, will twinkle with delight.”

He added: “Another added bonus is when you dismantle your tree and take off the lights, it’ll be easier and less messy to remove strands from the exterior of the tree — rather than fighting a stubborn almost dried branch.”

Speaking of lights, when packing away your Christmas tree lights in the new year, here’s a handy hack for stopping them from getting tangled up.

Rather than stuffing them into a box, wrap them around taped together cardboard toilet rolls. Simples!

And are you confused about when to put your tree up – or take the decorations down?

This is a handy guide to Xmas etiquette, and how to avoid ‘bad luck’ during the festive season.