Holiday packaging sets the tone for how customers experience your brand and for many small businesses, that first moment of unboxing is just as important as the product inside.
The challenge, of course, is creating packaging that feels polished and high-end without blowing your seasonal budget. The good news is that you don’t need elaborate boxes or expensive materials to achieve a premium look. With just a few smart, low-cost print items, you can instantly elevate your presentation and make your gifts feel more thoughtful and festive.
In this guide, we’ll walk through simple prints that stretch your holiday budget further, the best colors and themes for December, mistakes to avoid when designing seasonal packaging, and real examples from small brands that nailed their holiday look.
For even more ideas, you can explore the full Holiday Packaging Ideas 2025 article but consider this your practical, budget-friendly version.
Low-Cost Print Items That Add Luxury
Some of the strongest packaging upgrades are also the most affordable.
These small print items add polish, texture, and brand consistency without requiring custom boxes or expensive materials.
1. Tissue Paper (The Fastest Way to Look Premium)
Branded tissue paper is one of the easiest ways to transform standard packaging into something elegant. It adds color, softness, and an instantly gift-ready feel.
Whether you’re wrapping clothing, handmade goods, baked items, or small accessories, tissue creates a moment of delight before the product even appears.
Custom tissue paper also works beautifully for:
- Subscription boxes
- Gift sets
- Boutique products
- Retail holiday purchases
- E-commerce shipments
To see options and real examples, visit your Tissue Paper product page.
Product Link: Tissue Paper
2. Stickers (Small Expense, Big Impact)
If you’re working with a tight budget, stickers are your secret weapon.
A single custom sticker can do the work of multiple packaging pieces, acting as a seal, a tag, a branding element, or a decorative accent.
Use stickers for:
- Sealing tissue or wrapping paper
- Adding logos to plain boxes
- Decorating gift bags
- Creating themed holiday seals
- Adding festive messages (“Packed with Joy,” “Warm Holiday Wishes,” etc.)
With holiday-specific stickers, you can elevate your packaging instantly without redesigning your entire brand. Combine stickers with tissue paper for a cohesive look.
Product Link: Stickers
3. Wrapping Paper (Perfect for Retail + Gifts)
Custom wrapping paper makes even simple boxes look festive and intentional.
You can print a pattern that matches your brand colors or choose a holiday-inspired design to complement your seasonal products.
Wrapping paper works especially well for:
- Boutique gift-wrapping stations
- In-store holiday promotions
- E-commerce gift orders
- Corporate holiday gifting
- Influencer gifting kits
And because you can choose repeating patterns or simple brand icons, wrapping paper is surprisingly affordable, especially when ordered in rolls.
Product Link: Wrapping Paper
4. Bookmarks (Underestimated, but Brilliant)
Bookmarks may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about holiday packaging, but they make excellent inserts and gift add-ons.
They’re inexpensive to print, lightweight, and serve as keepsakes meaning your brand stays in your customer’s daily routine long after the holidays.
Use bookmarks as:
- Gift tags
- Coupon inserts
- Thank-you cards
- Holiday greetings
- Decorative add-ons for books, journals, or stationery gifts
Their slim profile makes them perfect for sliding into envelopes, boxes, and holiday bundles.
Product Link: Bookmarks
Best Colors & Themes for December
Holiday packaging doesn’t need to rely on traditional red-and-green combinations.
In fact, many modern small businesses are leaning toward minimal, elegant palettes that complement their brand year-round.
Here are some trending 2025–2026 color approaches:
Classic Holiday Colors
Deep reds, pine greens, gold, silver, and snowy whites create familiar warmth. These are timeless and instantly recognizable as festive.
Modern, Minimalist Palettes
Beige, cream, soft blush, dusty blue, and warm neutrals appeal to boutique shoppers and premium brands. These colors elevate packaging while keeping the look subtle and refined.
Metallic Accents
Gold foil, copper tones, and metallic ink add visual interest and luxury. You don’t have to use foil printing, metallic colors printed on matte paper also look premium.
Playful & Festive Themes
Bright colors, simple illustrations, hand-drawn icons, and playful shapes work well for kid-friendly brands, bakeries, toy shops, and holiday markets.
Brand-First Holiday Sets
One of the easiest ways to stay consistent is using your regular brand colors but with holiday motifs. This keeps packaging on-brand while still feeling seasonal.
If you need inspiration, the article Print Products That Make Your Brand Look Bigger has excellent tips on using small prints to elevate your brand presence.
Packaging Mistakes to Avoid
Holiday packaging can quickly become expensive or overly complicated. Here are common mistakes small businesses should watch out for:
1. Using too many elements at once
When wrapping paper, tissue, tags, ribbons, and stickers all compete for attention, the look becomes chaotic instead of premium. Choose one or two strong elements and keep the rest simple.
2. Ignoring your brand colors
Holiday themes are fun, but your brand should remain recognizable. Use holiday colors in a way that complements your existing palette.
3. Forgetting practicality
Beautiful packaging is great but not when it makes orders harder to ship, store, or pack. Avoid bulky items or fragile embellishments.
4. Over-customization
Not everything needs your logo. Sometimes a simple pattern or seasonal icon works better and looks more elegant.
5. Waiting too long to order
Holiday rush weeks fill up quickly. The earlier you print your packaging pieces, the smoother your December will be.
For more inspiration on what not to do, check out the tips inside Holiday Packaging Ideas 2025.
Examples from Small Brands That Nailed Their Holiday Packaging
Small businesses across industries have perfected the art of premium, budget-friendly packaging. Here are a few real-world examples of what works:
A Boutique Using Tissue + Stickers
One boutique in California wraps every purchase in custom tissue and seals it with a minimalist gold sticker. The effect feels high-end, and the total cost is low. Customers often share the unboxing moment on Instagram, giving the brand free visibility.
A Coffee Shop with Seasonal Wrapping Paper
A local café switches its packaging for December with branded wrapping paper featuring tiny illustrations of mugs, snowflakes, and beans. The result is playful, giftable, and very shareable.
A Bookstore That Uses Bookmarks as Gift Tags
Independent bookstores often slip branded bookmarks into holiday purchases. It costs almost nothing but customers use bookmarks for months, keeping the brand top of mind.
An Online Candle Shop Using Stickers as Scent Badges
Instead of printing new boxes for every seasonal scent, a candle store uses circular stickers with festive illustrations and scent names. It’s cost-effective and efficient.
These examples highlight a core truth: holiday packaging doesn’t need to be complicated it just needs to be intentional.
