Scientists reveal the secret to perfectly wrapped Christmas presents - and it's good news if you don't want to splash out on ribbons and bows
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When it comes to wrapping presents, it's easy to feel under pressure to be extravagant. Some people place gifts in boxes, use fancy bows or even – in the case of Rowan Atkinson playing a shopkeeper in Love Actually – add some dried lavender to make the present smell nice.
![[In news that will be welcome to many, experts have discovered that most people prefer receiving gifts in simple packages]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/10/15/93000925-0-image-a-15_1733843874587.jpg)
But now, in news that will be welcome to many, experts have discovered that most people prefer receiving gifts in simple packages. And they are likely to view over-wrapped presents as 'thoughtless', the researchers found. A team from Beijing Technology and Business University examined how people felt about overpackaged gifts through a series of studies involving more than 2,600 participants.
One study involved people being asked to rate their feelings towards a gift after being shown it in three types of packaging – overpackaging, regular packaging and no packaging. Another asked participants to imagine giving or receiving a gift – either packaged excessively or normally - from a close or distant friend.
Analysis revealed that people giving a gift tend to prefer overpackaging, believing it shows they are being thoughtful. Some people place gifts in boxes, use fancy bows or even – in the case of Rowan Atkinson playing a shopkeeper in Love Actually – add some dried lavender to make the present smell nice.
In news that will be welcome to many, experts have discovered that most people prefer receiving gifts in simple packages. However, recipients tended to favour simple packaging, viewing extravagance as thoughtless with too much of a focus on the wrapping.
