Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
  • Hard to Find
Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
  • Hard to Find
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. News

Study finds a badly-wrapped gift makes the gift seem more impressive

Conversely, a well-wrapped gift is more likely to disappoint. - by Laura Barry
  • 11 Dec 2019

While many people take pride and pleasure in beautifully wrapping their Christmas gifts, research has revealed that haphazard wrappers may actually be smarter.

WATCH: How to wrap a gift with fabric

Research conducted by the University of Nevada has found that a perfectly wrapped gift creates higher expectations for the gift that’s actually inside, and that a poorly wrapped gift lowers expectation.

Therefore, if your gift is wrapped poorly, the receiver will be pleasantly surprised to find that the gift inside is actually delightful, as they had low expectations to start with. Never judge a book by its cover, as they say!

However, this particular method of low-expectation inducing gift-wrapping only works on family and friends – so don’t try it for the office Secret Santa. When giving gifts to acquaintances, it’s always better to err on the side of caution, as a badly wrapped gift in this situation may imply that you don’t particularly care for the person you are gifting to.

christmas gift
Getty

“When we wrap a gift neatly for a friend, we may anticipate that they will be more satisfied with what is inside,” Jessica Rixom, assistant professor of marketing at the University’s College of Business, said. “Our research found when gifts are wrapped neatly, and given to a friend, it raises the expectations of the gift inside, resulting in our friends liking the gift less. However, with sloppy-wrapping, our friends set their expectations lower and will actually like the gift more.”

So there you have it, the key to impressing your friends with fab gifts this year is poor wrapping.

You might also like:

When is the correct time to open Christmas gifts?

  • News
  • Christmas Decorating, Tips & Traditions
Laura Barry
Laura Barry
Laura Barry is a writer, bookworm and interior design enthusiast with a love for reporting on all things homes, travel and lifestyle. When not tapping away at her keyboard, Laura can be found making endless cups of tea or perusing the shelves of Sydney’s many bookstores.

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Plus, your chance to win

Subscribe Now
Treat yourself to a subscription

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Plus, your chance to win

Subscribe Now
Treat yourself to a subscription

Recommended to you

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

16 of the best Christmas crackers in Australia

16 of the best Christmas crackers in Australia

These are the 3 most popular Christmas gifts of 2020

These are the 3 most popular Christmas gifts of 2020

Get a real-life mini Christmas tree delivered to your door

Get a real-life mini Christmas tree delivered to your door

What is the correct date to put up your Christmas tree?

What is the correct date to put up your Christmas tree?

{headline}

{headline}

 When is the ‘correct’ time to open Christmas presents?

When is the ‘correct’ time to open Christmas presents?

The 4 most common Christmas injuries

The 4 most common Christmas injuries

How to pick the perfect gift for anyone

How to pick the perfect gift for anyone

{headline}

{headline}

Where to shop for the cheapest Christmas groceries this year

Where to shop for the cheapest Christmas groceries this year

Buy From The Bush pop-up Christmas market in Sydney this week

Buy From The Bush pop-up Christmas market in Sydney this week

A Harry Potter Christmas scavenger hunt hits Melbourne next week

A Harry Potter Christmas scavenger hunt hits Melbourne next week

Kmart now offering personalisation services for Christmas

Kmart now offering personalisation services for Christmas

6 ways to get personalised messages from Santa this Christmas

6 ways to get personalised messages from Santa this Christmas

Kraken have released luxury spiced rum Christmas crackers

Kraken have released luxury spiced rum Christmas crackers

Chocolate Semifreddo with Raspberries and Honeycomb

Chocolate Semifreddo with Raspberries and Honeycomb

Bhg
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Bhg Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • All Recipes
  • BHG Shop
  • Girlfriend
  • Home Beautiful
  • New Idea
  • New Idea Food
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • Who
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • That’s Life
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • 7mate
  • 7NEWS
  • 7Sport
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from Better Homes and Gardens

Magazine Subscription Offer

Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%

Shop This Offer
Treat yourself to a subscription