Creating a gift closet is a smart way to plan for giving, especially those last-minute emergencies that always seem to crop up.

A closet is the ideal gift storage option – built-in, closed off, and with any luck, already equipped with hanging rod and shelves.

Start with a desk, bookcase or shelves – preferably with open cubbies so you can see what’s inside. This is where wrapping paper and accessories like tape, glue, glitter, gift tags and ribbon will live. Use coordinating storage baskets to keep things super-tidy. Or hang scissors and ribbon from closet rod as pictured. Organize boxes, bags and other gift containers along one wall shelf for easy access.

A second wall shelf serves as your gift depot. Throughout the year, whenever you find the perfect gift, stash it here until you’re ready to wrap. Be sure and label each item with a sticky note or label in case you forget who it’s for! (Hey, a year is a long time.)

Once you’ve set up your space, start a gift journal. This is where you’ll keep names and dates for birthdays, anniversaries and other gift-giving occasions. You can also use it to store useful personal info such as likes and dislikes, hobbies, sizes and wanna-haves that recipients mention throughout the year. Check off gifts as they’re purchased so you don’t duplicate.

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Don’t have a spare closet? Don’t worry. A trunk, cabinet, storage ottoman or even a plastic bin can work beautifully. Arrange wrapping supplies and gifts in separate compartments if possible, and don’t forget to include that indispensable gift journal. For easy reference, tape an at-a-glance calendar of birthdays, anniversaries and other gift-giving occasions inside the lid. Trunks and ottomans are especially good choices because they can double as furniture when you’re not wrapping. Just close them up tight and (what gifts?) no one will be the wiser.

In addition to shopping for those on your gift list, it’s also a good idea to keep extra gifts handy for unexpected events and pop-in holiday guests. Grab-&-go gifts for office Secret Santas, clients, hosts & hostesses (and their kiddos) can be real lifesavers. A great time to shop for these – or any – items is when they’re on sale (like right after Christmas and at the end of each season), but you can start anytime. Consider including:

• Candles & candleholders
• Kitchen gadgets
• Books
• Stationery & note pads
• Frames
• Salt & pepper shakers
• Potpourri
• Toys
• Paper weights
• Downloadable recipe cards to attach to food gifts