Paper bags come in different shapes and sizes, and they are perfect for many occasions. They can help you promote your business during a tradeshow, be used to package the products you sell, or become gift bags for your employees and your loyal customers.

If you can design a great paper bag, the people who get these bags will want to use them again and again, which will provide you with free advertising.

But how can you create stylish, fun and memorable paper bags? These paper bag design ideas should inspire you:

Idea #1: Simply add your logo

One simple option is to print out your logo on your paper bags. If you’re proud of your logo, and if your customers love it, it could be all you need to customize a paper bag and turn it into a powerful promotional item. Every time they use your branded paper bags, you get free promotion out of it.

If you don’t have a logo yet, you could get someone to design one for you. Get it printed on colourful, white, or kraft paper bags for a professional and stylish look. If you have a catchy slogan, it could also become a part of your paper bag’s design.

Idea #2: Choose a pattern or a finish

Another important factor when it comes on paper bag design ideas is the pattern of it. Paper bags come in different colours that can help you represent your business and your products or services. If you have red on your business cards and on your website, for example, red paper bags will be perfect to promote your business.

A fun or intricate pattern can make your paper bag stand out. You can design your own or have someone design one for you. Your pattern can be related to what you’re selling, or it can simply be decorative.

Plus, paper bags can come in a matte, glossy, or metallic finish, so it’s easy for you to achieve the visual effect you want.

Idea #3: Add a picture of what might be inside the bag

You want your paper bags to make it easier for your customers to carry the things they buy from you. But why should your bags hide your products?

Of course, you could choose clear plastic bags instead, but paper bags are a more eco-friendly option.

So if you want your paper bags to advertise what is placed inside them, you could solve this problem by adding a picture of your product on them. For example, if you sell shoes, you could have a photo of your most popular model of shoes printed on your paper bags. It will look like your customers are carrying shoes instead of a paper bag, and this design is sure to catch the eyes of many people.

Idea #4: Find a design that interacts with the bag’s handles

What is something that most paper bags have? Handles. So why not create a clever design that interacts with the handles of your bags?

Again, if you sell shoes, you could design your paper bags in a way that will make their handles look like shoelaces.

Your bag handles could become a dog’s leash, a skipping rope, an electrical cord, spaghetti noodles, a necklace… Use your imagination to create an interactive design that will catch people’s attention and make them smile, or even laugh.

If you can achieve this, anyone who sees your paper bags will think your brand is fun and original, and will want to know more about it.

Idea #5: Promote your business during the holidays

Creating a holiday design can allow you to have some fun with your paper bags, but it’s also a great way to advertise your business.

If you add a beautiful, festive Christmas design to your promotional bags during the holiday season, your customers might want to reuse them to wrap the presents they give to their friends and family. This represents free publicity for your business!

You can also design paper bags with a summer related design, or a design that will be exclusive to a special event your business will be a part of.

What if your paper bags could become some sort of a collectible item among your customers?

Idea #6: Have something useful printed out on your bags

Paper bags are eco-friendly. They can be reused, and they can be recycled. But what if you could give your customers a good reason to want to keep your paper bags?

Instead of simply printing out a decorative design on them, you could print out something useful that will allow people to reuse your bags in a different way.

For example, one side of your paper bags could present a convenient calendar. Your bag could easily be transformed into a board game, a scale model, or a notebook.

Think about what your business is selling, and come up with a design idea that will make it possible for customers to transform your paper bags into a fun and useful item that makes sense with your mission.