What Is Washi Tape Used For?

Washi tape is a decorative paper tape loved by crafters and DIY enthusiasts. Easy to use and gentle on surfaces, it’s perfect for adding color and style to stationery, home decor, and creative projects. In this guide, we’ll explore what washi tape is used for and its most popular applications.

What Is Washi Tape?

Washi tape is a decorative masking tape made from traditional Japanese paper using natural fibers such as bamboo, hemp, and mulberry bark. Its soft, textured surface allows for easy hand-tearing and repositioning without residue.

Unlike plastic tape, Washi Tape is flexible, paper-based, and suited for both aesthetic and practical uses, including layering and folding. It is popular in crafts, stationery, and home decor, adding color and personality to scrapbooks, journals, cards, and other projects.

5 Main Uses of Washi Tape

Popular washi tape uses include labeling and organizing, decorating journals, wrapping gifts, adding flair to home décor, and personalizing stationery. From practical to creative, these examples show exactly what is washi tape used for.

Washi Tape for Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking

Washi tape for scrapbooking adds color and style to albums, cards, and journals, with gentle adhesive for easy repositioning and layering to create eye-catching washi tape paper crafts.

             

• Decorating albums, cards, and journals: Washi tape for scrapbooking adds patterns, borders, and fun accents to any paper project. It’s an easy way to personalize albums, cards, or journals.
  
  
• Easy repositioning without damage: The gentle adhesive allows you to move or adjust strips without tearing paper or leaving residue. Perfect for experimentation.
  
  
• Layering and color design tips: Combine different patterns and colors to create depth and visual interest. Washi tape paper crafts are ideal for layering effects. 

Washi Tape for Planner & Bullet Journals

Using washi tape in your planner or bullet journal is an easy way to highlight calendar dates, separate sections, and add functional decorations like tabs and labels. It helps organize your pages visually without leaving permanent marks, while adding color and style to make planning both practical and fun.

Washi Tape for Home Decor & DIY

Washi tape for home decor and DIY projects is a fun, easy way to personalize your space. Use it to make wall art, accent picture frames, or add temporary decorations ideal for rentals. It’s also great for customizing furniture, small accessories, and other home items without any permanent changes, letting you get creative while keeping things flexible.

Washi Tape for Gift Wrapping & Packaging

Washi tape gift wrapping and packaging add color, patterns, and personalized touches to gifts as a stylish alternative to ribbons.

• Add color and pattern: Use washi tape gift wrapping to decorate plain paper and make gifts stand out.
• Create custom gift tags: Personalize tags with fun designs and easy-to-write surfaces.
• Tape vs. ribbon: Washi tape packaging offers a simple, creative alternative to traditional ribbons for a stylish finish.

Washi Tape at School & Office

Washi tape school use and office supplies help label, organize, and decorate notebooks, folders, reminders, and projects with ease and style. 

• Labeling notebooks and folders: Washi tape school use helps organize notebooks, folders, and stationery for easy identification.
• Temporary signs and reminders: Use washi tape office supplies to create movable notes or reminders without leaving sticky residue.
• Fun projects for students: Add color and creativity to assignments, art projects, and bullet journals using washi tap

Why Washi Tape Is Popular: Benefits & Features

This table showcases the key washi tape benefits and explains why use washi tape

Creative Washi Tape Ideas & Inspiration

Explore endless washi tape craft ideas and inspiration to bring color, pattern, and personality to your projects. From trendy DIY designs to seasonal decorations, washi tape turns ordinary items into unique, eye-catching creations

Trending Washi Tape Project Ideas

Explore the latest washi tape inspiration with projects like decorated notebooks, personalized phone cases, and custom wall art that are simple, fun, and stylish.

Combining with Other Craft Supplies

Mix washi tape with stickers, stamps, ribbons, or paints to elevate your crafts. Layering materials adds texture and creativity while keeping your designs easy and mess-free.

Seasonal & Holiday Themed Tips

Use of washi tape craft ideas for holidays or seasonal decor. Create themed cards, gift wrap, ornaments, or banners that reflect the season without permanent changes.

How to Choose the Best Washi Tape

Select the best washi tape by considering width, pattern, adhesive strength, paper quality, and project type for beginners and pros alike.

    

Width, Pattern, and Adhesive Strength

Not all washi tape rolls are created equal, so it’s important to consider your project needs:

• Width: Skinny tapes (3–5mm) are ideal for planner dividers or small accents, while extra-wide tapes (30mm+) work well for backgrounds, wall art, or larger surfaces.
  
  
• Scale of Pattern: Small, repeating patterns suit thin strips, whereas large illustrations need wider tape to keep the design intact.
  
  
• Adhesive Strength: Most washi tape is low-tack and easy to reposition, but specialty or home-decor tapes often have stronger adhesion for vertical surfaces or long-term use.

Paper Quality and Opacity

• Opacity: Thin washi is often semi-translucent, making it ideal for layering colors. If you want to hide a mistake or a dark line, look for "high-opacity" or foil-backed tapes.
• Write-ability: If you plan to use it for labels, ensure the paper has a matte finish that won't smudge when using a gel pen or fine-liner.

Matching Tape to Project Type

Thin tapes are good for journaling, bold patterns are ideal for scrapbooks, and wide or decorative tapes work well for home decor and DIY projects.

Recommendations: Beginners vs. Pros

• For Beginners: Start with a coordinated set. A pack of 5–10 pre-matched rolls in complementary colors helps your first projects look polished, with no guesswork.
• For Pros: Explore specialty finishes like die-cut shapes (petals, postage stamps), perforated rolls, or PET tape, a transparent, high-detail alternative to traditional paper washi for more advanced designs.

FAQs About Washi Tape

Q: What is so special about washi tape?

A: Washi tape is decorative, easy to tear by hand, and comes in endless colors and patterns, making it perfect for crafts, journaling, and decorating.

Q: What are you supposed to do with washi tape?

A: You can use it for scrapbooking, card-making, planner decorating, labeling, or adding fun accents to almost anything.

Q: What's the difference between washi tape and regular tape?

A: Unlike standard plastic tape, washi tape is paper-based, lightweight, repositionable, and doesn’t leave sticky residue.

Q: What does washi tape stick to?

A: It sticks well to paper, glass, plastic, and smooth surfaces, but is gentle enough to remove or reposition without damage.

Q: What is the best tape to use for scrapbooking?

A: Washi tape is ideal, it’s decorative, easy to use, and won’t damage photos or paper like some stronger adhesives.