Surprisingly Chic Ways to Decorate with Washi Tape

It’s been a few years since washi tape first came on the scene as a non-permanent medium for decorating all sorts of things. Since then, washi tape DIYs have saturated the internet like the most bedazzled page in your Aunt Linda’s scrapbook. We’ve waded through the rhinestones and glitter to find 10 chic examples of washi tape in the home that will put your craft store sale bin raids with Aunt Linda to good use.

While “exploded unicorn” may not be a style that’s for everyone, Studio Mucci has managed to inspire a diverse selection of readers with this meticulously hand-crafted Los Angeles loft. Here, washi tape in a rainbow of pastel hues is used to reface the cabinet doors in the kitchen. Using washi tape (which comes in neutral palettes as well), is a great tip for renters looking for a completely temporary fix.

This Creative, Serene Home in Japan contains a focal concrete wall with a simple diamond pattern made from washi tape. This is an especially clever trick for those with concrete or plaster walls that are difficult to nail into.

Here’s what Sara had to say about the washi tape grid wall in her 350-square-foot pre-war Brooklyn studio: “I always have some sort of DIY project happening since I’m pretty handy, but at the moment I’m really happy with the grid wall in the kitchen area. I spotted removable grid wallpaper that was beautiful but out of my price range. I took a chance with super thin washi tape and am surprised by how much I like the imperfect lines.”

Casually taping art to the wall is perhaps washi tape’s pièce de résistance. In this Scandinavian style-meets-California vibes Beverly Hills apartment, uniform Instagram photos come together to create one striking work of art, thanks to some strips of black washi tape.

All you need is a tape measure and some scissors to design a cross accent wall out of washi tape à la this family’s house in the woods. If crosses aren’t your thing, any repeated design or geometric shape will work as well.

We love the angular design found on this accent wall in a “western modern glam” apartment in Los Angeles. While the lines appear to be random, they’re placed within a grid which, when coupled with a minimal black-and-white color scheme, feels both precise and a little wild.

This mini gallery wall found in A Serene and Bright Bloomsbury Apartment is another take on what washi tape can do with petite prints. We love the juxtaposition of the sporadically-placed vertical gallery in muted hues next to a streamlined framed black-and-white print.

In Cozy Color & Creativity in Brooklyn, washi tape makes the perfect frame for above-the-bed art. We love how the streamlined Art Deco designs contrast with the colorful modern bedding. Most importantly, we love the fact that these frames can’t fall on your head while you’re sleeping.

While this gorgeous taped-up gallery wall in a bright and creative small space in San Francisco is the third of its kind in this roundup, it’s fun to see how completely different gallery walls can look. The hot pink washi tape used on this gallery wall makes it the focus of an otherwise subtle and subdued design.

The bedside washi tape frames found in A Graphic Designer’s Beautiful Understated Austin Bungalow are a great reminder that perfection isn’t everything. Their asymmetry and uneven lines gives them a primitive quality that complements the art within.

We can’t really think of a reason not to try out some of these washi tape DIYs in your own home. Especially for renters looking for temporary fixes, decorating with washi tape is a great opportunity to get creative without the pressure of failure (just take it off and try again!).