Liven Up Your Bathroom On A Budget With These Fun DIY Washi Tape Ideas

When people think of decorating or updating a bathroom, the focus often lies in painting the walls, choosing the perfect vanity, or upgrading the shower/bathtub. These changes might cost hundreds of dollars and be time-consuming to complete. But with washi tape, you can liven up different areas of your bathroom for under $10 without having to replace anything or deal with potentially messy paint. This includes the design of your cabinet doors, those lackluster white walls, or that plain framed mirror crying for some excitement. 

If you're not familiar with washi tape, it is a decorative, lightweight tape made out of rice paper. It's easy to work with, compared to other tapes, due to its low-tack adhesiveness. DIY-ers and art lovers commonly use it for scrapbooking, crafting, and other projects, but washi tape can also be used as decor. Dozens of colors and designs are available, ranging from wood grain, foil print, floral patterns, simple solid, metallic glitter, and many others. This tape is commonly sold in multi-roll packs, allowing for variety with a single purchase.

Many cabinet doors feature a panel raise that can easily be outlined with washi tape, but you can apply the tape however you choose. Unless you're striving for "eclectic" as you give your plain cabinet doors a stunning upgrade, stick with one roll, or a few with similar colors or patterns. Aim to match or complement the color scheme and decor in your bathroom. Or, if you'll be washi-taping your walls as well, consider using the same roll for both to make the tape pop even more.

Wondering how the tape will hold up with the high humidity? Washi tape is water resistant only, so it may start to peel over time, depending on how many daily hot showers you take and how long those showers last. The location of the tape is another factor. Remember, heat rises, so the higher the tape, the more likely it is to get damp during showers. But the tape can last for about 18 months before any visible peeling or bubbling occurs. If you want to make it more adhesive and don't mind dealing with the possibility of residue, you can use an all-purpose glue on the back.

Another part of your bathroom that you can jazz up with washi tape is the walls. Nowadays, there are dozens of options available to change the appearance of your bathroom walls that don't involve paint, including wallpaper and decals, but a few of these options can be difficult to work with. Plus, some of them involve wide vinyl strips that can accidentally stick to themselves or result in bubbles if you're not careful during the application process. Alternatively, washi tape allows you to create a variety of designs on your walls using multiple narrow strips ranging from 10 to 25 millimeters.

You can apply the washi tape to span across the entire wall or just a portion of it. Go for a chevron pattern, squares and rectangles, triangles, simple straight or angled lines, or any other arrangement that suits you. Just be sure to wet-wipe and dry the walls first for optimum adhesion. One of the convenient features of washi tape is that it won't leave any residue, due to its low-tack adhesion.

Your bathroom mirror could also benefit from a washi tape makeover, whether it's framed or not. If it has a white frame, make it your creation canvas by covering it with multiple strips of washi tape, or just one for a more minimalist look. If it has no frame, you can apply the tape to the wall portions surrounding the mirror. A circular mirror allows you to create a sunburst effect. With a square or rectangular mirror, use the tape as an outline to create a larger rectangle or square.

You also have the option to focus on decorating the mirror instead of the space that frames it. This method would work best with a straight-edged mirror. Apply the washi tape directly to the mirror, keeping the strip(s) close to the edges. Depending on how large the mirror is, you may be able to use multiple strips in more than one direction. Otherwise, one strip is still enough to enhance the mirror's appearance, especially if you use a loud or glittery color.