PET Tape vs Washi Tape: Which Belongs in Your Spreads?

If you've been building spreads for a while, you've probably reached for a roll of tape and paused — is this the washi one or the PET one, and does it even matter? It does, and once the difference clicks, you'll know exactly which to grab for a soft layered background versus a crisp, glossy accent that pops.

Here's a quick, no-fuss guide to PET tape vs washi tape: what each one actually is, how they behave on the page, and when to reach for which. By the end you'll be layering with intention instead of guessing.

The short answer

Washi tape is paper-based — soft, semi-transparent, matte, and easy to tear by hand. PET tape is plastic film — glossy, often clear or foiled, vivid, and water-resistant. Washi melts into a spread and layers beautifully; PET sits crisp and bright on top and shows off detail like nothing else.

Neither is "better." They do different jobs, and most journalers end up loving both.

What is washi tape?

Washi is a decorative paper tape, traditionally made from Japanese washi paper. It's the gentle workhorse of journaling — semi-transparent, matte, and forgiving. You can tear it cleanly with your fingers, write on it with most pens, and layer piece over piece without the page turning stiff or shiny.

Because it's paper, washi has a lovely handmade softness. Some rolls lean eco-friendly, too — our Addict Washi Tape is handmade from recycled newspaper, so every strip carries a little texture and soul.

Washi shines when you want your tape to become part of the page rather than shout over it:

• Soft, layered backgrounds and colour blocking
• Borders and page edges that still take pen on top
• Affirmation and text tapes you actually read — like our Healer Washi Tape, which carries gentle affirmations across its designs
• Original-illustration deco, such as the playful Breakfast Washi Tape by Orange Studio

Browse the full range in our washi tape collection.

What is PET tape?

PET tape is made from a thin, flexible plastic film (polyethylene terephthalate — the "PET" part). That plastic base is what gives it its signature look: glossy, often transparent, and capable of holding vivid colour, crisp printed detail, and metallic or rose-gold foil effects that paper simply can't reproduce.

Because it's a film rather than paper, PET is water-resistant and shows fine linework and clear backgrounds cleanly. Our Clear Tag PET Tape uses that transparency so text seems to float on the page, while pieces like the Plates Rose Gold PET Tape add a genuine foil shimmer.

PET is your choice when you want the tape to be the finishing touch — the shiny, high-contrast element that draws the eye:

• Transparent overlays that let the layer beneath show through
• Foil, metallic and rose-gold accents
• Crisp illustrations and fine detail that need to stay sharp
• Deco on non-paper surfaces like phone cases and laptops, where water resistance helps

Explore them all in our PET tape collection — it's one of our deepest ranges.

PET tape vs washi tape: side by side

So which should you use?

Reach for washi when you're building the base of a spread — backgrounds, borders, colour, anything you'll write or layer on top of. Reach for PET when you're adding the final flourish — a glossy strip, a foil accent, a transparent overlay that ties the page together.

The honest truth most journalers land on: use both. Lay your washi down first as the soft foundation, then finish with a PET accent on top. That contrast between matte paper and glossy film is what makes a spread feel considered rather than flat.

A quick note on how we sell tape at Avyanna Decore: most designs come as a Sample Loop — a generous sample length wound on a loop, so you can try a design without committing to a whole roll (lovely for testing a palette or collecting widely). If you'd rather have full rolls to work from, browse our washi tape rolls. And if you just want to see everything in one place, the full tape collection has washi, PET and label tape together.

A few layering ideas to try tonight

• Matte-then-glossy: wide washi background, thin PET strip on top for shine
• Transparent framing: a clear PET tape border over patterned paper so the pattern reads through
• Writable labels: washi label tape you can date or caption by hand — pair it with our label tape
• Mixed-media corner: foil PET accent beside a paper sticker for texture contrast — pull from our sticker collection

Frequently asked questions

What is the main difference between PET tape and washi tape?

Washi tape is paper-based — matte, semi-transparent, and tearable by hand. PET tape is a glossy plastic film that's often transparent, holds vivid colour and foil effects, and is water-resistant. Washi layers softly into a page; PET sits crisp and bright on top.

Can you write on PET tape?

Not easily. Because PET is a smooth plastic film, most inks bead up rather than absorb. If you want to write on your tape, choose washi, which takes pen well. For writing over PET, a permanent or oil-based marker works best.

Is PET tape or washi tape better for journaling?

Neither is better — they do different jobs. Washi is ideal for backgrounds, borders and anything you'll layer or write on. PET is ideal for glossy accents, transparent overlays and foil detail. Most journalers keep both and use washi as the base with PET as the finishing touch.

Can you tear PET tape by hand?

Not cleanly — the plastic film stretches instead of tearing. Use scissors or a craft knife for a sharp edge. Washi, by contrast, tears neatly with your fingers.

Does washi tape stick permanently?

Washi is designed to be low-tack and repositionable, so it lifts off many surfaces without damage — handy while you're planning a layout. PET generally grips more firmly. Always test on a spare page first if you're worried about lifting ink underneath.

The takeaway

Washi for soft foundations, PET for the glossy finish — that's the whole philosophy in a sentence. Once you start reaching for each with intention, your spreads get that layered, collected-over-time feeling that makes journaling so satisfying.

Ready to build your stash? Start with the washi tape collection for your base layers and the PET tape collection for your accents — or dive into the full tape collection and let a palette find you.