Have you been interested in minimalist bullet journal spreads?
If you’re like me, you have lots of balls in the air at any given time. It can be tough to keep track of everything, let alone find the time to get creative! That’s where minimalist bullet journaling spreads create an advantage. Bullet journaling is a great way to stay organized and can also be a form of creative self-care.
Often when people get into bullet journaling they get overwhelmed with instagram-perfect layouts, but the bullet journal system was designed to help creatives keep track of things–not to add more elements to your to do list.
Taking a minimalist approach to your bullet journal pages can help you relax and de-stress while still being productive.
Why create minimalist bullet journal spreads?
Bullet journaling is already a great way to declutter your mind and organize your thoughts. But adding a minimalist design aesthetic to your pages can feel really satisfying!
Not only will you be able to see everything you need to do at a glance, but you’ll also have a beautiful notebook to look through. And because it’s minimalist, it feels simple. (Also trust me, it’s a lot more fun than just looking at a list of tasks!)
What makes a bullet journal spread minimalist?
People use the term “minimalist bullet journal” to refer to both the method and the aesthetic. The appeal of a minimalist bullet journal is its simplicity. A sparse approach can help you stay organized and focused on what’s important.
This article focuses on minimalist bullet journal spreads defined by:
- Simple layouts with clean lines and generous white space
- Black and white color pallet (sometimes with gray added)
- Simple visual elements like arrows or other simple icons
The minimalist approach is about using as few supplies as possible and capturing the information quickly. The design of the layout locks in clarity.
This can be a great way to simplify your bullet journal pages while helping you stay organized.
Tips for creating minimalist bullet journal spreads
If you’re new to bullet journaling, or even if you’ve been doing it for a while but haven’t set a design for your pages yet, don’t worry! It’s easy to get started.
1. Create a margin of an inch or more around your whole spread.
When you open your journal and see text running over the edges, it can make your chest contract (at least a little). Our eyes feel a sense of relief when they encounter white space–which is part of what makes minimalist bullet journal spreads so appealing.
Leaving a wide margin–an inch or even more–when you are planning a spread contributes to an overall minimalist aesthetic.
If you tend to create spreads in real time as you are using them, just get in the habit of leaving the white space, but if you plan your spreads out, then you can use a ruler to mark the margin.
2. Choose straight lines over ornate ones.
Minimalist lines have few distractions and a clean vibe–if lines are used at all. Less is more. In fact, sometimes in minimalist bullet journal spreads, lines are missing where they otherwise would be expected.
3. Choose a black and white color pallet.
Part of the minimalist bullet journal vibe is choosing a monochromatic color scheme. Black and white doesn’t have to be boring, though. Here’s how to pull it off:
- Use black markers with tips of varying widths.
- Include a black brush marker in your options.
- Add gray markers to create depth.
- Use white ink on black stickers.
- Include simple black and white washi tape.
4. Create your own personal vocabulary of minimalist icons
Minimalist bullet journal spreads can still feature simple illustrations. To get the most out of this, create a handful of simple shapes that match your personal minimalist vibe.
A good place to get inspiration for this is to do an image search for minimalist icons or minimalist tattoos.
Time to test drive the minimal bullet journal aesthetic?
Adding some simple bullet journal art is a great way to make your pages more fun and interesting to look at—and it can also help you de-stress and relax.
If you’re not sure where to start, check out Pinterest or Instagram for some inspiration. And remember, there are no rules when it comes to bullet journaling. Try a few things and you might be surprised at how your creativity flows.
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