I will be showing you how to create a minimalist bullet journal over the next few months. In this blog I will be explaining to you what a minimalist bullet journal is and the difference between minimalist vs maximalist bullet journaling.
Learning the difference between minimalist and maximalist bujo styles could be the key to figuring out which style you prefer and which suits you. It is fine to like both and you might like to mix it up with some minimalist and maximalist pages. I will be giving you a sneak peak at my minimalist spreads in this blog which you can re-create if you like!
What is a minimalist bullet journal?
To understand what a minimalist bullet journal is we need to understand what ‘minimalism’ is.
Minimalism is traditionally based on the belief that less is more. Picture ‘Scandinavian design’ or some modern art. It is often regarded as a lifestyle choice. You can however be minimalist in some areas of your life and maximalist in others. Being minimalist doesn’t mean going without, it means carefully selecting certain things and getting rid of clutter.
Minimalism is discussed a lot within the Bullet Journal community. Probably because the bullet journal was created to be a fast and effective system. Naturally this means getting rid of unnecessary items which can be very helpful when it comes to organising your life.
Minimalist spreads are often simple to re-create which makes them perfect if it is your first time. Visually they are also really clean but still pretty to look at. If you are a busy person then a minimalist journal could be perfect for you. It is quick to create as opposed to hours of planning and then making. Minimalist layouts are also ideal if you have started a bullet journal purely for organisation as it is easy to see everything quickly. Another benefit (although for me it is not really a benefit because I love stationary) is less equipment, you will mainly need a pen, ruler and notebook. Anything else is an optional extra. I would suggest some watercolours so that you can occasionally add a pop of colour but that is up to you.
Before learning what a maximalist bullet journal is, let’s look at some minimalist spreads. Maybe you will find some you love…
1.
This is a very simple bullet journal spread. You will only need a black pen to re-create this although maybe sketch the flower in pencil and go over it with pen.
2.
This weekly spread leaves you plenty of space to write lists. Sometimes maximalist spreads can take up a lot of space which leaves you less room for practical things.
3.
I love this minimalist cover page. You could use it for every month and only need a black pen!
What is a Maximalist Bullet Journal?
Maximalism is about showing your personality through colour and fun. Do you ever love so many things it is hard to pick one? Maximalism lets you pick them all!
In a Bullet Journal, Maximalism allows you to experiment with colours, pens, font types, tape and stickers. You can go as wild as you like.
I think it is great to have some maximalist pages within your bullet journal. It really allows your personality to shine through. We have looked at some minimalist spreads and now lets look at some maximalist!
1.
This is a bullet journal but doesn’t it look like a scrap book! You can really personalise a maximalist bullet journal.
2.
This gives you a good idea of the type of equipment you will need to create a maximalist spread and isn’t it so pretty!?
3.
This is an example of a more maximalist cover page. You could re-create this with watercolours.
Which style is for you? Why not do both?
Ryder Carrol who created the Bullet Journal did so because he needed a clear system that could keep up with his life. Therefor most of his pages are very simple. If you are looking for a straight forward system to organise your busy life, a minimalist style would be perfect for you. Helping you to focus on what needs to be done.
See some of Ryder Carrol’s pages here.
Given an almost blank page, the bullet journal community went about designing their own unique pages/designs. Some are truly breathtaking and are a work of art in their own right. If you are artistic this could be another creative outlet for you.
If you are still on the fence, why not do a little of both? I personally focus on keeping my daily logs and index minimalist. My future log, monthly log and brain dump are maximalist. I fill these pages with designs that appeal to me and if I would like to switch it up, I can the next month (or next time I need to make a brain dump page). I find this to be the perfect combination for me. Day to day, I am too busy and need to keep things simple but every month I can practise a little self care while creating my pages.
My Minimalist Bullet Journal
I promised you a sneak peak of my new minimalist bullet journal so here we go! Over the next few months I will posting videos which will show you how to re-create the spreads I have created in my minimalist journal so that you can make your very own.
Here is an exclusive sneak peak of what is to come!
Thank you for reading this blog. Have you read our ‘How to Create a February Cover Page’ blog? If not, you can read it here.
Make sure to follow our Instagram.
Leave a Reply