You’re sitting with a beautifully bound journal, holding your aesthetic pen, and the sun softly shining through your window.
Imagine bringing that surreal feeling to life. And that’s what we’ll be walking you through in this piece.
Because when you add your aesthetic touches, it turns into something that not only clears and relaxes your mind but also brings a little beauty to your day.
So with that said, let’s dive into how you can create this moment.
1. Why Aesthetic Journaling?
One of the best ways to think of journaling is like a mental spa day. You’re:
- Clearing your mind.
- Reducing stress.
- Boosting your mental health.
But when your journal is aesthetically pleasing such as:
- The paper you work on, e.g.:
- Dot Grid Paper.
- Kraft Paper.
- Linen Cream Paper.
- The pen
- Or even the cozy setting you create, e.g.:
- Warm textures.
- Rustic Charms.
- Fairytale aesthetic.
- Candlelit Aesthetic.
- Vintage Vibes.
- Nature-Inspired Layouts.
…you’re promoting peace of mind.
You’re adding a layer of calm and beauty to your journal routine—all of which have ripple effects on your overall well-being.
This is why aesthetic appeals are crucial.
A beautiful journal enhances your journaling experience which makes it feel less like a chore and more like a treat, you know?
And when you enjoy how your space looks, you’re more likely going to keep on returning.
That now means greater mental health benefits over time. Because journaling becomes a habit rather than a task.
The Takeaways?
Start small. Add elements that make you feel good while journaling. This could be as simple as:
- Displaying scented candles.
- Writing with a smooth pen that glides effortlessly.
- Being in a cozy corner that feels inviting.
- Playing peaceful background music. YouTube has so many soft music that you can play in the background.
- Having warm cozy lighting, especially when it’s raining.
- Drinking hot drinks like tea or coffee.
- Having nature elements like:
- Plants.
- Hanging ivies.
- Flowers.
- Being wrapped around a cozy blanket if it’s cold.
- Sitting near an open window in a quiet area.
You know?! Things that will enhance your overall journaling experience to something extravagant. Not something boring.
This will make sure that you stay consistent. And this consistency is what will truly bring long-term mental clarity and balance.
2. The Connection with Mind-Beauty in Journaling
We often overlook how deeply our mental state impacts our physical appearance.
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Overwhelming thoughts
…can take a toll on your skin, hair, and your overall glow.
Journaling then becomes a bridge between mental health and beauty which will:
- Improve your quality of sleep.
- Lessen breakouts.
- Make you happier and more vibrant.
How? Well it helps to clear the clutter in your mind. Which shows up as relaxation and confidence in your appearance.
And your appearance will benefit from the improved balance. Thus, leaving you with that inner glow that’s hard to ignore.
Simple Solution
Include journaling sessions:
- In self-care routines.
- Before bed to relieve the day’s stress.
- While practicing mindfulness.
- In your morning routine.
- On rainy days.
- In a Café.
That way, you reward yourself with something valuable, therapeutic, and aesthetic.
You could even track your skin’s progress in your journal. Noting how your mental clarity impacts your skin health.
This creates a deeper awareness of the mind-beauty connection and keeps you well motivated.
3. “Okay, Where and How Can I Begin?”
Sometimes, the hardest part of journaling is knowing where to start.
The answer is: just keep it simple. It doesn’t and shouldn’t comprise anything hard. At all.
And in it, focus on your:
- Personality.
- Beauty.
- Mindfulness.
The main thing is to make journaling a tool for cultivating a mindset that celebrates the good in your life.
With that said, these are the questions you can ask yourself to know where to start:
- “What do I love about my body today?”
- “What did I do that made me feel confident?”
- “What’s one thing that made me smile this week?”
- “How can I improve A, B, or C in my life?”
- ‘What does a good day for me look like?”
- “What goal do I want to reach?”
- Being Valedictorian?
- Getting into your dream school?
- Having a physique?
- Running a successful business?
- Traveling the world?
- Growing on Social Media?
- Personal grooming?
- Writing whatever comes to your mind. Don’t overthink it.
- Jotting inspirational quotes.
- Writing about things that really frustrate or strain your mind.
Also, in some of these, ask yourself the:
- What?
- How?
- When?
- Where?
- Why?
All these small things will go a long way.
At the end of the day, it’s all about pouring out your thoughts, emotions, soul onto a piece of paper that’s just for you. And there are no rules whatsoever.
4. Journaling Isn’t Just About Writing
On that note, who said journaling has to be all about writing and words?
It honestly doesn’t.
Sometimes, the most satisfying part is purely decorating.
- Pasting stickers.
- Layering washi tape.
- Adding photos.
- Cutting out pieces.
- Or just creating a collage of things that inspire you.
You know, getting all creative and artsy.
I mean think about it: you can have entire pages that are only filled with textures, colors, and little trinkets that make you happy.
You don’t always need to spill your thoughts with words. Sometimes a single sticker or an image can say more about how you’re feeling than a whole paragraph.
So to put it simply, journaling can be your space to experiment. If writing doesn’t feel right one day, go ahead and decorate.
There’s something so cozy about flipping through your journal and seeing all these little personal touches while sipping coffee. It’s like building a tiny world that’s uniquely yours.
5. Types of Decos to Make Your Journal Really Aesthetic
With all this knowledge, you will need materials to create that aesthetic journal. And these materials are as follows:
5.1 Washi Tape
Washi tape is a game-changer for journal decoration. You can layer it, tear it, or use it as borders around your pages. Whatever creativity that comes to mind.
There are endless designs—like pastels, floral prints, holographic. You can even create mini mood boards on your pages with different tapes.
5.2 Newspaper Text
The newspaper or magazine text adds such a cool, vintage vibe to journals.
People often tear small sections of text. Usually focusing on unique fonts or words that stand out, and paste them on the corners of a page.
It’s kinda like adding a little touch of history or storytelling to your journal without having to write anything. Wouldn’t you agree?
The contrast between the fonts, the torn edges, and your other decorations creates this layered, textured look that feels really artistic.
5.3 Pressed Flowers & Leaves
For that earthy, whimsical vibe, press flowers or leaves and glue them into your journal. This adds a natural beauty that feels like you’re turning your journal into a garden.
Pro tip: Grab a wildflower on your next walk and press it between the pages of an old book for a few days.
5.4 Stickers, Stickers, Stickers
Go nuts with stickers. You can find aesthetic stickers in all sorts of themes:
- Character stickers.
- Quote stickers.
- Food stickers.
- Frame stickers.
- Nature stickers.
- Animal stickers.
- Washi tape stickers.
- Travel Stickers.
- Hobby stickers e.g. coffee, camera, books, etcetera.
- Vintage.
- Minimalist.
Stickers are perfect for adding personality and fun to your pages.
5.5 Polaroid Photos
Nothing makes your journal feel more personal than adding Polaroid pictures. Snap photos of anything that brings you joy—friends, family, nature, cozy vibes—and stick them into your journal.
That instantly makes each page a mini memory lane.
5.6 Handwritten Quotes & Calligraphy
If you enjoy writing, experiment with different fonts and styles and write out your favorite quotes or affirmations in calligraphy or fancy cursive.
It doesn’t have to be perfect. Use a stencil if you’re not confident with freehand.
5.7 Mood Boards & Collages
Think of your journal as a mini vision board. Cut out:
- Images
- Text (it doesn’t have to make sense)
- Patterns
- Colors
…from magazines that resonate with your aesthetic. Then paste them down in a collage format for inspiration.
This works especially well if you’re journaling about goals or plans which keeps the motivation going.
5.8 Dried Citrus Slices
This one’s out of the box, but I literally have seen people add dried citrus slices (yes, actual fruit!) to their journals.
It adds an earthy, organic touch and also smells amazing. Plus, it makes your journal feel so unique and creative.
5.9 Glitter & Metallic Accents
If you want some sparkle, add glitter. You can brush it onto the edges of your pages, add glitter stickers, or even use metallic pens for shine.
Gold, silver, and rose gold accents can upgrade the look of your journal to something luxurious.
5.10 Envelopes & Secret Pockets
Create little pockets or tuck envelopes into your journal where you can store keepsakes like:
- Movie tickets
- Pressed/Dried leaves
- Ephemera
- Handwritten notes
… anything that resonates with you.
It adds a fun, interactive element to your journal and makes it more like a treasure chest of memories.
5.11 Watercolor Washes
Add soft watercolor washes to your pages before you write on them. The gentle, dreamy colors can set the mood for your journal entries.
5.12 Ribbons & Fabric Swatches
Attach small fabric swatches or ribbons to your journal for texture.
This can be especially pretty if you have a cozy, cottagecore journal.
These can be glued onto the borders of pages or you can tie a little ribbon on the journal’s binding.
5.13 Pressed Paper (Vintage or Handmade)
If you’re into a vintage aesthetic, try using handmade or pressed paper.
You can find paper that has a textured, old-world feel to it and use it as your base pages. Or tear small pieces to glue into your journal.
5.14 Doodle Borders & Frames
Even if you’re not an artist, doodling simple frames or borders around your entries can add a lot of personality.
Flowers, hearts, stars, clouds—just a little sketch here and there makes your pages pop.
5.15 Tiny Mirrors or Reflective Accents
This might sound extra, but adding small reflective stickers or tiny mirror pieces (there are adhesive ones made for journals) can add a mystical touch.
It’s like inviting light and shine directly into your really fun journal.
5.16 Lace & Doilies
For a soft, romantic look, lace or paper doilies can be cut out and glued into your journal. It’s perfect if you’re going for a vintage, Parisian, or soft aesthetic.
5.17 Other decorations you can Include in your Journal
- Polaroid-style frames.
- Hand-drawn constellations.
- Transparent sticky notes.
- Stamps with vintage ink pads.
- Embroidered patches.
- Sequins or tiny beads.
- Illustrated maps or postcards.
- Gold leaf accents.
- Embossed paper cutouts.
- Feather bookmarks.
- Geometric patterns drawn with fine liners.
- Mini envelopes for keepsakes.
- Scrap fabric patches.
- Parchment paper layers.
- Metal clips.
- Wax seals with personalized stamps.
- Leather or fabric journal covers.
- Crystal or gemstone bookmarks.
- Decorative binder rings.
- Wooden or brass rulers.
- Fountain pens with colored ink.
- Tassels or charm bookmarks.
- Pencil pouches in soft fabric or leather.
- Mini scissors with ornate handles
- Pen loops or holders attached to your journal
6. Essential Tools to Bring Your Aesthetic Journal to Life
Now that you have all these amazing ideas for decorations, you’ll need the right tools to put everything together seamlessly.
Here are some must-have pieces of equipment to make decorating your journal easy and enjoyable:
6.1 Precision Craft Knife
This little knife, which you hold like a pen, is perfect for cutting out intricate designs or trimming paper that hangs off the edges of your journal.
It’s super precise and makes clean cuts without tearing the paper. Making it essential for creating those detailed collages.
6.2 Glue Pens
These pens are a lifesaver when it comes to sticking down small decorations like:
- Dried Flowers.
- Stickers.
- Any delicate pieces of paper.
The glue comes out smoothly, and because it’s in pen form, it lets you apply it exactly where you want it without the mess.
6.3 Non-Stick Scissors
You can’t go wrong with a good pair of sharp, non-stick scissors. They make:
- Cutting
- Trimming
- Shaping
… decorative elements easy.
The non-stick feature helps keep them clean, specially if you’re working with sticky materials like tape.
6.4 Double-Sided Tape Roll
For those times when glue just won’t cut it no matter how much you try, double-sided tape can come in very handy.
It’s invisible and holds everything in place without causing pages to wrinkle.
You can use it to attach heavier items like Polaroid pictures or pressed flowers without the bulk of glue.
6.5 Tweezers
Tweezers aren’t only for beauty routines. They’re great for journaling too.
They make handling small stickers or beads so much easier. Especially when you’re working on precise placements.
No more smudging your pages with gluey fingers.
6.6 Bone Folder
This is a tool you might not have thought of, but it’s a life-changer.
A bone folder helps you crease your pages perfectly when folding or layering papers. It makes everything look neat and crisp.
6.7 Paper Punches
These come in all sorts of shapes and sizes like:
- Hearts.
- Stars.
- Leaves, etcetera.
And they’re perfect for creating little cutouts you can sprinkle throughout your journal. They add a playful, decorative touch without too much effort.
The majority of these you can get at the 99cent or any craft store for a super affordable price.
Final Thoughts
Whew, that was a plethora of helpful information. And I hope it provided you with something helpful that you can and will incorporate into your journal routine.
Because you and the journal deserve a little specialty you know?
And by mixing mindfulness with creativity, you can find that perfect balance between feeling good inside and out.
So, grab your favorite journal, set the vibe, and let your thoughts flow. You’ll feel more at peace, and it’ll show in your glow.
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