Planning With a Simple Aesthetic

Planning is all about personal style.

This said, many people in the planning community are searching for ways to plan that lean towards a more simple aesthetic. If this concept matches your planning style, then this blog is dedicated to you! We've curated recommendations that can appeal to a variety of lifestyles with clean lines, functional structure and durability.

Functional Desk Pads + Notebooks

The Engineering Grid Desk Pad is a perfect way to add some clean, simple lines to your planning space! Some use it purely for engineering purposes, and due to the grid design and simple notes space, it can be customized to fit your planning needs. If you’d rather keep the engineering design within a planner, the Engineering Grid Planner Inserts are available in many sizes. Add a Page Marker for maximum functionality: use it to mark your place in your planner and to measure grid space.

A simple, portable notebook like the Everyday Carry Notebook in Graph and Lined is ideal for those that prefer not to use a planner and instead need a place to keep everyday notes. One planner in the C&P community keeps track of his hobbies using the understated graph layout. For example, since he enjoys multiple facets of fishing, such as creating lures and tracking catches, he carries these notebooks for quick, easy note taking. 

Due to the minimal design, he can use each page for a different use: catch measurements, details, and traits, along with weather/water level tracking, ideas for bait-making, and materials/supply tracking with cost.

For those searching for simplistic calendar tracking, the Monthly Admin Desk Pad or Monthly Admin Planner Inserts are the way to go! These designs include a simplistic monthly overview, task list, section for important dates, and additional notes space.

Durable, Long-Lasting Leather

Heirloom Leather Folio | Large | Small | CP Petite

With specially crafted top-grain cowhide leather, these folios provide ultra-durability and tough stitching so that your planner will last. Many customers who prefer simpler styles appreciate the Heirloom line’s sleek, clean design and subtle colors. Match with the equally premium, versatile España Spiral Notebooks (A5 or CP Petite) for coordination that will maximize your productivity. (This duo also serves as a fantastic Holiday gift for those who appreciate a clean, simple aesthetic!) Finally, add elevated organization with the Leather Cloth & PaperClip to keep your place in your planner, or clip papers and slips within.

Have the planners in your family ever mentioned that they prefer to plan things in the moment, as opposed to in advance? We’ve heard this many times, so we recommend choosing undated designs that can be used in a variety of ways. Note that these spiral notebooks fit this preference!

Professional Additions

Those who appreciate a more streamlined aesthetic lean towards planning tools and accessories that are understated. Simplicity is a core theme here at Cloth & Paper, so many of our accessories fit this theme perfectly.

If you need page flags for marking pages, highlighting notes, or just to add a smidge of color, reach for the Matchstick Set Vol 3. These match the color theme of all the items mentioned above, so everything fits cleanly and professionally.

When it comes to sticky notes, many have mentioned that they prefer plain sticky notes over ones with headers. Great options that fit this style are the Arrow Sticky Notes and Note Neutrality Sticky Notes. These are monotone without headers or pre-designed lists, so they can be used in any manner and setting needed. Use with the M&G Noiseless Gel Pen for quiet planning and comfortability.

The simple, clean aesthetic ranges just as much as any other. 

Don’t feel that you need to stick to the examples listed in this blog! We compiled common questions, requests, and comments from our community, and would love to see even more! If you have tips or inquiries about planning styles that you’d like to learn more about, let us know in the comments.