Hi lovely people, my name is Aly and I am the artist and Bullet-Journal-enthusiast behind @bujo_aly (Instagram & TikTok & Pinterest).
I am very happy to have the opportunity to create this Bujo 101 blog post series for Maisie Lane Co., bringing to you some bullet journal monthly spread ideas.
I did my best on finding several types of this spread, so there will be something useful for every one of you! Of course, everything can be changed and adapted to your own needs.
Okay so let’s start…
First, you are going to need a journal - mine is the Maisie Lane Co. A5 Forager Green Journal. If you’re interested in purchasing a personalized bullet journal, don’t forget to use my code ALY15 to save 15% at checkout.
You’re also going to need different pens depending on the type of spread you want to create such as Sakura Pigma Microns, Tombow Brush Pens, and Crayola Supertips. Additionally, you can use a ruler and maybe some washi tapes or stickers and other items you like to use to decorate your bullet journal spreads. All Maisie Lane Co. journals come with a free ruler and they update their shop with new washi tapes every other month!
One-Page Monthly Spread
I would almost say that this type of monthly spread is the most common that bullet journalists create as it offers a lot of space for dates and events in the individual boxes.
You can split the sections as big as you wish and I think this is a spread that could be customized to your personal needs. There’s always some space left where you can write a to do list (if there’s no date set yet) or a list for important dates so you won’t lose the overview. Of course, you can decorate and design your spreads as you like: You can use doodles, stickers, washi tapes, scraps of paper, printables, etc. The list is long and you can use whatever fits your aesthetics 😊
Two-Page Monthly Spread
Now I’d like to show you another version which is a two-pages monthly spread. This one has a lot of extra space.
It’s not an obligation to use a horizontal calendar, so rotate your notebook and try this out! This alignment enables plenty of space in every section, too. On the right side of this spread there’s again plenty of space for lists (I think it’s getting clear that I am a total lists-loving-human haha). I thought about a total overview of the month (as a list) so you can note important days, also a to-do list for tasks that must get done during this month. But you can add a birthdays-list or a goals list as well.
Now I’d like to show you some of the minimalist monthly spread layouts. They take up much less time and don’t require many tools or extras. Obviously, they are customizable and changeable to your taste.
Two-Page Minimal Monthly Spread
The next spread is a two-page minimal monthly spread. As you already know, these types of spreads give you a big amount of room and since they have such a minimalistic design. If you don't have a lot of time, these are perfect for you.
Minimal monthly spreads can also be done on one page. When you want to save space or have a limited number of pages in your notebook, you can try this type of a one-page monthly overview.
One-Page Minimal Monthly Spreads
What I've created here is a vertical calendar. This is very popular for minimal bullet journal monthly spreads. The day-line is super functional since you won’t lose time in making grids or tables for your calendar. All you have to do is write down the numbers. You can write the first letters of the days, too, but this isn’t a must!
After that you can note your events / appointments – that’s it! Of course, you can pimp your spread by writing down a quote or making a collage using different types of decoration.
If you like the vertical calendar, you can also save yourself more time by using the Maisie Lane Co. Two-Pack washi tape set which includes a vertical numbered washi for this purpose!
The last spread that I’m going to show you today is another version of a minimalistic one-page monthly spread with a different layout. I made the calendar with bigger gaps between the days so I can easily mark a date in it and down below I have more space to write down more details about dates. It is also done very quickly, and you don’t need a lot of materials, unless you want to decorate it with different washi tapes as I did!
I hope you enjoyed this article and now have some inspiration for your next monthly spread. If so, we would love to see your re-creations on Instagram and don’t forget to tag us @maisielaneco and @bujo_aly! If you would like to treat yourself and purchase some stationery from Maisie Lane Co.’s shop, don’t forget to use my code ALY15 to save 15 % from your entire purchase!
Stay creative and safe,
Aly <3