Commonplace Book Inspiration: 11 Page Ideas To Steal
Commonplace book inspiration is really two different things: what to put on the page, and how to actually make it look like something. I’ve been journaling since 2018, and the pages that stuck with me longest were never just a good idea — they had a style behind them too.
Here are eleven specific page ideas, some from my own commonplace journal and some from other creators doing genuinely different things with theirs, each built in its own style. Steal the concept, steal the style, or just steal the permission to try something a little weirder than a quote page.
If you’re looking for page ideas as well as inspiration on how to actually decorate and set up your commonplace notebook, this is the post for you. Fifteen ideas, each shown in its own style, so you can see exactly how it looks on the page instead of just imagining it.
The beauty of a commonplace journal is that it exists to be filled with anything you want. So really, there are no limits to what you can write in your commonplace journal – it can be a daily journal entry, an intrusive thought you had in the shower, or maybe a cookie recipe you really enjoyed.
So, if you’re ready to try out new styles and new layouts in your commonplace journal, let’s dive into the post.
Oh, and be sure to check the end of the post for some FREE printables you can stick in your journal right away and try a new layout in no time.
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Commonplace Book Inspirations
I’ve been keeping a commonplace book since before I even understood what it is, and I have my own approach, so I’m excited to share my pages with you.
But to make sure you get more ideas, styles, and approaches, I also gather inspiration from other creators.
So let’s look at some layouts.
Manga Review Page
This is probably my favorite page I’ve ever created, and it’s a review of all the manga books for Jujutsu Kaisen.
I love this page because I went for a different black-and-white style (if you know me, you know my pages are usually all about color), and I love how the illustrations of these characters turned out.
In case you’re thinking, “uh, you must’ve been such an artist being able to draw like this,” I am not. I am very limited in what I can draw, and I learned this particular style from this manga drawing book. It took me several months of consistent practice to learn how to draw these specific characters.
Color Coded Commonplace Journal Page
One question I often get is how to organize entries in your commonplace book, and this creator came up with an answer: they color-code their entries. It’s a perfect occasion to use the colorful dot stickers.
This works well whether you are like this creator and have several different entries on one page, or like me and usually have one page per entry.
Reading Tracker
Mostly, my commonplace is about the types of entertainment I’m enjoying, so the reading tracker definitely made an appearance.
This layout helps me read for 40 consecutive days because my reading is so hectic, and I need extra help to stay on track and make it a habit.
As you can see, this layout is more about my style – there are plenty of color and cute little doodles.
Photo-Based Layout
I love creating photo-based layouts in my journal, whether it’s for memory keeping, tracking books, or, like in this case, tracking my anime watch list.
This is a super simple layout to create; all you really need is a fun little header, and the rest is just printing out the covers or posters of whatever you’re tracking.
In case you wonder, I usually use HP Sprocket for all my photos – it’s small and easy to use, it doesn’t require any ink, and the printing paper already has a sticker side, so it’s easy to add to your pages right away.
On This Day Layout
One of the fun ideas for things you can record in your commonplace journal is the historical or other important or notable events that happened on the same date, and you can look as far back as you want to.
I really love the retro feel of this page; the creator really did wonders with those stamps and ashi tapes to make this page look like it itself came from the past.
Word List Page
A fun way to use your commonplace book is to record random things; for me, that means recording any new words I encounter. As a non-native English speaker, this helps me improve my language skills.
It doesn’t have to be complicated either; I simply add the words, the definition, and an example of how to use them.
Watch List
Since my commonplace book is all about entertainment, I wanted to also share my watch list layout here. As you can see, it’s pretty simple – I note what I want to watch and then have space to write when I watch it and how I would rate it.
These rating stamps actually were super useful for many of my commonplace journal pages, and I can’t recommend them enough.
Daily Journaling Layout
Daily journaling absolutely can become an important part of your commonplace book, and here is a wonderful example of how to incorporate it.
I adore how this creator mixes lettering, doodling, stickers, and washi tape to create interesting, colorful daily entries.
Video Notes Page
Your commonplace pages don’t have to be extra aesthetic, filled with designs and perfect handwriting. It’s totally fine to be messy and to just let things flow on your page – it is your journal just for you.
For example, these are my notes from a short documentary I watched about Caravaggio, one of my favorite painters of all time. As you can see, it has no decorations, and the handwriting is also very wonky. And that’s ok; the important thing is that I recorded some new things I noticed, some new things i got cusrious about and some things it made me think about.
Collage Style Commonplace Book Idea
This is a set of differently themed entries, but in this case I wanted you to pay attention to how the layout is organized.
The creator used little ticket stubs, postcards, pictures, and magazine cutouts to create almost a collage for each entry. And all together they create such a soft and cozy style for the entire page.
Memory Book Page
One of my favorite pages to create is memory-keeping pages, and here is an example of one of those layouts.
I always go hard on using as many pictures as I can (and this is why I’m always the annoying friend who takes a lot of pictures) and add some fun with my favorite Zebra Mildliner colors.
Free Printables
These were just a few ideas and styles for you to explore; as always, there is so much more! And usually the easiest way to explore different layouts and styles is with the help of printables, and I have just the thing for you.
In the Resources Vault, you’ll find 50+ free printables — trackers, lists, and pages you can print out and try in your commonplace book before committing to designing your own version.
If you don’t have access yet, sign up in the form below. Once you confirm your subscription, you’ll get the password to unlock 50+ free printables, stickers, and worksheets you can start using today.
More Resources
There is more to learn about a commonplace journal and, of course, more inspiration for how to create your pages.
Check out these posts next:
- What Is A Commonplace Journal? (And How To Start One From Scratch)
- 95 Commonplace Book Ideas: The Ultimate List To Fill Every Page
- 7 Commonplace Journal Layout Ideas For Every Kind Of Entry
>>> What kind of commonplace book ideas do you try in your journal? Share with us in the comments!
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And remember: Keep Journaling, and Don’t Be A Blob!
