Five Useful Ways to Use Washi Strip Stickers in a Planner

Turn decorative strips into helpful page dividers, small headers, and tidy accents—while keeping plenty of room for your actual plans.

By Kaagzy

Washi strip planner ideas: original illustrative layout by Kaagzy, not a product photograph

A planner can be decorated and still be easy to use. The trick is to give each decorative element a job. A strip can mark a section, connect a colour theme, or frame something important without competing with your notes.

Keep it practical: write the appointments and tasks first. Add decoration to the space that remains, not the space you might need later.

Start with strips, not a roll of tape

The Washi Strip Stickers Book contains pre-cut decorative strip stickers. Treat them as individual stickers: check the length against your page before peeling. Keep any product backing until you have finished arranging the page. Do not assume a sticker will lift cleanly from every paper.

1. Give your weekly page one clear header

Place a single strip just below the week’s title. Keep it shorter than the full page width so the layout has an intentional stopping point. If the design is dark or busy, write the heading above it rather than on top. Small letters from the Alphabet Sticker Book can become the heading, but check that the whole word fits first.

2. Separate plans from reminders

Draw two columns: appointments on the left and reminders on the right. Put a narrow strip across the top of the reminder column. You now have a visual cue without filling the page with boxes. Keep the same position next week so the cue stays familiar.

3. Frame one weekly priority

Write one priority in a plain rectangle. Add a short strip above or below it, leaving the words unobstructed. If everything is highlighted, nothing feels especially important; use this treatment for the one item you want your eyes to find first.

4. Make a small colour key

Choose two strip designs and assign a simple meaning to each, such as personal plans and study plans. Put a small sample beside the written label. Always keep the words: colour alone can become confusing, especially when two shades look similar in evening light.

5. Finish an untidy edge

If a decorative paper piece has an uneven seam, bridge the join with a strip. Trim it before attaching, away from the notebook, rather than cutting into a finished page. Avoid stacking many layers close to the binding.

A quick readability check

  • Can you find today’s plans without searching?
  • Is there room to add a late appointment?
  • Are dates readable against their background?
  • Would removing one strip make the page clearer?

Size and contrast help establish visual hierarchy. Here, the handwritten date stays prominent while the strips support the structure. Start with one of these ideas, use the page for a week, and keep the detail that helped you most.

Further reading: Adobe’s introduction to design principles.