Because a planner you enjoy opening is a planner you're more likely to use.

Estimated read time: 5 minutes

There's a funny thing that happens when people get a new planner.

They buy the planner.

They buy the stickers.

They buy the sticky notes.

Then they stare at the first blank page wondering how to make it all come together.

If you've ever thought:

• - "I'm not creative enough for this."

• - "What if I mess it up?"

• - "How do people know what stickers go together?"

• - "What if it doesn't look right?"

You're not alone.

A lot of planner decorating content assumes you already feel confident getting creative.

But for most people, the hardest part isn't decorating.

It's giving yourself permission to start.

The good news?

You don't need to be artistic to create a planner that feels personal.

You just need a process.

Meet Nancy

Around here, we call Nancy our Queen of Creatives, and for good reason.

If you've ever fallen in love with a planner cover pattern (completely iconic), obsessed over a sticker sheet, or smiled at a tiny detail (hello, miniature planner accessories in the carousel on the Greatest Show stickers), you've already experienced Nancy's work. 

She's the creative force behind the planner patterns, illustrations, sticker collections, and accessories that make Laurel Denise feel like Laurel Denise. She's constantly dreaming up new ways to make planning more beautiful, more functional, and a lot more fun.

In Beyond Basics: 7 Steps to Personalizing Your Planner, Nancy takes us behind the scenes of her monthly setup process, from choosing stickers and building a color palette to creating a spread that's both functional and a little gasp-worthy.

Planner Decorating Isn't About Perfection

The best planner spreads aren't the ones that look perfect. They're the ones that help you plan your life and make you excited to open your planner again tomorrow.

One of the biggest misconceptions about planner decorating is that every page needs to look polished.

In reality, some of the most-loved planner spreads start with:

• - A sticker placed slightly crooked

• - A color choice you're not completely sure about

• - A layout that evolves as the month goes on

• - A little experimenting to see what works

Your planner isn't a finished product.

It's a workspace.

And workspaces are meant to be used.

Not preserved.

Remember:

• - You can cover mistakes with stickers.

• - You can change your system next month.

• - You can try something and decide it isn't your favorite.

• - You don't have to commit to one style forever.

The goal isn't creating a perfect planner.

The goal is creating one you'll actually use.

Start With One Decision, Not Twenty

The easiest way to personalize your planner is to choose one element you love and build from there instead of trying to coordinate everything at once.

When people get stuck decorating, they're often trying to make too many decisions at the same time.

Nancy simplifies the process by starting with a banner sticker sheet first.

Then she asks:

• - What colors already exist here?

• - What sticker sheets share those colors?

• - What accessories support that palette?

Suddenly you're not starting from a blank page.

You're following visual clues.

Instead of asking:

"What goes together?"

You're asking:

"What already works together?"

That's a much easier question to answer.

Why Color Can Make Planning Easier

Color isn't just decorative. It can help your brain process information faster, recognize patterns, and quickly distinguish between different parts of your life.

One of Nancy's favorite techniques is using color to separate categories.

For example:

• - Work responsibilities

• - Personal commitments

• - Habits

• - Priorities

• - Travel plans

This isn't just about aesthetics.

It's about visibility.

When your brain can quickly identify patterns, planning often feels less overwhelming.

That's one reason so many Laurel Denise customers use:

• - Color-coded sticky notes

• - Coordinating headers

• - Banner stickers

• - Functional sticker icons

Decoration becomes part of the planning system itself.

If You're Not Using Your Planner, Try Changing Something

Sometimes the problem isn't your planner. It's that your current setup isn't motivating you anymore.

If you've stopped reaching for your planner, it doesn't necessarily mean planning isn't working.

It may simply mean your current system needs a refresh.

Ask yourself:

• - Do I need more visual organization?

• - Do I need less visual clutter?

• - Am I motivated by checking things off?

• - Do I need smaller, more manageable tasks?

• - Would I enjoy opening my planner more if it felt more personal?

Sometimes changing your layout helps.

Sometimes changing your process helps.

Sometimes adding a few stickers makes all the difference.

A planner that feels inviting is often a planner that gets used.

The Secret Is Functional Creativity

The most effective planner spreads balance creativity and practicality so your planner supports your life while still feeling like yours.

Nancy describes her decorating style as "functionally creative."

We love that phrase.

Because it perfectly captures what planner decorating can be.

You're not decorating for decoration's sake.

You're creating visual cues that help you:

• - See your priorities

• - Track important dates

• - Separate responsibilities

• - Stay engaged with your planning routine

And yes, you're also making your planner more enjoyable to look at.

Those two things can exist together.

What If You Don't Know What Matches?

You don't have to figure out every sticker combination yourself. Sometimes the easiest way to personalize your planner is starting with pairings that have already been thoughtfully coordinated.

One of the most common questions we hear is:

"How do I know what stickers go together?"

The truth is, most people don't naturally know.

Instead of trying to coordinate everything yourself, start by looking for:

• - Repeating colors

• - Similar seasonal themes

• - Shared accent colors

• - Accessories that support the overall palette

Nancy walks through her favorite sticker pairings and explains her thought process at the end of the video.

Want to jump straight to the pairing guide? Head to approximately 18:35 in the video to watch Nancy share her favorite combinations and explain how she chooses what works together.

If you'd rather skip the guesswork entirely, we've made it easy.

Explore Nancy's Planner Pairings

Nancy's Planner Pairings collection brings together coordinated sticker sheets, sticky notes, and accessories inspired by the combinations featured in the video.

Shop Nancy's Planner Pairings

Your Planner Should Feel Like You

The most important decorating rule is that there are no decorating rules. If a setup helps you stay engaged, organized, and excited to plan, it's doing its job.

Some months you'll want lots of stickers.

Some months you'll want a minimalist layout.

Some months you'll try something new and decide it wasn't for you.

That's okay.

Your planner should grow with your life.

Because planning isn't about creating perfect pages.

It's about creating a system that helps you move from overwhelmed and scattered to clear, confident, and prepared.

And sometimes that starts with a sticker you simply thought was cute.