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Cute Bullet Journal Themes for Any Time of Year
Sometimes finding ideas to try for your bullet journal can be the most challenging aspect of creating a bullet journal.
You want to try every spread out there, yet at the same time, you don’t want to over-complicate your bullet journal either.
Creating bullet journal themes for your layouts can help you start planning while getting the opportunity to showcase your creativity! These 12 inspirational bullet journal monthly theme ideas will help provide some direction and motivation.
(This article contains affiliate links. For more information, read my disclosure.)
What is a Bullet Journal Theme
So what is a bullet journal theme, anyway?
A bullet journal theme is basically the ‘design’ of the layout.
If you have a bunch of fruit in your bullet journal spread, you have a ‘fruit theme’. If you have a bunch of leaves, you have a ‘leaf theme’. The concept is actually really straightforward and can help you plan out the look of your layouts before you create them.
How to Use Themes In Your Bullet Journal
There are honestly three different ways you can utilize themes for your bullet journal spreads.
Honestly, there is no one method that is better than the other. That said, I will present the pros and cons of each option to help you decide which one is best for you.
Changing Themes Every Layout
Some people don’t like to commit to a consistent theme for a set amount of time. Instead, they prefer to be creative and do whatever they please.
Planning out potential theme ideas can still be helpful ahead of time. Creating a bullet journal collection of themes you’d like to try for various spreads will help you avoid the “what am I going to create today?” conundrum commonly faced by people who choose this method.
Using One Theme for an Entire Month
Using the same theme for an entire month will save you a lot of time and energy while setting up your layouts.
On average, a monthly layout will include these components:
- A Cover Page
- A Monthly Calendar
- 2-4 Trackers
- 1 Collection
- 4-5 Weekly Spreads
- Monthly Review
Related: How to Set Up Your Monthly Theme In Your Bullet Journal
Using One Theme for An Entire Bullet Journal
Although I haven’t seen many people do this much, you can always choose one theme for your ENTIRE bullet journal.
Typically an individual will pick a very broad theme; such as a fruit. Then each spread will feature different types of fruit, allowing the individual to have a little more variety within the spreads while keeping the overall theme consistent.
Creating A Different Theme Each Week/Month
The sweet spot in the middle is to create different themes for each month, or less common, each week.
The nice part about this option is this is less complicated than the other two while maximizing the potential for creativity.
Two Ways To Design Your Theme
When you choose a consistent theme for a monthly layout, you have two choices.
You can keep a similar look for each page, with each page showing the same doodles and designs.
Here are two examples of layouts that have the same theme design between different spreads.
This option is great for those who want:
- A consistent look between their layouts
- Simplicity while setting up spreads
Otherwise, you can try variations of the theme to give each page individuality.
Here are a few examples of different spreads that both have the same ‘theme’. You’ll see the style between layouts are very different.
This option is best for those who want:
- Spreads that look different from one another
- Not to feel locked into one decoration style
Again, there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ to how you choose to decorate your theme pages. If you’re not certain, you may have to experiment to see what method you prefer.
Stationery Supplies To Set Up Your Bullet Journal Monthly Themes
So, what do you need on hand to create these amazing inspirational bullet journal monthly theme ideas?
Honestly, as much or as little as you want. If you have no supplies and want a starting point, then check out the tools you need if you’re going to have a bullet journal.
More minimalist themes will require fewer supplies. You’d be amazed at how a black fineliner pen and a small ruler can make some stunning bujo pages.
On the other hand, more colorful and detailed themes may require more supplies, such as colorful fineliners and markers.
Here are some of my favorite tools to add a little color and flair!
If you don’t have these, you NEED to get yourself Crayola Super Tip Markers. These color phenomenally (nicer than any other marker I own), they are inexpensive, and you can also use them for lettering.
And of course, don’t forget your bullet journal notebook!
220+ Bullet Journal Theme Ideas
Themes are timeless and many can be used for literally any month you want (Christmas in July, anybody?).
This list ensures you will NEVER run out of monthly theme ideas for your bullet journal.
Plant Themes
I think plants are a huge favorite in the bullet journal community. I never have to look far to find beautiful and unique plant theme layouts.
Trees may not seem very exciting, but it’s actually a really fun monthly theme choice. I just did it for my last month, and it was a blast!
Trees can be young or mature. They can be full of leaves, either green or colored for autumn. You can draw the different components of a tree, such as the roots, branches, leaves, and stumps. Additionally, there are so many different kinds. You will not be disappointed if you try these for a monthly theme!
- Potted Plants
- Cactus
- Leaves
- Evergreen Trees
- Palm Trees
- Maple Trees
- Mushrooms
- Bushes
- Succulents
Flower Themes
Flower themes are always popular because there are hundreds of flower choices to choose from. Everybody has a favorite, too!
I think it’s also popular because flowers can look realistic or abstract. Flowers can literally be any color you desire. Additionally, floral themes can be decorative for pages, or specifically implemented as part of a layout.
This list only covers a small sampling of all the potential flowers you can create in your bullet journal (or, draw them all in a beautiful garden!).
- Roses
- Sunflowers
- Lavender
- Daisies
- Lilacs
- Tulips
- Sunflowers
- Dandelions
- Wildflowers
- Cherry Blossoms
Related: How to Draw Different Flowers In Your Bullet Journal
Animal Themes
A good animal theme is fun, easy, and adds a lot of personality to your bullet journal pages!
Draw one animal, draw multiple animals (think ocean animals or even jungle animals), or draw a bunch of random animals!
Whatever you choose, you can’t go wrong!
- Butterflies
- Whales
- Giraffes
- Zebras
- Bees
- Fish
- Flamingoes
- Birds
- Jellyfish
- Pandas
- Foxes
- Cats
- Dogs
- Penguins
- Turtles
- Whales
- Narwhals
- Ants
- Fireflies
Geometric Themes (Shapes)
Geometric shapes are a great way to have a theme that is easy and much more simple.
- Circles
- Squares
- Diamonds
- Dots
- Hearts
- Stars (the shape)
Need more theme ideas that are a bit more minimalist like these? Make sure to check out these fun (but not boring) minimalist bullet journal monthly theme ideas!
Mythical Themes
Should you choose to try out a mythical monthly theme, there are so many fun ideas to draw inspiration from!
- Unicorns
- Mermaids
- Superheroes
- Fairies
- Angels
- Leprechauns
- Dragons
- Pegasus
- Gnomes
Holiday Themes
What is your favorite holiday? Holidays are often a great idea to adorn a monthly theme as there are so many different directions you can go for decoration and design!
Plus you can make the corresponding trackers and collections for the holidays in the month!
In fact, if you felt really ambitious, you could probably dedicate each month of the entire year with holiday themes!
- January- New Years
- January- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- February- Wear Red Day
- February- Superbowl
- February- Groundhog Day
- February- Chinese New Year
- February- Valentine’s Day
- February- Mardi Gras
- March- St. Patrick’s Day
- March- Spring Equinox
- March/April- Easter
- April- April Fool’s Day
- April- Earth Day
- April- Arbor Day
- May- May Day
- May- Cinco De Mayo
- May- Mother’s Day
- May- Memorial Day
- June- Flag Day
- June- Summer Solstice
- July- Independence Day
- August- National Watermelon Day
- August- National S’mores Day
- September- Labor Day
- September- Fall Equinox
- October- Halloween
- November- All Saint’s Day
- November- President’s Day
- November- Thanksgiving
- December- Winter Solstice
- December- Hanukkah
- December- Christmas
- December- Kwanza
- Birthdays
Keep in mind that if you don’t live in the United States, you may find that this list doesn’t correspond to your country’s calendars. For instance, those of you in Canada celebrate Thanksgiving in October! However, the intention is to provide a list of holiday ideas.
Additionally, if there are other holidays within a month that are more important, you could also use those instead!
Similarly, you could dedicate an entire month to every holiday! you celebrate. No matter what you choose, there are many inspirational bullet journal monthly theme ideas to try out for this category!
Outdoor Themes (Including Landscapes and Seasons)
The sky is the limit when it comes to outdoor themes- literally! From on the ground to in the air, here on Earth to far away in the galaxy, there are tons of great potential themes to consider in this category.
Here are some ideas to consider for your bullet journal spreads!
- Sunset
- Space
- Beach
- Clouds
- Rain
- Sunshine
- Snowflakes
- Night
- Ocean
- Rainbows
- Icicles
- Jungle
- Galaxy
- Planets
- Moon
- Stars
- Sunrise
- Tropics
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall/Autumn
- Winter
Fruit and Vegetable Themes
Fruits and vegetables are one of those themes that I believe are solely underrated but always phenomenally beautiful. Here are some fun ideas to try in your layouts!
- Strawberries
- Watermelon
- Pineapple
- Apricots
- Blueberries
- Cherries
- Lemons
- Apples
- Bananas
- Grapes
- Oranges
- Limes
- Mangoes
- Peaches
- Pumpkins
- Carrots
- Peppers
- Avocadoes
Fan Favorites Themes
Have a favorite movie, character, or book you admire greatly? Why not include them in your bullet journal?
Here are some terrific ideas to consider creating for your next spreads.
Movies Theme Ideas
- Superman
- Spiderman
- Pixar
- Alice in Wonderland
- Star Wars
- Disney (Frozen, Moana, etc…)
- Nightmare Before Christmas
Themes TV Shows
Book Themes
- Harry Potter
- Hunger Games
- Lord of the Rings
- Dr. Suess
Video Games Theme Ideas
- Mario
- Kingdom Hearts
- Final Fantasy
- Pokemon
- Tetris
Game-Related Themes
- Monopoly
- Candyland
- Playing Cards
- Scrabble
Comic Book Themes
- Marvel
- DC Comics
- Calvin and Hobbes
- Peanuts
- Garfield
Popular Character Themes
- Winnie the Pooh
- Tinkerbell
- Mickey Mouse
- Minnie Mouse
- Pikachu
Food Themes
What are your favorite foods? Delicious snacks and treats are perfect for a bullet journal theme.
Just, you know, don’t make it look so delicious you want to eat your page! Paper doesn’t taste that good.
- Ice Cream
- Popsicles
- Doughnuts
- Candy Corn
- Popcorn
- Chips
- Candy
- Gingerbread
- Cookies
- Tacos
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Drink Themes
What’s your favorite drink? Why not make it into a fun, delicious-looking layout for your next bullet journal theme?
- Coffee
- Tea
- Water
- Soda
- Shakes
- Smoothies
- Hot Cocoa
- Cocktails
Scenic Themes
Inspirational scenes are perfect theme ideas for your bullet journal. From the country to the city, you can create replicas of your favorite places. Or, if you want to be even more creative, consider creating your own for a unique touch!
- Landmarks (ex. Mount Rushmore)
- Mountains
- Cities
- Farms
- Lighthouse
- Countries
- Maps
Experience Themes
What are some of your favorite things to do? Going camping? Heading off to school?
A fun way to bring these experiences to life is to create a bullet journal theme with them! Here are some fun ideas to consider while setting up your bullet journal.
- Camping
- Sleepovers
- Hiking
- Picnics
- Gardening
- SchoolSkiing/Snowboarding
- Amusement Park/Fair/Carnival (ex. Disneyworld)
- Gym/Working Out
- Yoga
- Sports
- Fireworks
- Hot Air Balloons
- Favorite Clothing
- Traveling
- Decades (70s/80s/90s/etc…)
- Barbeque/BBQ
- Circus
Miscellaneous Bujo Theme Ideas
Sometimes it’s hard to figure out where a particular theme fits in, and that’s ok! Here is the miscellaneous section, where everything else you could possibly imagine for themes land.
If you don’t STILL don’t see a theme on this list, make sure to add it to the comments at the end of the post so I can include it in the next update.
- Photographs
- Gems
- Lightbulbs
- Books
- Feathers
- Music Notes
- Sunglasses
- Stationery
- Winter Lights
- Vintage
- Seashells
- Colors (Ex. Red Theme, Blue Theme, Neon Theme etc…)
- Lanterns
- Paper Airplanes
- Origami
- Quotes
- Stain Glass
- Honeycombs
- Computer/Internet
- Jars/Cups/Containers
- Household Supplies
- Zodiac Signs
- Balloons
Mix and Match Bullet Journal Monthly Theme Ideas
The most epic part about bullet journal themes is that:
You don’t have to pick just one.
I’ve seen amazing compositions that include elements from two, three, or even MORE theme ideas combined.
Often combining multiple elements provides an element of uniqueness that you won’t find anywhere else. Here are some fun examples of mixing themes together.
Examples of mixing and matching themes include:
- Taking a common element and changing the color (blue honeycombs instead of yellow)
- Drawing your favorite things all in the same spread
- Finding a common element (such as the letter ‘L’) and creating doodles that match the element
There is no wrong way to create bullet journal spreads. If you have an idea, I encourage you to just go for it! Just because it’s not on this list doesn’t mean you can’t do it.
Final Thoughts on Bullet Journal Themes
Honestly, this list doesn’t even scratch the surface on all of the potential fun ideas you could create for your bullet journal.
If you’re not sure where to start looking, Pinterest, Instagram, and even Google are great choices for inspirational bullet journal monthly theme ideas.
Need a little more specific help? Check out the bullet journal page on Pinterest and the bullet journal section on Instagram for tons of options.
What are your favorite themes in your bullet journal? Share in the comments below!
Bullet Journal Theme Ideas Related Blog Posts
Bullet Journal Flower Theme
Butterfly Theme for Bullet Journals
Plant Theme Bullet Journal Layouts
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