I honestly think the dutch door bullet journal technique is the biggest game-changer for anyone who feels like they're constantly running out of room on their weekly spreads. If you've spent any time scrolling through journaling hashtags, you've definitely seen those cool-looking pages where part of the paper is cut away to reveal something underneath. It looks super fancy and intimidating, but in reality, it's just a clever way to hack your notebook's real estate without needing a bigger book.
The first time I saw a dutch door, I was terrified of taking scissors to my brand-new Archer & Olive notebook. I mean, these things aren't cheap! But once I made that first cut, I realized how much more functional my planning could be. Instead of flipping back and forth between my monthly calendar and my daily to-do lists, I could see both at the same time. It's like having a dashboard that stays put while the days of the week move around it.
Why You Should Give Dutch Doors a Shot
We've all had those weeks where a standard two-page spread just doesn't cut it. Maybe you have a massive project at work, or you're trying to track sixteen different habits while also planning out a week's worth of meals. A dutch door bullet journal setup solves this by giving you "hidden" space.
By cutting a section of a page—either horizontally or vertically—you create a flap. That flap can be used for things you want to see all week long, like a shopping list, a habit tracker, or even just a pretty decorative element. The best part is that you don't lose the flow of your journal. It's still one cohesive week; you just have more layers to play with.
The Most Popular Dutch Door Styles
There isn't just one way to do this. Depending on how you like to plan, you might find one style much more useful than the others. Here are the three main ways people usually tackle this:
The Vertical Dutch Door
This is probably the most common version you'll see. You basically take the middle page of your weekly spread and cut it down vertically. You might cut out the outer two-thirds of the page, leaving a thin strip in the middle. When you turn that "flap," you can see the information on the pages underneath. This is perfect if you want to have your Monday-Wednesday on the far left, Thursday-Sunday on the far right, and your trackers on that middle flap.
The Horizontal Dutch Door
I personally find this one great for monthly overviews. You cut the top or bottom half of a page across the entire width of the notebook. This allows you to have a "permanent" header or footer. For instance, if you cut the top third off a few pages, you could draw a monthly calendar on the page behind them. As you flip through your daily logs, that monthly calendar stays visible at the top. It's incredibly helpful for staying oriented during a busy month.
The "Mini" or Tabbed Dutch Door
If you aren't ready to commit to cutting a whole page, try a mini version. You can just cut a small rectangle out of the side of a page to create a tab. This is a life-saver for finding your current month or a specific project collection quickly. It's subtle, but it makes the notebook feel so much more customized to your specific needs.
Getting Over the Fear of the Scissors
I know, I know. Cutting your journal feels like a crime. But here's the thing: it's just paper. If you mess up, there's always washi tape to fix the edges or cover a jagged cut. To make it less stressful, I highly recommend using a pencil to mark exactly where you want to cut before you even pick up your scissors or X-Acto knife.
Also, don't cut too close to the spine! If you get too aggressive with the blade near the binding, you might accidentally loosen the threads that hold your notebook together. I usually leave about half an inch of "buffer" space near the center so everything stays sturdy. If the edge looks a bit messy after you cut it, just run a strip of decorative washi tape along the border. It hides the unevenness and makes the dutch door bullet journal look intentional and polished.
Practical Ways to Use the Extra Space
So, you've cut the page. Now what? The possibilities are honestly endless, but here are a few things that actually work well in a functional layout:
- Weekly Meal Plan: Keep your breakfast, lunch, and dinner ideas on the flap. Since you'll see it every day, you won't forget that you actually bought spinach for a reason.
- Running To-Do List: Some tasks don't belong to a specific day. Put them on the dutch door so you can see them all week until they're checked off.
- Habit Trackers: Instead of rewriting your habits every single day, put them on the flap. You can flip the flap to mark them off without losing sight of your daily schedule.
- Time Blocking: If you use a vertical column for your schedule, the dutch door can act as a "time ruler" that stays visible as you flip through different days.
Tips for a Cleaner Look
If you want your dutch door bullet journal to look like those Pinterest-perfect examples, there are a couple of tricks to keep in mind. First, use a sharp craft knife and a metal ruler if you can. Scissors are fine, but they can be a bit clunky for those long, straight lines. A craft knife gives you that crisp, professional edge.
Second, think about the "back side" of the flap. When you turn the dutch door, the back of that cut page is now visible on the next spread. If you don't plan for it, you might end up with a weird blank space or a drawing that doesn't match the new page. I like to keep my flaps fairly neutral or use them for "static" information that works regardless of which page I'm looking at.
Making Mistakes is Part of the Process
Believe me, I've accidentally cut through three pages at once because I wasn't paying attention. It happens! If you do ruin a page, don't throw the whole journal away. You can always glue two pages together to hide the mistake, or use that "ruined" page as a spot for scrapbooking and photos.
The beauty of a dutch door bullet journal is that it's experimental. It's about making the system work for you, not the other way around. If you find that a certain layout is too high-maintenance, you don't have to do it again next week. That's the magic of bullet journaling—every Monday is a fresh start.
At the end of the day, this technique is just another tool in your productivity toolbox. It adds a layer of depth to your planning that a flat, two-dimensional page just can't provide. Plus, there's something incredibly satisfying about the way a well-crafted flap clicks into place when you turn the page. It makes the act of planning feel a little more like an adventure and a little less like a chore. So, grab your scissors, take a deep breath, and give it a try—you might just find it's exactly what your organizational routine was missing.