If you follow any bullet journal accounts, you may have come across several bullet journals dutch-door ideas. While these look amazing, What are they? What is the point? How do you make them?
And it is easier than you may think. They can be minimal, functional, or blown-out creative ways to explore your artistic abilities.
But before we even begin, let us start with the basics.
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What is a dutch door in bullet journaling?
A bullet journal dutch door (faux door) is when you cart a part of your page in your journal, making it the moving part. The other section of the page stays the same, and as you flip the moving part, you get a door-like effect.
how to make a dutch door bullet journal
While that definition sounds quite technical, breaking it down into simple steps will allow you to make dutch doors easily.
Supplies Needed
Exacto knife - you can use scissors, and I have in the past, but an Exacto knife gives a more precise result and more control. You are especially making sure not to cut the stitches of your journal.
Ruler - To use as a guide with your Exacto knife.
Cutting mat - This is to put under the page you want to cut so that you don't cut through the rest of the pages in your journal. I prefer an A5 size because it makes it easier to place between my pages.
bullet journal dutch door tutorial
- Begin with sketching a basic layout of your spread with a pencil. Then decide where you want to cut to create a dutch door.
- Place a cutting mat under the page you want to cut.
- I use a ruler and an Exacto knife to cut along the line.
- Glue the section you want to show on both spreads onto the next page.
- Now you can flip the bottom section to create a dutch-door effect.
This is an example of making a horizontal dutch door weekly spread. Dutch door spreads are well-loved for so many reasons, to name a few:
- You can get so creative with your layouts and are aesthetically pleasing
- They can be a time-saver and functional because you can enjoy making one art spread and use it for multiple weeks.
- You can extend a layout if you need more space to write.
vertical dutch door bullet journal
Making a vertical dutch door layout in your bullet journal is the same as a horizontal layout. Except for your cut, marks are going to be made vertically.
Here I've provided a basic layout that you can download from the resource library.
But you can be more creative with this if you want to.
Dutch doors using a black paper journal
This fun potions theme is a weekly dutch door spread in my blackout journal, which allows extra space for some gratitude journaling. Not to mention to fit all the shelves and fun Halloween doodles :)
A marble theme is perfect when using a blackout journal. You get to play with mixing and layering paints with little effort, and the result is always so pretty. I made the middle section of the page as my dutch door and had some room even to add a quote!
fall theme dutch door weekly spread
Who doesn't love fall-themed spreads? The colors and cozy vibes scream comfy clothes and hot drinks. I cut around the fall leaves in this weekly spread to make a dutch door and added Kraft paper.
Dutch doors come in handy when you have the first or last week of the month with only a few days. So instead of having to create a whole new spread, add the second week on the next page!
So when choosing a monthly dessert theme, all the fun and bright colors push you to make amazing spreads to enjoy. I made this dutch-door weekly spread by cutting sideways. I loved how unique the layout was.
As for my January weekly spread, I made a minimalist dutch door in my bullet journal. It is so useful to be able to combine four weekly into one layout. This is a great idea for when you don't have minimal planning for the month.
bullet journal dutch door monthly
Making dutch doors in your bullet journal is not limited to only weekly spreads. Making dutch doors in your monthly layouts can look spectacular.
Just look at this flower bouquet theme. It starts with the monthly calendar spread that features one flower, then extends to the weekly layouts with each flower placed to peek out from the calendar page.
This theme is when you have an itch to get all artsy with your spreads. So if you're up for it... check out the entire in-depth theme here:
Bullet Journal Flower Theme-How to make a floral dutch door
For January, I went all out with the doodles. It was relaxing to doodle away and color in and I didn't realize how filled the spread was until I took a photo. I must admit, I like a more simple spread, but I just went with it :)
January bullet journal Dutch door monthly spread
Shayda Campbell inspired the first Dutch door I ever made. I would binge on her plan-with-me tutorials, and she is known for her minimal monthly dutch-door styles. Floral themes are her specialty if you want to learn how to make aesthetic floral spreads.
On the left side of the page:
- I glued some scrunched-up lined Kraft paper from a Muji notepad.
- Then lettered an inspirational quote on some grid paper and placed it in the center of the spread.
- Finally, add some subtle washi tape to complete the spread.
Now for the Right-side:
- The cover page I created has an easy-to-draw wreath with the heading January.
- Then I cut a straight line down the middle of the page and cut around the wreath carefully using an Exacto knife.
- Once I cut the wreath, I continued the straight line till the end of the page.
And my first dutch-door spread was born!
When you flip over the page, I filled the semi-circle dutch door with the same florals to fill in the space.
Now I could make my monthly calendar spread and had some room to add another quote.
I glued the same lined Kraft paper on the right side of the page to finish the spread, allowing room for extra notes I could add to my monthly overview spread.
Bullet journal dutch door calendar ideas
What's better than making a door theme for a monthly calendar page? This bullet journal cover page features a huge door and these are the steps to recreate this theme:
- Skip the first page and proceed to the next step.
- Fold both pages of your layout in half, so you can open them like a door.
- Next, glue the folded page on the left side to the page you skipped in 'step1'
- Repeat the same step on the right side.
- Now draw your illustration when the pages are folded.
- Finally, draw the calendar spread on the inside.
This bullet journal dutch door monthly theme features a window as a dutch door. It was tedious to cut out the window design using an Exacto knife but totally worth it!
March coffee-bar-inspired dutch door
I decided to turn the cabinets into a dutch-door in my March monthly cover spread. So when you open them up, you can see the month's title. Although 'March' was written on the page under where I made my calendar spread. The process was easy to make, and I love how it turned out.
Are you interested in making a Bujo coffee-inspired theme, then head over here next:
March bullet journal theme ideas you need to see
Other bujo dutch door ideas
I think it's evident that we love our dutch door spreads. So I will share bujo spread ideas other than your typical monthly and weekly spreads.
A door theme idea made into a bullet journal dutch-door! I fell in love with this quote and had an idea to feature it in a dutch-door layout. So here are the steps to recreate my all-time favorite quote spread:
- Using my Sakure fine line pens, I drew a door and colored them in with my favorite brush markers.
- Then lettered half the quote under the drawing using a Fudeneske brush pen.
- Next, I placed a cutting mat under the page and cut around the door with an Exacto knife (making sure to cut around the hinge that closes the door.)
- Now I opened the door and folded the left side, so it could easily open and close.
- I glued in some lined paper on the other side of the page and wrote the rest of the quote.
I loved how creative this spread was, and if you love to add quotes in your bullet journal then check this post that is full of inspirational quote page ideas:
bullet journal quote page-How to make captivating spreads that inspire
bullet journal dutch door habit tracker spread
When I purchased my Gensai Tambi watercolor set, I was excited to use them with their fantastic color payoff. This paint set isn't like your traditional watercolor paints, and I would describe it as a watercolor-gouache hybrid. I decided to go all out and paint a coffee shop scene with windows on the top half of the page. Next, I turned them into (you guessed it) dutch doors. And finally, I glued some grid paper on the other side of each page, making it easy to make a tracker spread.
bullet journal dutch door brain dump spread
I love using bullet journal dutch door layout ideas to make art pages functional by adding extra space for writing. Exploring art is a big part of my journal, and to be able to mix that with room for my planning and note-writing is the perfect mix.
It isn't always like this, some months can be minimal, and others are all about the Art. The fact that I can choose as I please takes the pressure off.
bullet journal weekly spread dutch door
Now there was a phase where all I wanted to do was paint. So instead of incorporating my art into my layout, I would fit my spread into my art. My painting of this yellow cottage house took over both pages in this weekly spread. So I made a little notebook by folding lined paper in half and using washi tape to bind the pages. And that's how I squeezed my weekly layout... lol!
After all, your bullet journal, your rules!
Another fall-inspired theme, except for my dutch door, is a circle cut out in the middle of the page. I love how the little illustrations peek through the cut-out.
For this vintage-scrapbook theme, I made yet another weekly dutch door spread. I only cut out the middle half of the page and added some washi along with the page for extra decoration.
More bullet journal dutch door ideas. Two different themes, using the same layout.
This theme is a mix of washi tape, and vintage emporia inspired by junk journals. If you love getting creative with scrapbooking, then make sure to see this post full of inspiration to make your next scrapbook spread: bullet journal scrapbook ideas – new ways to be creative
These are the digital drawings I made on my Ipad. I switch from my art supplies to my Ipad and I find that using different ways to get creative keeps me motivated.
I'd love to know if you decide on recreating any of the dutch door ideas in your bullet journal. Let us know in the comments below or tag us on Instagram @zpiecesdigital.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed it and found some inspiration for your next Bujo spreads.
As always, 'Happy journaling everyone, and don't forget to stay safe!'