Junk Journal Aesthetic: 10 Styles and Color Schemes for Your Pages

We all know that feeling. You sit down at your desk, surrounded by your lovely stash. Papers, stickers, and ephemera. You open your junk journal to a fresh, blank page. Ready to create magic.

And then… you freeze.

Sometimes having too many options is just as overwhelming as having none at all. How do you begin? Where do you start? Does this match that?

Here's an easy way to get started on that blank page. Choose a style or color palette from the list below. Then start pulling any matching bits and pieces from your stash. Let yourself play and have fun. As you start moving your pieces around, you'll find your inspiration!

Don't overthink it! Which style is calling to you right now?

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The ultimate color scheme for vintage romance. Pin this palette to remember the soft dusty rose and sage green combination!

1. Shabby Chic

This is the classic romantic, vintage vibe. Think old farmhouses, faded floral curtains, and elegant afternoon tea parties. It’s soft, feminine, and beautifully distressed.

The Color Palette

• Dusty rose.

• Sage green.

• Antique ivory.

• Dove gray.

• Faded gold.

The Treasure Hunt List

• Bits of cotton lace or eyelet trim.

• Tea-stained paper doilies.

• Fabric scraps with small, dainty floral prints.

• Pearl stickers or vintage flat-back buttons.

• Images of roses, teacups, or Victorian ladies.

Moody, scholarly, and perfect for autumn journaling. Save this Dark Academia inspiration for a rainy day.

2. Dark Academia

Perfect for the cooler months or for journals dedicated to reading and writing. This style is moody, scholarly, mysterious, and smells faintly of old library books and coffee.

The Color Palette

• Charcoal grey.

• Deep burgundy.

• Espresso brown.

• Forest green.

• Burnt sienna.

The Treasure Hunt List

• Tweed or plaid fabric swatches.

• Pages ripped from old encyclopedias, dictionaries, or classic literature.

• Dried autumn leaves pressed flat.

• Fountain pen nibs or sketches made with dark ink.

• Wax seals (preferably in deep red, bronze, or gold).

Bring the cozy outdoors in with this whimsical Cottagecore palette. Perfect for documenting simple joys!

3. Cottagecore

A celebration of simple living, nature, and coziness. It’s whimsical, lighthearted, and feels like a warm hug and fresh-baked bread.

The Color Palette

• Sunflower yellow.

• Moss green.

• Terracotta.

• Cream.

• Sky blue.

The Treasure Hunt List

• Gingham ribbon or patterned paper.

• Illustrations of mushrooms, frogs, or strawberries.

• Pressed wildflowers (like daisies or violets).

• Kraft paper (brown paper bag material) for texture.

• Rustic jute twine.

Channel the magic of the night sky with this dreamy Celestial color scheme.

4. Celestial / Mystical

Dreamy and vast. This style focuses on the magic of the night sky, the zodiac, and the unknown universe. It’s perfect for dream journaling.

The Color Palette

• Midnight blue.

• Deep violet.

• Silver.

• Holographic white.

• Pitch black.

The Treasure Hunt List

• Star charts, zodiac constellations, or astrology imagery.

• Vellum paper overlays (for a foggy, ethereal look).

• Doodles made with silver or gold metallic gel pens.

• Moon and star stickers.

• Dark blue watercolor washes for background paper.

A step back in time. Use this palette to create an elegant, history-rich spread.

5. Victorian Ephemera

A formal step back in time to the late 19th century. This style is dense, textured, and feels like rummaging through an antique writing desk.

The Color Palette

• Sepia tones.

• Deep teal.

• Crimson red.

• Bronze.

• Heavy cream.

The Treasure Hunt List

• Replica cabinet card, sepia photographs.

• Rich velvet ribbons in deep colors.

• Old handwritten letters with sprawling cursive (real or printed digitals).

• Vintage trade cards or old advertisements.

• Cancelled postage stamps.

Don't be afraid to get messy! This Industrial Grunge palette is all about grit and texture.

6. Industrial Grunge

Gritty, textured, and mechanical. This is great for messy journaling where you want to experiment with mixed media and heavy textures.

The Color Palette

• Rust orange.

• Slate grey.

• Brick red.

• Oil black.

• Corrugated beige.

The Treasure Hunt List

• Metal washers or flat gears (make sure they are thin enough for your book!).

• Corrugated cardboard with the top layer peeled back to reveal the ridges.

• Old blueprints or graph paper.

• Text written in an old typewriter font.

• Mesh drywall tape (adds fantastic texture).

Breezy, salty, and sophisticated. Keep this palette handy for your beach memory pages.

7. Coastal Grandma / Nautical

Breezy, clean, and salty. This style evokes memories of the seaside, linen clothing, and bright, airy beach houses.

The Color Palette

• Navy blue.

• Seafoam green.

• Sand beige.

• Driftwood grey.

• Coral pink.

The Treasure Hunt List

• Cheesecloth (loosely woven fabric), either dyed blue or left white.

• Maps of coastlines or islands.

• Very thin, flat shells or small pieces of sea glass (use strong glue!).

• Blue or frosted white glassine bags.

• Rope pieces or thick white cotton string.

Pure happiness on a page! This Kawaii palette is perfect for a high-energy, cute aesthetic.

8. Kawaii Pastel

Cute, energetic, and modern. Heavily influenced by Japanese stationery, this style is pure happiness on a page.

The Color Palette

• Bubblegum pink.

• Mint green.

• Lavender.

• Lemon yellow.

• Hot pink.

The Treasure Hunt List

• Colorful candy wrappers.

• Washi tape with cute patterns.

• Confetti or clear shaker pockets filled with sequins.

• Doodle stickers (think cute cats, smiling food, and sweets).

• Grid or dot-grid paper backgrounds.

For the plant lovers. This organic palette captures the feeling of an old greenhouse field guide.

9. Botanical Garden

Scientific, organic, and focused strictly on flora. It feels like flipping through an old field guide or walking through a greenhouse.

The Color Palette

• Leaf green.

• Deep fern.

• Soft lilac.

• Earthy brown.

• Soft white.

The Treasure Hunt List

• Vintage vegetable or flower seed packets.

• Botanical book plates (detailed scientific illustrations).

• Real dried fern fronds or pressed green leaves.

• Green silk or rayon seam binding ribbon.

• Floral rubber stamps with black or green ink.

Vibrant, free-spirited, and eclectic. Use this palette when you want to play with bold patterns and textures.

10. Boho / Bohemian

Eclectic, free-spirited, and texture-heavy. This style is a vibrant collection of patterns and colors that shouldn't work together, but totally do.

The Color Palette

• Turquoise.

• Mustard yellow.

• Fuchsia.

• Deep purple.

• Burnt orange.

The Treasure Hunt List

• Sari silk ribbon scraps.

• Mandala coloring pages or patterns.

• Feathers (real or paper die-cuts).

• Small seed beads threaded onto safety pins.

• Patterned scrapbooking paper (paisley, tribal, or batik prints).

Your Turn to Create!

Remember, in junk journaling, there are no rules! Use these styles and color schemes as a jumping off point for your pages. Feel free to make substitutions, mix the styles, or choose random items to make the page your own.

Free Printables

Need some printables to help you get started? You'll find all sorts of styles, including shabby chic, vintage and more - join the free members area to download and print: 

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