Find The Perfect Notebook: A Guide to Quality Notebooks

Find Your Perfect Paper Companion: Premium Quality Notebooks for Writing & Planning

Behind every creative writer, talented doodler, and productive perfectionist is a notebook to aid their talents. We think of it as a handy sidekick, guiding you to the most supreme ideas. Find the Robin to your Batman or the Bonnie to your Clyde, and don't be seen without them. 

This guide to finding the perfect notebook will discuss what makes a notebook high-quality, the key features to look for, and which one to choose from our curated selection of premium notebooks.

What makes a notebook high-quality?

When choosing a high-quality notebook, there are several key factors to consider. Paper quality, binding style, page count, and texture are all essential components to keep in mind. It all depends on what you will be using it for. A notebook with high-quality paper will allow for a smooth writing experience, while a sturdy binding style will ensure that your pages stay intact, even after frequent use. A notebook with a suitable page count and larger pages will give you enough space to write, while a smaller, thinner notebook may be perfect if you're looking to keep it in your pocket. Lastly, a comfortable texture for the cover will make it feel luxurious to handle and easier to grip.

1. Notebook Paper Quality

A. Paperweight and texture matter! Why? Let's take a look. As your paperweight is a higher, larger number, it will mean that the thickness and sturdiness of the paper increase too. The thicker paper is best for less ink show-through, which is excellent for some inks, such as those from fountain pens. Heavier and thicker paper weight can also provide a more luxurious feel to the pages. Who doesn't want to feel like they're writing on luxurious paper rather than something thin and flimsy? Some paper expects have even mastered paper types that have higher weight paper but still maintain a smooth and light feel. Genius.  

2. Notebook Cover Durability

Depending on where you are going day-to-day and how you carry your notebook, you may want a more or less protected cover. The durability of your notebook cover depends on a few factors.

Some of our notebooks come with protective PVC covers, and some come with a thicker, more robust card to protect the pages. If you purchase a notebook with a thinner soft cover, you may want to buy a notebook case or mind how you carry it around. Those pages may warp in your bag. Not a good look! Some good options for a cover are leather covers, PVC covers and any hardcovers. Some even come with excellent, water resistent fabric designs. Such as Appointed notebooks. Choose the one that looks best to you.

3. Notebook Binding

The binding of notebooks can vary. Two popular types are spiral bound and saddle stitch. A typical binding type that we have in our notebooks is lay-flat binding. 

What is Lay-Flat binding? 

Lay-Flat binding is where the notebook opens flat across the centre. This can mean that the pages are only interrupted by a subtle fold in the middle. This can offer you landscape page formats when using your notebook. Exciting!

Lay-Flat binding is a slower process than standard perfect binding, so it's a more premium offering, but it's sure worth it when your notebook pages don't spring closed when you finish writing.

What are the benefits of using a high-quality notebook?

In addition to the smooth writing experience we dream of, a high-quality notebook has several other benefits. Durable binding and high-quality paper are more likely to last longer, making it a better investment. No one wants their pages to fall out, and the ink seeps through them, wasting valuable writing space.

The right notebook can help boost your creativity and productivity and elevate your writing experience. Whether you're using it to jot down notes, write a novel, or plan your life, a high-quality notebook will be a valuable tool.

Our notebook collection

Let's delve into our notebook offering. Now you have a better understanding of what a quality notebook means to you, you can make a choice based on your needs. We will go through some of our best notebooks and a few details about them.

Print Cover Notebooks

The Completist and Ola provide colourful graphic notebooks with printed covers. They brighten up any day at your desk. 

Ola makes exquisite notebooks, in sets of two. They're meticulously hand crafted with 120gsm ivory paper for a luxurious writing experience. Designed with fountain pen enthusiasts in mind, the pages boast a delightful texture and optimal opacity. Each notebook contains 32 pages, bound together with a classic saddle stitch for durability. Inspired by traditional Japanese bindings, their bespoke sizes ensure easy portability without compromising on space for sketches and notes.  

The Completist notebooks range from A6 to A4 size and come in a range of prints. These ones are made by a family run music book maker right here in the U.K, and the inside sheets are made from music sheet paper. Music to our ears!

Hardcover notebooks

Introducing the Clifton Notebook, crafted as a durable yet elegant addition to our collection by our founder Sidonie. This notebook features a sturdy hardcover with a bookcloth finish, ensuring long-lasting protection for your thoughts. Inside, premium ruled paper, tested for fountain pen compatibility, guarantees a smooth writing experience. With 192 pages, it strikes the perfect balance between longevity and portability. Sid's passion for design is evident in every detail, from the carefully selected materials to the subtle foiling and bookmark ribbons. Inspired by vintage manuals and colourful gemstones, the Clifton Notebook boasts a timeless yet contemporary aesthetic. Minimalistic, with a discreet monogram, it lets the quality of materials shine. Crafted entirely in Britain, it upholds the tradition of fine bookmaking, with head and tail bands on the spine for added durability.  

Dot Grid Notebooks - Perfect for Designers

The Rhodia notebook, a timeless essential for creatives and professionals alike, offers both dot grid and ruled paper options to suit various needs. We love the dot grid pages, an indispensable tool for designers, architects, and anyone who enjoys seamlessly switching between writing and drawing. With its stylish, soft, and flexible design, the Rhodiarama soft-cover notebook is a classic companion for everyday use. Crafted with an Italian faux leather cover you'll find an embossed Rhodia logo on the front. The inclusion of an orange ribbon marker and elastic closure adds convenience. Inside, you'll find premium 90g ivory vellum paper, known for its super smooth texture and acid-free, pH-neutral composition, providing an exceptional writing experience. With 80 sheets and an expanding inner pocket, this Rhodia notebook seamlessly combines practicality with refined aesthetics. 

Cloth Covered Notebooks

Aside from our Clifton notebook collection, you can also find beautiful cloth covers on the Appointed notebooks. These are covered with biodegradable cloth that's also water resistant. Coffee spillage? No problem. Discover the unique charm of Appointed notebooks, each meticulously crafted one-at-a-time in Washington D.C. These notebooks redefine excellence with their thoughtful design and sustainable materials. The water-resistant, biodegradable bookcloth cover offers durability and eco-friendliness, made using two-thirds renewable energy. Inside, the recycled stock paper interiors provide a smooth surface, thick enough to minimize ink bleed-through. With 75 pages and a brass coil binding, these notebooks are as practical as they are stylish.

Sophisticated Paper Soft Cover Notebooks

The embossed texture on our original paperback Papersmiths notebooks makes them a pleasure to keep by your side. They’re entirely British made, and full of 100gsm, wood free paper. You can also choose from dot grid, ruled or plain pages.

The Classic Stalogy A5 Notebook

Named 'Indy Best's Best Buy Notebook' by The Independent in 2020. This A5 notebook contains super light, fountain pen friendly paper and a coated cloth and paper cover.

Stalogy paper very little bleedthrough despite it being so thin. It's incredibly smooth and feels luxurious to touch too. 

Creative Notebooks for Journaling

Is your life filled with scraps of paper and to-do lists? Perhaps you're in need of notebook that doubles up as a purpose journal. Sunday scaries, embarrassing interactions, or that thing your in-laws said; write it all down to let it all go in these notebooks from People I've Loved. Ah, that's better. Maybe it's not so bad after all. Browse these jazzy styles in A5 with their appealing illustrated designs. 

 

Explore the full range of notebooks: Shop now