Best 2021 diaries, year planners and wall calendars
Hooray, a shiny new year is here: 365 chances to start afresh.
We can’t help feeling upbeat on January 1, whether that’s because we’re sunny optimists or because we’re still feeling the merry effects of our New Year’s Eve celebrations.
In any case, a new year means a reset. One of the best ways to help you do this is with a fresh new diary to help you organise the year ahead.
While you may use your phone’s calendar app to keep tabs of important events and appointments, there’s something quite pleasing about a brand new diary filled with fresh pages.
Whether you’re looking for a practical option to keep all your to-do lists in one place, or a planner that will help record your thoughts and achievements over 2021, we’ve rounded up the best diaries around to get your year off to a flying start.
See our favourites below
V&A Gold Crane 2021 Diary
Papier is the destination to get beautiful stationery sets, including new year diaries. There are hundreds of lovely designs to liven up your WFH desk, but this gold foiled crane patterned one from the V&A archives has caught our magpie eyes.
The hardback design can be ordered as a 2021 diary or a 16 week daily planner. There are also a few pages at the back for notes and thoughts. It costs the same to personalise the diary as it does to get it plain, so go to town on the personal touches and make it truly yours.
Smythson 2021 Panama Diary
With a solid gold reputation that dates back to 1887, Smythson is among the first brands that spring to mind when thinking of luxe stationery. This slim crossgrain pocket diary is from the Panama Collection and is available in eight shades, although we like the look of Nile Blue best. It's a diary in the traditional sense, to be used for recording birthdays, parties and other can’t-miss events on your calendar.
Kate Spade New York Do it All weekly calendar and folio
For the days when you feel all-conquering as well as for the days you, frankly, CBA, Kate Spade’s planner offers something for both moods.
The leatherette binder opens up to show a weekly calendar with dedicated spin-off areas for weekly to-do lists and even sticky notes. Pages feature gold-tone accents in the preppy style the brand is best known for. Measures 19 x 23cm.
Paperchase Spectrascope desk planner
If you're the sort of person who needs to section everything or likes things clearly marked out, welcome to your favourite new desk accessory - the Spectrascope desk planner.
Essentially a notepad, the brightly coloured planner is made up of 52 tear-off sheets, each divided into sections for each part of the day as well as a to-do column for all your tasks. Ideal for the days when you have a lot to keep track of, this planner will prove to be a life-saver during busy days.
Paperblanks Slim Ougi Diary 2021
A luxurious and elegant diary inspired by the majesty of Japan, this 12-Month Slim Diary depicts foliage and a turtle family in the Maki-e lacquerware tradition. The design comes from an antique 19th-century Japanese lacquer box from a private collection in Kyoto.
A6 Leather Blu Paisley DTV 2021 Diary
This day-to-view diary is wrapped in a chic blue leather cover, secured with a button clasp to stop the pages getting raggedy. The dates run until Dec 2021, so you will be able to hold all the days of the year as pages in your hands. Measures 105 x 148mm.
Anthropologie Productivity Planner
Meet all your goals with this chic organiser that champions productivity above all else. Wave goodbye to the procrastination of last year; this 243-page planner is here to help you hit your targets, big and small.
Emma Bridgewater Year In The Country 2021 Wall Calendar
Bring the beauty of the country indoors with this whimsical illustrated wall calendar from Emma Bridgewater. Each month opens out into a double length page and showcases critters, activities and flora dominant in that time. A great calendar for a family home.
One Line A Day: A Five-Year Memory Book
Low effort, and in five year’s time, a high reward. All this diary asks is that you record one sentence every day for five years and you’ll be left with a micro-journal snippeting the best bits of your last half decade.
The fact that there’s limited space should help focus your entries to the most important or amusing part of your day. It’s easy to think nothing changes day to day, but when you look back at 1,825 days in one go you’ll see how far you’ve come.
Mini Pocket Leather Diary & Pen in Bordeaux
If you want a diary that means business, head to Aspinal of London for its smart collection of stationery. This leather-wrapped design is slim enough for most pockets and comes with a pen too so you won't have to scramble around for one when you want to take notes. Also available in navy, black, pink and pewter.
Martha Brook Personalised Fresh Start 2021 Daily Diary
We could all do with putting 2020 in our rear-view and starting fresh from January 1. Martha Brook’s hardback A5 wire-bound diary can be personalised, comes in 11 shades and a choice of metallic foil printing on the cover. Inside the pages show a yearly planner, day-per-page diary pages and additional notes pages.
£23.16 | NOTHS *On sale from £28.95
Moomin - Tarzan! Pocket Diary 2021
Sure to be a smash hit with Moomin fans, this playful week-to-view pocket diary comes finished with a foil and embossed cover with magnetic closure. A lovely gift or treat for yourself.
Kikki.K 2021 Small Wall Calendar in Blush
Working from home looks set to be a continuing theme in 2021, so a few new touches to your desk will help revitalise your space for the new year. This small calendar won’t take up much space but offers a pop of cheerful colour to your set up.
Nikki Strange Moon Phases Diary 2021
If you’re done with seeing irrelevant holidays for other countries taking up precious space in your diary, Nikki Strange’s design offers an alternative.
Running from January - December 2021, the start of each month comes with an overview of the lunar phases ahead, and how you can harness the energy of the zodiac sign they’re aligned with to serve you best.
The week-to-view format shows moon phases for each day, so you can keep track of the cycles, and there’s even pages to fill with thoughts and feelings for each month. A fun mindful gift for free spirits.
Daily Master Plan Planner
Conquer the upcoming 365 days with this 88-page planner, named fittingly enough Master Plan in gold coloured embossed letters.
The statement red cover is made with vegan leather and encases lined note pages and postcards. Weeks are laid out across double pages but handily, do not bear dates, so you can start using this planner when you're ready, rather than New Year’s Day.
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