5 Planner Accessories That Are Actually Useful (and Inexpensive)

I’m a believer that you don’t need a lot of accessories to make a planner work for you. I actually prefer keeping things fairly minimal and reaching for the little tools that make my planner easier to use without adding a lot of bulk.

After trying a lot of different planners accessories, these are five inexpensive tools I keep coming back to because they’re actually useful. Plus, I have a bonus ink suggestion at the end for those of us who like to keep ghosting to a minimum.

1. Mildliners or Soft-Colored Highlighters

Best for: highlighting, color-coding, headers, and adding a little visual structure

I love having a highlighter nearby. I mostly use highlighters to create visual brackets in my Hobonichi to segment the grid section but they can be useful for other things like:

• Highlighting important appointments

• Marking deadlines

• Separating different types of tasks

• Adding subtle headers

• Drawing attention to something I don't want to forget

Zebra Mildliners are one of my longtime favorites because the colors are soft enough that they don't completely take over a page. They also have a dual-ended design, so you get both a broad and fine tip.

My Tip: Pick 2–4 colors that you actually like using and give each one a loose purpose. Your planner will feel much less visually chaotic.

2. Monthly Index Tabs

Best For: quickly finding your way around your planner.

This is one of those accessories that seems unnecessary until you have it. They are small numbered tabs that can make it much easier to flip directly to the month you're looking for instead of repeatedly paging through your planner.

I particularly like the Hobonichi index stickers and Midori index tabs.

Hobonichi - TSUKI no IRO Index Stickers

Midori Monthly Index Label

BGM Washi in my collection

3. Washi Tape

Best for: moving things around, marking/dividing sections, and adding a little color

Washi tape is probably the most versatile accessory on this list.Washi tape isn't just for decoration. I use it to mark important sections, create temporary dividers, cover things I want to change, or add a little color. One or two rolls can go a long way.

One of the reasons I like washi so much is that it can be repositioned or removed without committing to a permanent change.

My Tip: Start with 2–3 rolls. Washi also comes in different widths, which can be helpful depending on how you like to use it. BGM is one of my favorite brands because they have so many options, from decorative designs to simple, solid colors.

4. Translucent Sticky Notes

Best for: temporary notes, reminders, and writing over your planner without covering the page

These are one of my favorite functional planner accessories. They're made from a thin translucent film, so you can place them over a page and move appointments around if needed since things can change.

I particularly like the Kanmido Mini Coco Fusen or Daiso if you have near you.

My Tip: Since these are made from PET tape, I recommend using pencil or ballpoint pen.

Kanmido Mini Coco Fusen Sticky Notes (single))

Kanmido Mini Coco Fusen Sticky Notes (2 pack)

Film Sticky Notes (Pale Blue Color)

Film Sticky Notes (Pale Blue Color, extra thin)

5. MD Memo Block

Best For: tip-ins and extra writing space.

I don’t know about you, but I find regular Post-it notes a little too loud for my minimalist planning style. So I’ve moved on to their chic, neutral cousin: cream-colored paper.

The MD Paper memo block is a simple little stack of paper that you can use for notes, lists, brainstorming, or—my favorite—tip-ins. A tip-in is essentially an additional piece of paper that you attach to a page when you need more space.

Just keep in mind that the MD paper memo blocks don’t have an adhesive strip on the back, so I use a little washi tape to attach my tip-ins.

I like this because I don’t necessarily want my planner to be bigger. I can add extra space when I need it without adding bulk, and the MD Paper color is also pretty close to the Tomoe River paper used in the Hobonichi Weeks.

Bonus: Try a Softer Ink

This isn't technically a planner accessory, but it's worth mentioning because your pen can have a surprisingly big effect on how your planner looks.

If you're using very thin planner paper like tomeo river paper in the Hobonichi planners, you may notice ghosting/show-through from darker or wetter inks.

So I recommend using muted or softer-colored fountain pen inks instead of always reaching for the darkest very saturated inks.

If you like ball points/gel pens I've been enjoying is the Uni-ball Zento, the ink is very smooth and the ink is designed to reduce show-through.

Hobonichi Techo 2027 Weeks – Moomin A Day in the Life of Snufkin (Japanese, Tall & Slim, January Start)

Hobonichi Techo 2027 Weeks – Akiko Miyakoshi: Once, in Spring (English, Tall & Slim, January Start)

Hobonichi Techo 2027 Weeks – Colors: Poppy Red (English, Tall & Slim, January Start)

Hobonichi Techo 2027 Weeks – V&A Series: Welcome to the V&A (English, Tall & Slim, January Start)

Keep It Simple: You Don't Need a Lot of Accessories to Plan

My favorite planner accessories aren't necessarily the prettiest ones—they're the ones that solve a problem. I want my supplies to be useful and serve a purpose so I can spend less time decorating and more time actually planning.

I’m a minimalist planner, and I’ve found that keeping things simple reduces the noise in my head and helps me keep planning.

My tip: Start with the little things that solve an actual problem and build from there. You really only need a few inexpensive tools to make your planner easier to navigate and use.

I hope some of these accessories are helpful and find a place in your own planning routine.