If you’re anything like me, you want your notes to be more than just scribbles slapped on a page. You want them to look good, be clear, and actually make you want to review them later. But taking aesthetic notes on a laptop? That’s a whole different ball game. It can feel overwhelming with so many apps and styles out there, and sometimes it seems like the more you try to make your notes look nice, the slower you get.
Don’t worry — I’ve been there. In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need: from the best apps to use, how to organize your digital notes visually, design principles that make your notes pop, and yes, where to find or create templates that work. Whether you’re taking notes for school, work, or personal projects, you’ll finish this feeling like a note-taking pro.
What Tools or Apps are Best for Taking Aesthetic Notes on a Laptop?
First things first: what app should you open when you’re ready to get started? The good news is, there’s no one best app — it depends on your style and needs. But here’s a handful that are beginner-friendly and offer customization without feeling like you’re learning a rocket science program.
1. Notion
If you haven’t heard of Notion, it’s like a digital Swiss Army knife for notes, tasks, and projects. What makes Notion great is its flexibility — you can create pages with headers, bullet points, tables, and even embed images or videos. Plus, it has plenty of aesthetic templates to choose from.
The downside? It can feel like there’s too much you could do. If you’re overwhelmed, start small: just play around with bullet points, headings, and colors.
2. Microsoft OneNote
OneNote mimics a physical notebook but digitally. It supports freehand drawing (great if you have a tablet or touchscreen laptop), typing with different fonts and colors, and inserting images. And since it syncs with your Microsoft account, it’s super convenient.
OneNote is excellent for people who want more visual freedom but don’t want to dive deep into complicated design.
3. GoodNotes (via emulator or on iPad)
While GoodNotes is mainly for iPad, some use emulators to run it on laptops. It’s fantastic for handwritten, beautifully styled notes. If you’re okay with adding a tablet into the mix, it’s worth it for the pen and paper feel digitally.
4. Evernote
Evernote’s straightforward, with options for formatting text, inserting checkboxes, and organizing notebooks. It’s not as customizable as Notion or OneNote aesthetically, but it’s simple and clean — a good place to start if you want neat but not overly designed notes.
Quick app feature comparison:
| App | Customization | Ease of Use | Template Availability | Sync Across Devices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notion | High | Medium | Yes | Yes |
| OneNote | Medium (freehand) | Easy | Limited | Yes |
| GoodNotes | High (handwriting) | Medium | Yes | Yes (Apple devices) |
| Evernote | Low | Easy | Limited | Yes |
What about apps that support customization without overwhelming?
If you’re struggling with apps that feel too complicated or don’t let you tweak enough, try starting with Notion or OneNote and focus on mastering a few formatting tools first (headers, colors, bullet points). It’s better than jumping into Photoshop-level design apps that slow you down.
How Can I Organize Digital Notes to Look Visually Appealing?
Okay, now you’ve got the app, but how do you make your notes look good? It’s not just about adding colors randomly or using every font style you find. Organizing your notes visually means creating a structure that’s intuitive for you and pleasant to your eyes.
Step 1: Use Clear Headings and Subheadings
Imagine you’re scanning your notes quickly. You want important chunks to stand out. Use headings (H1, H2, H3) consistently to separate topics. For example, if you’re studying biology, your main heading might be “Cell Structure,” with subheadings like “Nucleus” or “Mitochondria.”
Make sure your headings are larger or bolder than regular text. This simple hierarchy makes it much easier to jump around your notes.
Step 2: Stick to a Consistent Color Palette
Pick 2-3 complementary colors and stick to those throughout your notes. For example, use a soft blue for headings, a dark gray for body text, and a pale yellow for highlights.
Why does this help? When colors are consistent, your notes feel cohesive instead of chaotic, which helps your brain process information faster.
If you’re unsure where to start, use free online tools like Coolors (https://coolors.co) to generate color palettes.
Step 3: Use Bullet Points and Numbered Lists
Lists break down info into bite-sized, digestible pieces. Bullet points work great for unordered info, like facts, while numbered lists help with steps or sequences.
Try not to cram entire paragraphs into a single bullet point. Short phrases or keywords work better.
Step 4: Add Visual Elements
Icons, small images, or emojis can make your notes livelier and easier to remember. For instance, a lightbulb emoji next to key ideas can draw your attention later.
But be careful not to overdo it — too many visuals will distract you.
Step 5: Leave Enough White Space
White space (empty space around your content) is your friend. It helps reduce eye strain and makes notes look less cluttered.
Don’t cram everything onto one page. If you’re using Notion or OneNote, add page breaks or new pages when it feels crowded.
Example layout for a study note:
| Section | Design Tips |
|---|---|
| Title | Large, bold font, possibly a soft color |
| Main headings | Bold, slightly larger, single color |
| Subheadings | Italicized or underlined, same color family |
| Body text | Standard font, black or dark gray |
| Lists | Indented bullets or numbers |
| Highlights | Background color or bold text |
| Visuals | Small icons/emojis sparingly placed |
| White space | Margins and spacing between sections |
What Design Principles Enhance the Aesthetics of Laptop Notes?
Even if you don’t think of yourself as “artsy,” understanding a few design basics can seriously up your note-taking game. Here are some practical design principles that anyone can apply.
Keep It Simple
This one’s golden. Don’t use five different fonts or a dozen colors. Too many styles make your notes look messy and harder to read.
Choose one or two fonts — maybe a serif font for headings and a sans-serif for body text.
Consistency is Key
Change your colors or font sizes randomly, and your eyes get confused. Decide on a style and stick with it throughout a note-taking session or even an entire course.
Use Contrast for Readability
Text should always stand out against the background. Light text on a dark background can look cool but is harder to read long-term. Most people stick to dark text on a white or light background.
Align Your Text Properly
Left-aligned text is easiest to read because it creates a consistent starting point for each line. Avoid center-aligning large paragraphs — it looks fancy but slows reading.
Use Hierarchical Structure
Hierarchy means making the most important info bigger or bolder, so your brain knows what to focus on first. Think of your notes like a newspaper: big headline, smaller story text.
Don’t Forget Accessibility
If you’re colorblind or have vision difficulties, avoid colors like red and green together. Also, ensure your font size isn’t too small — 12-14pt minimum usually works best.
Are There Templates or Styles Recommended for Aesthetic Note-Taking?
Yes! If you want a shortcut to pretty notes, templates are your friend. They give you a structure you can plug your info into without reinventing the wheel.
Where to Find Templates
Notion: Has built-in templates for everything from school notes to project management. You can also find user-made templates on sites like Notion VIP (https://notion.vip/templates/).
OneNote: Offers some pre-made templates, and you can download more from the Microsoft Office site or third-party creators.
Pinterest: Search “aesthetic digital note templates” for tons of free printable or digital options you can recreate.
Etsy: If you don’t mind paying, many creators sell beautifully designed digital note templates.
Popular Styles for Aesthetic Notes
Minimalist: Clean lines, lots of white space, simple fonts. Great if you need clarity over decoration.
Bullet Journal Style (Digital Version): Uses shapes, sections, and symbols to organize info. Good for visual learners.
Color-Coded: Each topic or type of info (definition, example, question) has assigned colors.
Mind Map: If you’re a visual thinker, use apps that support mind maps (like Milanote) to connect ideas visually.
Tips to Balance Neatness and Speed While Taking Notes
One biggest pain point is wanting beautiful notes but also needing to keep up with lectures or meetings.
Use Abbreviations and Shorthand
Don’t write in full sentences if you’re under time pressure. Use symbols or abbreviations you understand.
Take Rough Notes First, Beautify Later
Focus on capturing the info quickly. Then, schedule 10-15 minutes after class to rewrite or format your notes nicely.
Use Keyboard Shortcuts and Templates
Learn shortcuts like Ctrl+B for bold or Ctrl+Shift+L for bullet lists to speed up formatting.
If your app supports it, create your own note template with pre-set styles so you don’t waste time formatting each time.
Limit Your Design Choices
Instead of scrolling through dozens of fonts or colors, pick a simple set beforehand and stick with it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use Google Docs for aesthetic notes?
A: Absolutely! Google Docs has decent formatting tools and supports fonts, colors, and images. It’s easy for beginners and syncs with Google Drive.
Q: What if I’m not artistic at all?
A: No worries! Focus on organization and consistency first. You don’t need to draw or design fancy graphics. Clean, clear notes are beautiful in their own way.
Q: How often should I revisit and update my notes?
A: Ideally, review and tidy up your notes within 24 hours to reinforce learning and keep the style consistent.
Wrapping It Up
Taking aesthetic notes on a laptop doesn’t have to be complicated or slow you down. Pick a tool that fits your style, use consistent headings and colors, apply simple design principles, and try templates if you want a shortcut to pretty notes. Remember, the goal is to make notes useful and pleasing — not Pinterest-perfect.
Start small, experiment, and soon you’ll find a rhythm that works. And honestly? Beautiful notes make studying way less painful — so it’s totally worth the effort.
References
[1] According to Notion VIP (https://notion.vip/templates/), templates help streamline your note-taking process while ensuring consistency.
[2] Microsoft Support (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/onenote) highlights the ease of using OneNote for organizing content visually.
[3] Coolors (https://coolors.co) is a popular tool for generating harmonious color palettes suitable for design beginners.
Danny Inayat