Even though we live in a digital age, there’s still a strong demand for stationery for those who prefer to embrace the old-fashioned. Whether you’re looking for pens, notebooks, or cards, there’s a lot out there to choose from. Not all stationery is good, so it’s important to shop around to find the high-quality products, but equally important to choose items that appeal to you and your personal aesthetic. If you aren’t sure where to start when it comes to shopping for stationery, we’ve got you covered with our short and comprehensive guide. 

What Will You Be Using it For?

Is there a distinct purpose for the stationery you’re shopping for? If you’re looking for something to use for shorter correspondences, consider using embossed or folded notes (these also work great for “Thank You” notes). If on the other hand you want something for longer correspondences, you’ll likely want to take a look at letter sheets, which can be used just as well for either business or personal purposes. 

Get Personal and Choose a Theme

There is simply so much out there in terms of stationery that it can be easy to just buy what you see first. Stationery comes easily personalised and available with so many different themes, so choose the designs that speak to you! If you plan on frequently using stationery for personal correspondence, it’s an even better idea for the products you choose to reflect who you are as a person. 

It’s a good idea to pick a theme before you start shopping in earnest so that you can approach buying in an organized manner. If you love wildlife, look for stationery featuring animals and plants, such as the Koala Notebook by Tilly Scribbles.

 If you want something a bit more contemporary, there are plenty of modern designs out there – just take a look at the charming greeting cards by Sunpatch Society. Don’t worry if you can’t find every piece of stationery you want with the same identical design – you can still stay within a theme and some variation is never a bad thing!

Go For Quality

There’s a lot of cheap stationery out there, but unfortunately most of it comes with all the hallmarks of a low price tag: thin paper that tears easily, cards that ink bleeds through, pens that stop working frequently, notebooks that aren’t durable. 

Quality stationery is worth the cost. The pens made by En Flor or Wildheart Woodcraft are handmade with painstaking attention to detail. They look lovely but they also write like a dream, featuring a quality ballpoint with black ink. 

Sydney based, eco-friendly artisan itto offers quality cards made from recycled paper with a truly unique twist – the cards themselves are plantable! Each card comes embedded with your choice of Lettuce & Wild Rocket seeds, Forget-Me-Not Seeds, or Swan River Daisy seeds. These cards really are a gift that keeps on giving!

It’s Okay to Embrace Fun

Typically when we think of adult stationery we think of austere, sophisticated themes. While these kinds of themes can be stately and beautiful, they can also be kind of boring. If you want something lively and fun when it comes to writing implements, cards, or notebooks, go for it!

Art by ENC has some fun stickers with clever puns which will immediately brighten up anything they’re placed upon. These stickers are great for personal use but will also go over really well as gifts. 

Alexandra Janes offers a stationery set that comes with a bundle of goodies including durable water resistant stickers, a notepad, and vinyl decals. Everything in the bundle will come in your choice of five different colours. 

Good Stationery Makes All the Difference

Stationery is a great way to add some personalisation in your life, and even better is that any correspondence you send will display a piece of your personality. Quality products will last longer, be more durable, and make more of an impact, so don’t be afraid to shop around until you find something that meets your standards.