Our Favorite Stationery Picks: Pens, Paper, Stickers, and Washi Tape Worth a Look

Introduction

As the year winds down, it feels like the right moment to look back at the stationery that genuinely earned a spot on our desks over the past few months. This roundup covers nine favorites across three groups: pens, paper, and stickers plus washi tape. Some are fun, some are quietly practical, and a couple are both at once.

Livework Ballpoint Pens

The Livework Ballpoint Pens are charming without trying too hard. The barrels come in nine colors, with clips and clickers in contrasting colors that add a fun pop against the understated bodies. They are filled with low-viscosity ballpoint inks that are saturated and flow smoothly across the page.

Turquoise Blue and Snow Gray are easy standouts if you like a subtle look with a bit of personality.

Marvy Le Pen New Colors

Marvy has finally expanded the popular Le Pen lineup with six retro-inspired colors: Pale Mauve, Magenta, Mustard, Jade Green, Navy, and Sepia. You can pick them up individually, or as a set with a handy case that doubles as a stand.

Le Pens have always been great for doodling or color-coding notes, and the extra fine tip fits neatly into small rulings and grid sizes. If you use gridded notebooks or slim-lined planners, these are an easy fit.

TOOLS to LIVEBY Le Chat Fountain Pen

The TOOLS to LIVEBY Le Chat Fountain Pen hides a surprise under the cap: a cat face etched into the nib. It is a small detail, but it turns an everyday writing tool into something worth showing off.

The minimalist pen is made of metal, so it feels sturdy and substantial in the hand. The fine nib is not just cute; it is also a wonderfully smooth writer. It comes in two colors: a white version with black detailing, and a black version that commits fully to the sleek, stealthy look.

Himekuri Sticky Note Calendars

The Himekuri Sticky Note Calendars are a cute way to keep track of the date. The dated versions are made of sticky notes arranged into seven blocks, one for each day of the week, and they come on a stand so you can display them on your desk. The undated version comes in a compact booklet where you fill in the dates yourself.

Either way, you can peel off a note and use it to mark the date in your planner or journal. Themes include illustrations of cats, stationery, and delicious pastries, so there is likely one that matches your desk aesthetic.

Sooofa Notebooks

Sooofa Notebooks feel like an upgraded take on Kokuyo’s Soft Ring Notebooks. They are bound with soft plastic rings that squish down when you rest your hand on them, so the binding never gets in the way while you write.

Each notebook is filled with gridded Campus paper, and the sheets are micro-perforated so you can tear them out cleanly. A clear pocket inside the back cover holds loose papers, a small notch in the cover holds a pen by its clip, and an elastic band keeps everything closed. The Sooofa comes in five colors and two sizes, B6 and A5.

Midori Stand Memo Pads

The Midori Stand Memo Pads are a smart addition to any desk setup. Built-in stands make it easy to read your notes at a glance, and the pads come in both horizontal and vertical styles so you can pick the footprint that fits your desk best.

There are four handy sheet styles to choose from. You can write to-do lists, jot down messages, or organize your hourly and weekly schedules. If your day lives on paper in front of you, these do the job well.

JetPens Kanso Washi Tapes

The newest addition to the Kanso lineup is a set of Washi Tapes designed to help you set up weekly spreads and to-do lists. The eight tapes are sized to fit five millimeter grids, like those in Midori MD and Leuchtturm1917 notebooks.

The detail that sets them apart: unlike many washi tapes, you can write on these Kanso tapes with your favorite water-based gel pens. That makes them genuinely functional for planning, not just decorative.

King Jim Hitotoki Pop-Up Stickers

The King Jim Hitotoki Pop-Up Stickers bring something different to a sticker collection: they are three dimensional. The pop-up effect survives even after the stickers have been pressed between the pages of a notebook.

Each sticker is removable too, so you can peel them off and reposition them elsewhere. There are eight themed sets, including dinosaurs, aliens, and delicious snacks, among others.

MU Print-On Transfer Stickers

MU Print-On Transfer Stickers have been a genuine hit here, popular enough that members of the team bought their own before the shop even started carrying them. When you apply these pressure-activated stickers, the designs look like they were printed directly onto the surface.

They work on paper, and on glass items like jars, which opens up a lot of decorating possibilities. The Airmail, Botany, and Eucalyptus designs are favorites, with a lovely mix of vintage-inspired and watercolor looks.

Buying Advice

If you want a quick way to choose among these nine picks, think about what part of your setup needs the most help. Writers who enjoy the act of writing itself should look hardest at the Le Chat Fountain Pen or the new Le Pen colors. Planners and list-makers get the most from the Himekuri calendars, Midori Stand Memo Pads, and Kanso Washi Tapes, which work together nicely in a gridded notebook.

For decorating and personalizing, the Hitotoki Pop-Up Stickers and MU Print-On Transfer Stickers offer two very different effects: dimensional charm versus a printed-on look. And if you simply want pleasant everyday pens, the Livework Ballpoint Pens are the low-commitment entry point.

Conclusion

This batch of favorites covers the full stationery spectrum: smooth writers, thoughtful paper tools, and playful extras. Each one earns its place by making a small daily task a little more enjoyable, whether that is marking the date, planning a week, or adding personality to a jar. Pick the one that matches your routine and enjoy the upgrade.