By Brooke Forry

One of the most popular questions we get about our book bound planners is, “do they lay flat?”

The short answer: yes, the planners lays open nicely. There is still a bit of a curve to the pages, though, so they’re not 100% “flat” in the literal sense, as we’re showing below.

The more detailed answer: the binding used in what we call book bound planners is actually called Smyth Sewn in the bookmaking/bindery world. That means that groups of pages called signatures are sewn together (yes, with thread!). The individual signatures are then attached to one another with more thread, creating what is called the book block. The book block is then further strengthened using flannel and adhesive on the spine, and then everything is assembled with the exterior cover and protective spine. The gap created between the Smyth sewn book block and the exterior spine when the book is open, as shown above, is what allows it to lay open so nicely.

Phew! What a process, right?

Due to the sewn binding, many of the pages will still have a slight, natural curve to them. This is why we aren’t going so far as to use the term “lay-flat,” although this is as close as you could possibly get!

How do you “break in” a book bound planner?

When you receive your Balance Bound Planner, open it to the middle of the book (like the image above). Lie it down on a flat surface, and gently press the pages down along the spine. You should also do this every time you open to a new spread. This will help to slightly open up the binding, which will continue to get a little more flexible as you use the planner throughout the year.

Have more questions about the book bound planners, or something else? Let us know below!