Notion is the dream tool that somehow feels like homework. You want to love it — and you do — right up until the features, templates, and endless possibilities leave you staring at a blank page wondering where your sanity went.

If you’ve downloaded Notion, admired it, and quietly closed the tab more than once, this is for you.

Notion doesn’t have to look like a tax form! With a few design choices—color palette, cover images, gallery views, white space—you can turn your dashboard into a branded, actually usable HQ.

This post walks through 15 aesthetic layout upgrades that make Notion feel intentional, on-brand, and easier to use (hello, aesthetic–usability effect).