My 2023 bullet journal used blank spreads, and I found they actually made things more cluttered over time. Without any lines or boxes, my handwriting slanted and notes overlapped. Tbh, adding light grid paper helped me keep entries neat without feeling too structured. It's a balance between blank and guided that works for me.
Ever think about how paper thickness changes this? My grid journal had thin pages that ghosted, so even with structure it looked messy when I tried to get creative.