Along with baking, jigsaw puzzles, knitting, board games and quilting, the art of the beautiful coloring book is experiencing an even greater Renaissance during this era of stay-at-home and social distancing than it was before. Our correspondent Julie Chang Murphy has curated a selection of the best calming coloring books for adults right now, including stunning and sophisticated books on fashion, travel, popular television shows, flowers, and interior design. Pencils ready?
coloring your way to calm right now
Adult coloring books reached peaked popularity about five years ago and then the trend was declared “dead” by various media outlets last year. But we wouldn’t be surprised to see a revival right about now. People are comfort baking, working on jigsaw puzzles, and organizing Zoom happy hours to boost their spirits and soothe understandable anxieties.
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Why not try coloring your way to calm? If you’ve actually been busier than ever, you might be thinking: “I’m working from home, baking bread from scratch, homeschooling unruly children, trying to sculpt a 6-pack and now you want me to color??”
Hear us out, dear reader. It is precisely because we are all juggling so much that a break is in order. Coloring is a release – a judgement free way to be creative and let the brain waves flow. The repetitive, fine motor movements of coloring are a kind of meditation and they can allow us to relax – even if only for 15-minutes.
the best calming coloring books for adults right now
Repeat after us: You do not have to be productive all the time. We all need some play and rest to preserve what’s left of our sanity.
With that in mind, here are our top 20 favorite coloring books, including stunning and sophisticated books on fashion, travel, pop culture, flowers, and interior design. From beautiful illustrations of flora and fauna to the downright wacky, there’s an adult coloring book for that.
Pop Culture
It’s not all kittens and cartoon characters in coloring books. The genre gets a grown-up makeover with these coloring books for adults with literary, television show, and real life pop culture references. No Tiger King yet, though . . .
1.
Irreverent illustrations depict the all-too familiar trials and tribulations of marriage. Thermostat wars, trips to Home Depot and toilet seat stand-offs – we’ve all been there and done that. Now, you can color it!
BUY NOW $8.99
2.
Want your coloring with a dose of high-brow literary references? Check out these charming pages inspired by the writing of celebrated English author, Jane Austen.
BUY NOW $9.79
3.
Get ready to use a lot of red and “yucky” colors in this book filled with monsters, burial grounds, and zombies. It’s scary good fun!
BUY NOW $16.19
4.
Hands-down one of the most popular coloring books for adults with a televsion show theme is this one. Downton Abbey fans, here is your chance to revisit the Crawleys and their beautiful estate and give the Dowager Countess of Grantham a dress as sharp as she is.
BUY NOW $5.52
5.
Anyone finally starting (or re-watching) the epic series television show Game of Thrones will love this coloring book for adults featuring the dramatic landscapes of the Seven Kingdoms and the unforgettable characters. And yes, there is a Jon Snow page.
BUY NOW $11.29
FASHION
Remember when we all used to wear non-elastic pants and dresses? And sweatpants were just for the weekend? Those were the days . . . Here’s your chance to channel your inner fashion designer and play dress up (in your head.)
1.
This book celebrates the diversity of boss women who are entrepreneurs. We know you won’t let these fierce women down with your coloring skills.
BUY NOW $9.66
2.
Step back in time with this fashion coloring book for adults featuring fun, frou-frou outfits of the 1950’s based on historical archives.
BUY NOW $5.99
3.
We are always wow’ed by the color combos that sneaker designers come up with. Now, sneakerheads can design their ultimate fantasy shoe.
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4.
Japanese kimonos, with their intricate prints and patterns, are a form of wearable art. This coloring book does them justice with beautiful and detailed illustrations.
BUY NOW $5.99
5.
Featuring pages of contemporary fashion, this coloring book for adults just might help us all find some inspiration for our first post-isolation brunch with the girls outfit.
BUY NOW $7.99
FLORA & FAUNA
Most kids love to draw and color flowers, trees and animals. Get in touch with your inner child with these nature – inspired illustrations.
1.
Instagram sensation and muralist Alli Koch invites you to get creative with her modern, signature floral designs.
BUY NOW $14.24
2.
This coloring book combines two subjects we didn’t even know we wanted to see together- cute animals AND coffee! Now we can’t stop thinking about it . . .
BUY NOW $7.97
3.
Consider this a millennial-inspired flora and fauna coloring book. It’s chock full of succulents, crystals, and trendy animals in whimsical and modern layouts.
BUY NOW $11.70
4.
Johanna Basford is the reigning queen of adult coloring books. And her inky Enchanted Forest illustrations are beautiful enough on their own even if you never get around to coloring them.
BUY NOW $9.99
5.
Sloths are cute. And sloths are lethargic. Sloths are just like us!
BUY NOW $6.99
EXTERIORS & INTERIORS
If you’re tired of your own view – and who could blame you- here are some coloring books for adults with inspiring architectural sites, travel and interior design themes, and lovely interiors to color and dream the hours away.
1.
Color your way around the world, from European castles to the ancient grandeur of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, with this stunning travel coloring book for adults.
BUY NOW $14.95
2.
Give these antique treasures some new life with a fresh coat of color.
BUY NOW $9.09
3.
Artist Steve McDonald’s beautifully rendered and detailed line work offers bird’s-eye perspectives of cityscapes around the world.
BUY NOW $29.99
4.
Instead of hate scrolling through all the envy-inducing interiors of celebs self-isolating in their mansions, it’s much more soothing to color your own.
BUY NOW $6.95
5.
Lose yourself in the incredibly detailed, boho-inspired living spaces from illustrator Amber Day.
BUY NOW $7.99
stunning and soothing coloring books for adults right now
Theat’s it! Our picks for the best coloring books for adults right now, including topics like fashion, travel, popular television shows, flowers, and interior design.
One final note- while using your children’s box of 64 Crayola Crayons is likely fine, you may want to add some premium color pencils and fine-tipped markers to your cart to get the best coloring results.
Let us know which coloring book is your favorite. Happy Coloring!
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Crediting her training as a cultural anthropologist at Wellesley College, Julie has immersed herself in various industries in the last 15 years including fashion design, event planning, and fitness. Julie lives in New York where she loves trying every ramen and dumpling restaurant with her husband and three children. She finds joy in bold prints, biographies of fierce women, kickboxing. And spending way too long finding the perfect polish color to express her mood.
Join our community
For access to insider ideas and information on the world of luxury, sign up for our Dandelion Chandelier newsletter. And see luxury in a new light.