In the past year, adult coloring books have enjoyed a surge in popularity, and it’s not entirely surprising. Coloring for adults should not be dismissed as a childish or simply nostalgic activity. Research has proven the positive results of art therapy used for stress reduction, and adult coloring books are an extension of this. The world we live in is becoming increasingly stressful, busy, and fast-paced. We are always connected and constantly inundated by the lights and beeps of our ever-present technology. Taking time for ourselves and finding even small ways to relax, unplug, and clear our heads is incredibly important.
Unlike children’s books filled with child-themed cartoons, adult coloring books feature patterns and designs specifically drawn for relaxing and creative expression. Filling in these intricate patterns is soothing and satisfying, and the result is often something very beautiful. Here are some the best!
Best Adult Coloring Books
 | Adult Coloring Kit by Life in Coloring | Check price at |
 | Creative Haven Dream Doodles Adult Coloring Book Set | Check price at |
 | Adult Coloring Book: Stress Relieving Animal Designs | Check price at |
 | Adult Coloring Book: Stress Relieving Patterns | Check price at |
 | Creative Haven Owls Coloring Book Lowest Price | Check price at |
 | Balance (Angie’s Extreme Stress Menders Volume 1) | Check price at |
 | Enchanted Forest: An Inky Quest & Coloring Book | Check price at |
 | Creative Haven Creative Cats Coloring Book | Check price at |
 | Dragon World | Check price at |
1. Adult Coloring Kit by Life in Coloring
Adult coloring books are not the same as coloring books for kids. Different coloring books require different tools; your child’s crayons just won’t do. The Adult Coloring Kit by Life in Coloring includes everything you need to start your new, enjoyable, stress-relieving activity. An attractive leather-like portfolio with magnet closure holds all of your supplies, including “Mindfulness”, a limited edition coloring book. 12 colored pencils, a removable pencil case, and a pencil sharpener are also included. This versatile portfolio will hold different coloring books as well as more pencils and pens. All of your coloring necessities are neatly stored and held securely; perfect for the busy parent on the go.
2. Creative Haven Dream Doodles Adult Coloring Book Set
The Creative Haven Dream Doodles Adult Coloring Book Set includes everything you need to begin coloring. This well-appointed kit would make the perfect gift for an adult who enjoys something a little different, and could use some creative stress relief. This kit is at the top of my wish list! 12 watercolor pencils in a tin case, 24 blendable color pencils, pencil sharpener, and the Dream Doodles adult coloring book all fit neatly in to the Sketch Mate Organizer. Zip up your supplies and slide this kit into your bag to use anywhere. This particular kit comes with Dream Doodles but the kit is also available with different adult coloring books. Art Nouveau Animals, Floral Tattoo Designs, Midnight Forest, Midnight Garden, and Techallations are all coloring book options.
3. Adult Coloring Book: Stress Relieving Animal Designs
The Adult Coloring Book: Stress Relieving Animal Designs contains 40 patterned animal designs for your coloring enjoyment. There are land and sea animals, and Blue Star Coloring recommends that you flip through the pages, find your favorite design, and start coloring there. This book is designed for stress-relief in particular and includes a few helpful tips for stress-reducing coloring. They suggest turning off or ignoring electronic distractions, breathing and enjoying a moment that you realize your worries are less and you feel more clear-headed, and “When you don’t feel like it anymore, stop”. Seems like great advice!
4. Adult Coloring Book: Stress Relieving Patterns
Adult Coloring Book: Stress Relieving Patterns has 45 beautiful, detailed patterns designed specifically for stress relief through coloring. The patterns have various difficulty levels from easy to difficult. This allows you to choose what kind of activity you are in the mood for. An easy pattern may be perfect for some brief relaxation while a more difficult pattern gives you the opportunity to focus your creative energies on something more involved.
5. Creative Haven Owls Coloring Book
The Creative Haven Owls Coloring Book is designed specifically for more experienced artists. This book features owls and flowers, paisleys, and other patterns on intricately designed backgrounds. The pages are perforated and printed on one side only, so that you can remove and display your coloring masterpieces.
6. Balance (Angie’s Extreme Stress Menders Volume 1)
Designed by best selling coloring book artist Angie Grace, Balance (Angie’s Extreme Stress Menders Volume 1) has 50 designs. The circular, whimsical patterns encourage stress relief through creative expression and the designs are truly beautiful. Colored pencils, fine tipped markers, and brush tipped markers can all be used with this book. The one-sided pages can be removed so that you can share and enjoy your works of art.
7. Enchanted Forest: An Inky Quest & Coloring Book
Enchanted Forest: An Inky Quest & Coloring Book is #1 New York Times Best Seller, a lofty accomplishment for any book, especially adult coloring books. Beyond just a simple coloring book, Enchanted Forest has hidden objects and mazes. This interactive book contains a fairy tale narrative as you journey through the forest to discover what’s in the castle. There are 82 magical illustrations and even the jacket can be colored. The pages are two sided, but the material is thick an almost cardboard like to allow coloring on both sides. This is a wonderful coloring book choice for adults that find relaxation in puzzles and similar activities.
8. Creative Haven Creative Cats Coloring Book
The Creative Haven Creative Cats Coloring Book is a fantastic choice for cat lovers and coloring enthusiasts. Hearts, flowers, and paisleys share the pages with more than 30 cats. Each cat portrait is on a single-sided, perforated page.
9. Doodle Dogs: Adult Coloring Books
I didn’t forget the dog lovers! Doodle Dogs: Adult Coloring Books features over 30 full page portraits of dogs, fox, and even wolves. There plenty of breeds represented so that you can enjoy coloring your favorite pooch.
10. Dragon World
Brimming with elegantly hand-drawn mythical beasts, Dragon World is a beautifully imaginative and adventurous retreat from the real world. Delicately illustrated by artist Mark Coyle, lose yourself in 30 pages of fire-breathing fun and dive into a magical world of scales, wings and flames.
11. Ocean Creatures: 35 Creative Stress Relieving Ocean Animal designs
Color intricate mermaids, dolphins, turtles, fish and more with Ocean Creatures: 35 Creative Stress Relieving Ocean Animal designs. The images are full page and incredibly detailed for hours of coloring and stress relief.
12. Best of Adult Coloring Books
Best of Adult Coloring Books is the perfect choice for the adult who would like to color a variety of different patterns. Calming shapes including mandalas, stained glass, animals, and many more designs fill more than 70 pages. This high quality coloring book will not bleed through when you color it.
Adult coloring books are a growing trend for stress relief. Have you tried it? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Feature image courtesy of Flickr, hitsnooze.