Coloring books for adults became extremely popular in the past years. Did you know? In 2015, on Amazon top list 8 out of 20 books were adult coloring books. Johanna Basford’s book The Secret Garden also topped the list, meaning it was the most popular book in the world at one time.

Since the early days of childhood, coloring has been a favorite pastime. It allows children and adults to be creative, to use their imaginations, and to explore new worlds. When coloring books for adults hit the market a few years ago, they quickly became popular. Now, there are all sorts of adult coloring books to choose from, with themes that range from nature to mandalas or to animals.

Why do people love adult coloring books so much?

What is the reason for success? Here are five things that will definitely help to understand the phenomenon:

  • You don't need any technical tools to start. A book, a set of pencils, and you can start creating. We’re all hanging out on our cell phones during the day or staring at the monitor, and everyone has a desire to break away from the screens a little bit.
  • Still, it’s conquering the social media. Thousands of people share their beautiful creations with each other on social media, and these posts are real like magnets.
  • Works of art. One would think that coloring is a childish thing. However, adult coloring books are by no means like a children's coloring book. They contain specifically artistic patterns, meticulously crafted, delicate designs that are much more pleasing to adults.
  • They have a “healing” effect. According to a clinical psychologist, coloring is a stress-free, calming activity that soothes the amygdala – the part of our brain that is responsible for fear. In addition, coloring also helps with focusing, using both of our hemispheres as it requires logic and creativity at the same time.

What are the most known types of adult coloring books?

  1. Mandala coloring books
  2. Pattern coloring books
  3. Fantasy & mythology coloring books
  4. Urban coloring books
  5. Landscape coloring books
  6. Funny coloring books

If you're looking for a new coloring book to add to your collection, check out these top picks:

What Are The Top Adult Coloring Books?

Stress Relief Adult Coloring Book, by Ermin Okeric (2023)

Nature and mandala coloring book

The Stress Relief Adult Coloring Book is a curated collection designed to offer adults a relaxing and therapeutic coloring experience with a collection of 50 beautifully intricate designs. Spanning a variety of themes including animals, vibrant flowers, and mesmerizing patterns, this 8.5×11 inch book is crafted to provide an engaging coloring experience with its bright pages.

It's designed not just as an activity but as a therapeutic endeavor to help individuals relax, unwind, and break free from the clutches of daily stress. Through coloring, one can rediscover tranquility, enhance focus, and spur creativity, allowing the mind to wander.

I found this coloring book to be an exceptionally therapeutic tool, perfect for anyone looking to find a moment of peace in their busy lives.

Stress Relief Relaxing Coloring Book, by Linda N. Smith (2023)

Landscape and nature coloring book

Stress Relief Relaxing Coloring Book is a delightful adult coloring book that offers a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Comprising 60 meticulously crafted illustrations, this book invites you to explore a diverse range of scenes, from tranquil beaches and scenic landscapes to vibrant animals and delicate flowers. Each page is designed to transport you into a calming world, providing an avenue for relaxation and mindfulness.

The variety of illustrations ensures that there's something for everyone, whether you're a fan of nature, animals, or architecture. One of the standout features of this coloring book is its generous size, allowing for a broad canvas to unleash your creativity. Additionally, the frame-ready design of each page is a thoughtful touch, ensuring that your colored masterpieces can be proudly displayed.

Personally, I found this coloring book to be a wonderful blend of challenge and relaxation. The intricate designs provide just the right amount of detail to engage the mind, while the act of coloring soothes any stress.

101 Amazing Wildlife: Animal Coloring Book for Adults, by Owen Sketcher (2023)

Animal-wildlife coloring book

The 101 Amazing Wildlife, a treasure trove of artistic exploration that has captured my nature-loving heart! With 101 intricate illustrations of majestic mammals, graceful birds, fascinating reptiles, and delicate insects, each page is a unique journey into the wild.

I can't help but be drawn into the incredible details, unleashing my artistic talents and bringing these remarkable creatures to life with vibrant colors. This book has become my perfect relaxation companion, offering both soothing stress relief and endless creativity. As a fellow animal enthusiast, you'll appreciate the diverse skill-level designs that cater to all abilities and the single-sided pages that allow for a worry-free coloring experience.

What truly distinguishes this adult coloring book for me, as someone deeply passionate about wildlife, is the rich variety of unique illustrations it offers, encompassing more designs than the majority of other coloring books. If you share my love for wildlife and the relaxation that coloring can bring, you'll find this book to be an endless source of inspiration and pleasure.

The Watchers, by Naif X Art (2021)

Mandala coloring book

Watchers come in many different shapes and sizes, each with their own unique abilities and purposes. Although they all share the form of an eye, no two watchers are exactly alike. Some watchers act as guardians, keeping watch over important places or objects. Others act as observers, recording and documenting everything they see. Still others use their powers to manipulate the minds of those around them. No matter what their purpose may be, all watchers play an important role in the cosmic balance.

The origin of watchers is a mystery, but they have been present throughout history in one form or another. They are often associated with mandalas, which is thought to be where they gain their power. Mandalas are intricate patterns that have spiritual significance in many cultures around the world.

When you open this coloring book, you'll find that every artwork inside is made by an artist. What's more, every artwork has a name and the story behind it can be interpreted by the colorist. The colors used in this piece reflect the emotions they were feeling at the time.

So why not take a few minutes to explore these artworks and find your own meanings in them? Not only will you get lost in the beauty of the designs, but you'll also gain some insight into the artist's life.

150 Mandalas For Stress Relief and Relaxation, by Freya Bree (2021)

Mandala coloring book

The 150 Mandalas For Stress Relief and Relaxation adult coloring book is filled with unique designs that will give you a glimpse into a magical universe of mandalas. Adults will find this coloring book perfect for releasing their imagination and offering peaceful moments. The mandalas are designed to be simple at the beginning of the book and the details and complexity will rise once you gain enough experience in coloring. This is really thoughtful idea from the author.

With so many designs to choose from, there's sure to be one that fits your favor. You will find stained glass, Aztec, African, sand, gemstone and floral fractal mandala styles among the many artworks. Whether you're looking for a way to wind down after a long day or want to find some new relaxation techniques, just search for the right one.

The intricate designs provide you with the chance to focus exclusively on coloring and will calm down your mind and drive away from your day work. Coloring complex mandalas is a fantastic way to de-stress, reduce anxiety, and overcome mental exhaustion.

The one-sided thick sheets on big, comfortable pages will get rid of bleed though. The book comes also as free PDF download to provide an unlimited coloring experience for adults. There are an infinite number of ways to color mandalas, so printing the artworks over and over again will increase your creativity and is a great plus overall.

Enchanted, by Karen Sue Chen (2021)

Fantasy coloring book

If you're looking for a coloring book that takes you away to a world of fantasy and magic, then Enchanted is the perfect book for you. K, the artist behind the illustrations, has a truly unique and creative style that will have you losing yourself in your artwork.

With 37 detailed illustrations, there's plenty of room to unleash your creativity and inner artist. Whether you're a beginner or experienced colorist, there's something for everyone in this enchanting coloring book.

Adult coloring books are often printed on both sides of the paper so that there is no bleed-through, but this fantasy coloring book is different. The pages are printed on a single side, so there is no bleed-through, and the images are beautiful. The pages are also perforated, so they can be easily torn out and shared with friends.

Anxiety Relief Coloring Book for Adults: Mindfulness Coloring to Soothe Anxiety, by Rockridge Press (2022)

Nature and urban coloring book

As an adult, it can be hard to find moments of peace and calm. However, with a coloring book specifically designed for adults, you can take a break from the stress of daily life and enjoy some soothing images. These coloring books often feature nature scenes or urban landscapes, which can help you relax and de-stress.

This adult coloring book offers a beautiful collection of floral images to color, helping you achieve a state of calm and inspiring you to unleash your creativity. It includes both nature-inspired and urban designs, all of which are intricate and detailed. The pages are perforated so that you can easily remove them for framing or sharing with others.

Mindfulness is being aware of and understanding your own physicality. You can benefit from coloring to decrease your stress level. You can access two beginner-friendly meditations to relax in this article.

Bloom Adult Coloring Book: Beautiful Flower Garden Patterns and Botanical Floral Prints, by Prism Press (2021)

Floral coloring book

Looking for an aesthetic way to relax? Why not try coloring in some beautiful flowers? This incredible botanical coloring book features a wide variety of blooms, from roses and lilies to poppies and pansies.

One way to enjoy the beauty of flowers is by coloring them in a coloring book. A variety of different types of flowers can be found in these books, including roses, magnolias, hydrangeas, lilies, dahlias, and orchids. Coloring in these pages is a fun and relaxing way to spend some time. It can also help improve your skills at coloring in detail, not mentioning to improve your mental well-being.

With over 50 pages of exquisite illustrations, you'll be able to lose yourself in the beauty of nature. So why not take a break from the stresses of life and relax with a few colors?

Adult Coloring Book: 60 Stress Relieving Animals Designs, by Olympia Soares (2020)

Animal coloring book

The popularity of coloring books for adults has exploded in recent years as people have discovered the calming and therapeutic effects of coloring. Nowhere is this more evident than in the pages of books filled with intricate, beautiful designs just waiting to be filled with color.

If you're looking for a little relaxation and fun, check out these 60 gorgeous animal designs to color! From chameleon to elephant, there's something for everyone in this collection. Special animal patterns are included to provide hours of calm, relaxation, and stress relief.

If you are a fan of mammals and art, grab your favorite coloring tools and get started!

Mythic World, by Kerby Rosanes (2022)

Mythology coloring book

Kerby Rosanes is the internationally bestselling artist who brought you the Morphia series. Now, he's back with a new coloring book that takes you on a mythic journey through fantastical landscapes and into the depths of your imagination.

The mythical creatures adult coloring book features breathtaking scenes of dragons, unicorns, and other creatures of legend, all waiting to be brought to life with your own colorful palette. With intricate details and beautiful designs, this coloring book is perfect for any artist or fantasy lover.

So get ready to explore a world of magic and mystery, and let Kerby Rosanes take you on a journey to another time and place.

The Mysterious Mansion, by Daria Song (2019)

Interior and urban coloring books

The South Korean creative, Daria Song has authored and illustrated several best-selling coloring books. Her latest project is a four color activity book called The Mysterious Mansion. Unlike Daria's other books this isn't just a coloring book, but an activity book, which includes mazes, sudokus, dot-to-dot above the coloring pages.

Daria's unique storytelling approach brings us to a mansion where a young girl lost. We enjoyed not only the art of the author, but also the concept of this book and the fact that she has a story to tell.

If you are looking for a suspenseful activity book with coloring pages, this book is definitely for you!

Magical Jungle: An Inky Expedition and Coloring Book for Adults, by Johanna Basford (2016)

Nature coloring books

In case you missed Johanna Basford down a trail inky through the Magical Jungle and locate an avid world of creatures just waiting to be colored in. Through intricate pen and ink illustrations, adult color-inners are invited to discover an intricate rainforest teeming with choices big and small. Encounter speckled trees for camouflage, flora blended with peacock fringe, and the strange secret of the jungle.

Johanna Basford's coloring books for adults feature a specially selected ivory paper ideal for pencil coloring. Filled with vividly rendered artwork, Magical Jungle contains detailed, gorgeous images.

Anxiety Relief Adult Coloring Book, by Andrew Kane (2022)

Daily life and pattern coloring book

When you're feeling overwhelmed and stressed, it can feel impossible to find a way to relax. However, there are simple ways to unwind and de-stress using art and nature.

Spending time outside in nature can also have a relaxing effect, as it provides an opportunity to connect with the natural world. Whether you take a walk in the park, sit by a river, or go for a hike in the woods, being surrounded by plants and wildlife can help you center yourself and clear your head.

This adult coloring book offers the same feeling with it's art and pictures. You will find reflections from daily life, buildings and traditional patterns to color in this book.

Amazing Animals: Adult Coloring Book, Stress Relieving Mandala Animal Designs, by Coloring Book Kim (2020)

Animal mandala coloring book

Animal mandala coloring books are filled with intricate designs that can be very therapeutic to color. The animals in this book are also quite beautiful and relaxing to look at. This makes them the perfect choice for anyone who is looking for a way to escape the stress of daily life.

The designs in this book vary in complexity, so they are perfect for both beginners and experts alike. In addition, the pages are perforated so that they can easily be removed and framed or displayed on a refrigerator or bulletin board.

This persuasive coloring book has your favorite themes to make your fantasies soar.

F*ck Off! This is MY Coloring Book, by John T (2020)

Funny message with patterns coloring book

Looking for a way to release stress and have some fun? Check out these hilarious funny quotes coloring pages! They're sure to make you laugh.

Each page is full of funny, obscene, and irreverent phrases that are perfect for coloring. Use either a pencil and some crayons, and get ready to let loose. These pages are sure to help you unwind after a long day.

A good advice, since the pages in this book are thin, use an extra blank sheet to catch the bleeds.

Coloring Books For Adults: Conclusion

You can get into a meditative state while working on a mandala coloring book, because by concentrating on the contours and colors, you can easily turn off everyday problems and exclude distracting thoughts and noises from your head. If you aren't into meditation, but you are seeking for deep relaxation coloring books for adults are a great choice.

You may think creativity is killed with strokes that already on the paper but the truth is coloring is just like filling the emptiness with life

The coloring books for adults listed above are all excellent choices. They offer a wide variety of designs and styles that will keep any adult entertained for hours on end. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced artist, there is a book here for you. So why not give one of them a try today?

If you are looking books for children, check out our selection of children's activity books.

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