11 Best Adult Coloring Books That Will Color Your Mood

There is a lot of research that suggests that these coloring books are a wonderful way to let go of stress, whether it’s personal or professional. 

It’s not odd to see adults, especially millennials, travel with a set of colors and books which helps them de-stress after a long time of constantly working. 

To avoid burnout, a coloring book is one of the best ways. The question, then, remains: which coloring book is best for me? 

Fortunately, today it’s incredibly easy to find a variety of coloring books, which are all different and created keeping particular consumers in mind. Without further ado, let’s begin! 

Best Adult Coloring Books

Here is the list of the 11 best adult coloring books that can help you to relax, unwind and explore your creativity.

1. Disney Dreams Collection Thomas Kinkade Studios Coloring Book - Best for Disney Nostalgia

This book is aimed specifically at people who prefer colored pencils and can spare a few hours at a time in order to finish up their coloring. The designs come straight from Disney’s classic movies such as Pocahontas and Aladdin, and the paper is thick enough to handle all but watercolors. The coloring is done in the same manner as Thomas Kinkade’s originals! 

Experience 

The stories depicted in the book are typical of all that one relates to their childhood - a great way of relieving stress. The book has pages that are finished in matte rather than glossy papers you expect to see on generic children’s books. 

There are sixty-three such intricate works, so you’ll be covered for a fair bit of time. Going through all of those stories like Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, The Beauty and The Beast, and so on will surely put you in a meditative state as you forget the world and immerse yourself in a time where there were no worries, where you could just be yourself. 

Most books generally focus on the patterns and designs and the colors - this one, being story-based, does a great job of keeping you involved. However, if you’re just starting out, you may want to get a hang of coloring on another (easier) coloring book before going for this. 

2. Mandala Coloring Book for Adults - Best for Spiritual Relaxation

Mandalas are a class of Buddhist religious symbols, which tend to be incredibly intricate and colorful. They symbolize peace and prosperity and ultimately, attaining Nirvana. Many books use mandalas - this one does only Mandalas though it does them very well. The page quality is amazing so you can use any kind of medium in order to fill between the lines. 

Experience 

If you want the best quality of paper among mandala coloring books, this makes for a very interesting choice. Mandalas are complex, intricate designs and you don’t want to fumble around too much with colors - they take as much time as it is. Therefore, the card stock-esque paper quality is something to write home about - it’s that good. 

Furthermore, you get to use any medium you want - from watercolors to colored markers, you can color with whatever is comfortable. Another wonderful feature is that it is spiral-bound, which means you can frame or showcase your coloring if you so wish! Hence, if it’s a calming and high-quality coloring experience you seek, this should be on top of your list. 

3. Calm the F*ck Down: An Irreverent Adult Coloring Book - Best for Adult Humor

This book is meant strictly for adults because the blanks that you’ll be filling in are only relatable when you’re an adult. This book takes the concept of an “adult coloring book” to the most literal extent possible, resulting in one of the most fun and rebellious coloring books you’ll see on the market today. 

Experience 

The adult experience is often full of not-so-great things, but also full of other great experiences which are unique to adults. This book does a wonderful job at bringing together those parts of our lives which give us pleasure and pain - as well as happiness. The drawings themselves range between being moderate to complex. 

There are twenty-one pages full of tidbits from our lives that we can color up - anyway we wish to. There are also (thankfully) two pages that serve a different purpose - these are the test pages that you can use to try out various media like colored pencils, pastels, and watercolors (we wouldn’t suggest acrylics) before going for coloring the designs.

It’s inexpensive, it’s fun, and it’s a bit different from the generic coloring books you see on the market. 

4. Butterflies and Flowers: Stress Relieving Patterns - Best for Nature Lovers

For people who are completely done with their work and can’t handle more stress, this book may come to the rescue. This book is targeted squarely at the crowd which usually attempts to color these books on getaways from work, or during breaks from high-pressure work. The pages are of decent quality as well. 

Experience 

This book will be perfect for those who want to do coloring, but on a budget. Further, nature lovers will be impressed by the theme of the book, which revolves around butterflies and flowers and sometimes mixes the two as well! The designs aren’t very complicated compared to many others we’ve reviewed, so feel free to get one if you’re just starting out with coloring. 

The book has thirty one-sided pages which are all meant to give you a meditative experience as you go through the drawings one by one. The patterns themselves are open-ended - you can color them in any way you wish to go about it. Though we feel that there could have been more variety in some designs, the book overall does a great job. 

5. Adult Coloring Book: Design by Two Hoots Coloring - Best for Budget-Conscious Users

If you’re on a shoestring budget but still want to achieve some kind of mental piece, or are unsure of whether adult coloring is really worth any of the attention it is getting - this is for you. In terms of value, nothing else on the market comes within shouting distance - you could even give away some of these if you’re a fan of coloring and want your dear ones to get started. 

Experience 

Who said adult coloring had to be an expensive hobby? Adult coloring can be as expensive or cheap as you want it to be - and this coloring book serves as a prime example of that. A set of 12 colors of any medium, and this book will ensure you’re well on your way to attaining mental peace at a fraction of the cost of other books. There are very few compromises, too. 

The only compromise here comes in the form of paper quality, which is predictable enough because high-quality paper costs a lot. However, with this book, if you stick to colored pencils or wax crayons, you’ll be good to go - you do get forty-eight of the most diverse designs spread across experience levels. Inexpensive it may be, but it’s a pretty solid book. 

6. Posh Adult Coloring Book: Soothing Designs for Fun & Relaxation

If you’re looking for designs that are a bit out-of-the-blue and don’t have a problem with somewhat dark designs, this is what you’re looking for. A small caveat first: there are drawings on both sides of the page, so your markers will bleed through in all probability. If you stick to drier media, you’ll be alright though. Otherwise, it’s a pretty solid coloring book.  

Experience 

Posh coloring books are the latest trend to hit the market, and this one is no different in being as hip as the others are. These designs are much more modern and sophisticated, and sometimes a bit dark as well. It doesn’t have anything close to the mandalas and nature-based scenery we’ve covered in some other offerings - it has a different audience. 

It is also much larger, having more than 100 drawings for you to fill up and make artworks out of! The paper itself can’t handle more than strong pastels - so markers and watercolors are off the table. If you can manage that, the rewards are immense - the drawings themselves hardly ever disappoint. A solid recommendation from our side! 

7. Coloring Book for Adults: Amazing Swirls Paperback

For the lover of all things swirl, here’s your way to all-but-guaranteed relief. The best part about this particular coloring book is that you get a large variety of swirly patterns which will definitely uplift your mood and color up all the greyness you might have been feeling. The book comes with a variety of difficulty levels, so it is easier for you to start at your ease. 

Experience 

Sometimes, books don’t have to follow a set subject - they can cover a variety of designs and subjects while following one certain theme. This book focuses exclusively on swirls in all the varieties that are possible - as well as some you may have never thought of. This book excels in providing a few out-of-the-world highly creative designs that you won’t find elsewhere.

It’s one of the least expensive items which are being reviewed today, and that has an obvious consequence - the paper quality suffers in comparison to a few others. Hence, it’s possible that you may see some bleeding around some parts if you do use media such as wet-erase markers, or watercolors. Otherwise, you should not face any problems. 

Overall, the swirly designs in this book are abundant and you should have no problems in going about the business of bringing back some peace of mind. 

8. Good Vibes Coloring Book by Thaneeya McArdle

The Good Vibes Coloring Book is a perfect fit for those who need some cheering up after a particularly hard week/month/year - it is also a brilliant gift for those who you know are going through a particularly hard time and could be helped by some positivity and optimism headed their way. So whether it’s you or people who you hold dear - this gift is wonderful for all of you! 

Experience 

The way in which this book unfurls alone makes it worth a purchase, with a number of positive (but not overwhelmingly so) messages lined up for you to give color to. These messages will surely help in uplifting your spirits after a hard time personally or professionally - or if you have been facing problems for a while, this can be a good place to start finding yourself. 

The thing about coloring books like these is, they are not only a way to find peace but also to start working towards happiness which may have been lost for a number of reasons. 

The quality of paper is such that it can handle any medium, and it’s hard enough to not let any color bleed over to the next page. There are plenty of uncolored illustrations for you to go through and fill up in any color you wish to! 

9. Secret Garden: An Inky Treasure Hunt and Coloring Book

The Secret Garden is one of the more niche entries on today’s list of the top coloring books for adults. It’s niche even though it’s sold millions of copies worldwide and is probably one of the most popular coloring books to have hit the shelves and online bookstores. It’s niche and popular because it’s a color-as-you-go storybook, and you can even color the back and front! 

Experience 

This book has been on the market for a while today, and it’s for good reason - it has a connection between each of the pages that you fill up with color, and it’s a damned good book otherwise too. The pages are of exceedingly high quality and allow one to use any medium they want to. 

The creatures that the book makes you color include octopi, anemones, and more! There are tons of different scenes in the book which you can fill up and create a world that looks absolutely the same way you want it to. This book is great for all ages, should you want to get this for your kids or young ones in the family. 

10. Creative Haven SeaScapes Coloring Book

For someone who is a fan of all the wonders that lie under the horizon, this book makes a whole world of sense! As children, many of us get to see so many of these creatures for the first time in coloring books. Hence, it makes sense to encourage the kind of peace we found in colors with books like these. 

Experience 

The first thing that you see about this book is that the difficulty level is tuned a few notches below the rest of the book. That’s because this book is not meant exclusively for adults - this is a book that children and adults can use all at the same time. However, the contents of this book are sure to keep you hooked if you enjoy coloring. 

The paper quality is far away from children’s coloring books - which means as always, the choice is yours for which media to go to. The general medium of choice is, of course, pencil colors because they’re the lightest of the lot - but if painting with brushes is more appealing, you’re free to do that as well. A great book all around. 

11. The 1990s Coloring Book: All That and a Box of Crayons

The last book on our list is a blast from the near past - a reminder of when things were much better (as is the general consensus). Seinfeld was on TV, video game graphics weren’t half as realistic and people actually talked to each other (or as the kids say, in real life - or is that IRL?). Jokes apart, this is a brilliant book. 

Experience 

While most of these books soothe you by teleporting you to unknown worlds, this one just takes you 20 years or so into the past. Surprisingly, however, it does the job of taking you there very well. With easy-to-fill-in pages, and a free box of crayons included in the bundle, this is one solid book for the nostalgic adult.  

While it is nostalgic, the paper quality remains modern. You can bring other materials to the mix, should you wish to do so. All in all, it remains a solid addition to anyone’s coloring book collection. It’s also one of the best ones to start off with because of the ease of coloring in the beginning. 

Best Adult Coloring Books Comparison Table

Conclusion

Finding the perfect adult coloring book to help you unwind and de-stress is essential, as it can greatly impact your overall coloring experience. Our list of 11 best adult coloring books provides a variety of options to cater to diverse interests and skill levels.

From the above list, here are the top three expert recommendations:

The Disney Dreams Collection Thomas Kinkade Studios Coloring Book is an ideal option for fans of Disney's classic movies who prefer colored pencils, boasting 63 drawings and matte finishing on its pages.

For those seeking spiritual and mental relaxation through the intricate patterns of mandala art, the Mandala Coloring Book for Adults is a good option with its incredible paper quality and spiral-bound design.

Lastly, if you're looking for a fun and rebellious coloring experience, Calm the F*ck Down: An Irreverent Adult Coloring Book is the right choice with its 21 drawings and adult humor.

With these top recommendations in hand, it's time to pick up your coloring tools, explore your creativity, and immerse yourself in the comforting world of adult coloring books. Happy coloring!

Related Articles

15 Best Electric Pencil Sharpeners

11 Best Colored Pencils for Beginners & Professional Artists

9 Best Cheap Colored Pencils

13 Best Sharpener For Colored Pencils

7 Best Electric Pencil Sharpener For Colored Pencils

10 Best Paper For Colored Pencils

Learn How to Shade With Colored Pencils Swiftly & Correctly

12 Colored Pencil Tips & Tricks to Enhance Your Skill

Learn How To Use Colored Pencils | 12 Brilliant Beginner Techniques

6 Best Erasable Colored Pencils

You Won’t Believe What Colored Pencils Are Made Of!

10 Colored Pencil Techniques to Enhance Your Drawings Swiftly

Learn How To Blend Colored Pencils Correctly Fast

22 Best Drawing Books for Beginners

10 Best Derwent Gift Sets