My Favorite Coloring Books & Supplies for a Stress-Free Creative Escape

My Favorite Coloring Books & Supplies for a Stress-Free Creative Escape

If you’re anything like me, the second you crack open a new coloring book, you start dreaming about all the color palettes you could use. Do we go full cozy autumn vibes? Soft pastels? Something dark and moody? The possibilities are endless, and that’s exactly why coloring is one of my favorite ways to relax and be creative—without the pressure of a blank page staring me down.

Today, I’m sharing my absolute favorite supplies for coloring (including the ones I swear by for my own coloring books), plus some of my top picks for books that deserve a spot in your collection.

Plus, you can get any of my coloring books for 20% off April 1-15! So why not treat yourself to a little creativity? 🎨 
Let’s get into it!


My Favorite Coloring Supplies

The right tools can make or break your coloring experience, and I have definitely tested a lot of them over the years. You definitely do NOT need to buy top of the line supplies to get started with coloring! No gatekeeping here!

Here are my ride-or-die favorites:

Colored Pencils

For those soft, blendable, and detailed coloring moments:

• Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils – These are the holy grail of colored pencils. They’re super pigmented, blend like a dream, and make even the most basic coloring pages look professional.

• Ohuhu Oil-Based Colored Pencils – If you like an oil-based pencil with great layering ability, these are a dream. The colors are rich, and they feel super creamy to color with.

• Amazon Basics Colored Pencils – If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option that still offers smooth blending and vibrant colors, these do the trick! You DON'T have to spend a lot of money to get started with coloring!

Markers

For when you want that bold, juicy color:

• Ohuhu Alcohol Markers – These are my go-to for coloring book pages that can handle markers. They blend beautifully and are way more affordable than Copics.

• Touch Alcohol Markers – A super budget-friendly option for those who still want alcohol markers, but maybe can't afford the upgrade to Ohuhu, with a lot of color options! They're super juicy, so take care when coloring close to the lines to prevent too much bleeding (some bleed is basically unavoidable with alcohol markers, but different techniques can help your pages look cleaner!)

• Crayola Super Tips – These are so underrated! If you need the smallest hurdle to getting started EVER, these are your choice! They’re great for coloring large areas, and they don’t bleed through as much as alcohol markers.


Gel Pens & Extras

For that ✨ extra ✨ touch:

• Sakura Gelly Roll White Gel Pens – Perfect for adding highlights or little starry effects on darker pages.

• Glitter Gel Pens – A must-have for adding sparkle and making your pages feel extra magical.

• Metallic Markers – Because sometimes you just need a little gold or silver in your life.


Blending Tools

• Colorless Blender Pencils – Prismacolor makes a great one for smoothing out colored pencil strokes.

• Cotton Swabs & Baby Oil – A fun hack for blending colored pencils seamlessly. Just a tiny dab of oil on a cotton swab does wonders!

• Blender Markers – If you’re using alcohol markers, a blender marker is a must-have for creating smooth transitions.

 

My Favorite Coloring Books

My Coloring Books (That I 100% Think You’ll Love)

Because I designed them specifically to be cozy, whimsical, and fun to color! (P.S. They’re 20% off right now!)

  • The Coffee Lover’s Coloring Book – A must-have for caffeine addicts and cozy vibes enthusiasts. Think steaming mugs, cute pastries, and dreamy little café scenes.
  • The Cottagecore Coloring Book – If your soul belongs in a mossy little cottage surrounded by wildflowers and woodland creatures, this one is for you.
  • The Dark Academia Coloring Book – Dusty old books, flickering candlelight, mystical moths, and secret libraries—this book has all the witchy, academia vibes.
  • The Hygge Christmas Coloring Book – Cozy up with this collection of festive, warm, and hygge-inspired holiday illustrations. Think glowing candles, soft blankets, and all the Christmas coziness.
  • The Fairy Garden Coloring Book – A magical little escape filled with tiny fairy houses, enchanted mushrooms, and whimsical forest scenes. If you’ve ever wanted to shrink down and live in a fairy garden, this one’s for you.
  • The Cozy Nostalgia Coloring Book — A love letter to all of our cozy and nerdy memories from the late 90s and early 2000s. From flip phones to chunky highlights to dystopian fantasy, you’ll be in all the feels with this one. 

Other Coloring Books I Love

Because my coloring book collection definitely takes up an entire shelf.

These books all hit that perfect balance—whimsical, fun, not overly detailed, and filled with bold lines that make coloring effortless.

Whether you’re a colored pencil purist, a marker layering pro, or someone who just loves the vibes of a fresh coloring page, the best supplies are the ones that make you excited to create. And if you’re looking for your next favorite coloring book? I might just know a place to start. 😉

What are your go-to coloring supplies? Any must-have coloring books I should add to my collection? Let me know in the comments—I’m always on the lookout for more!

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