Relaxing Art Activities for Adults to Try at Home

These are relaxing creative activities for adults to try at home. They are not art therapy, and they do not treat, cure or prevent any condition. They are simply enjoyable ways to make something with your hands, alone or with someone you care about. If you are looking for therapeutic art activities for adults in the clinical sense, read art therapy or a creative activity first, then come back here for ideas.

What are good relaxing art activities for adults?

Each idea below takes one or two sentences to explain. Most link to a full activity card with steps, materials and easier versions.

1. Watercolor washes. Drop color onto wet paper and let it spread. There is no wrong result. See paint with watercolors.
2. Torn paper mosaic. Tear colored paper into small pieces and glue them into a picture. No scissors are needed. See make a torn paper mosaic.
3. Painted garden stones. Paint a smooth stone in simple colors or patterns, then place it outside where you can both see it. See paint a garden stone.
4. Pressed leaves and flowers. Press flat leaves between paper in a heavy book for a week, then use them on a card. See press leaves and flowers.
5. Flower arranging. Trim a few stems and place them in a jar, one at a time. See arrange flowers together.
6. Memory collage. Glue photos and magazine pictures onto card, and talk about each one as you go. See make a memory collage.
7. Texture board. Glue fabric scraps, ribbon and other textures onto sturdy card to make something to touch and look at. See make a texture board.
8. Drawing to music. Put on music you both like and let lines and shapes follow the sound. See draw to music.
9. Greeting cards. Fold a card, add a picture and a short message for someone you both know. See make a greeting card.
10. Button picture. Sort buttons by color and glue them onto card. Keep buttons away from anyone who might swallow them. See make a button picture.

How do I set up a session?

Prepare everything before you sit down. Cut paper, pour water, and lay out brushes so that no one waits while you search for supplies. Cover the table with a plastic cloth or an old sheet.

Sit side by side and work on your own piece. Start the first stroke together if that helps. Talk about colors, textures and memories as you go, and avoid quiz questions such as “What is this?” For more ideas by stage, see our arts and crafts guide, and for ways to share activities, see how to play together.

How can I make an activity easier?

Most of these projects can be simplified in one of three ways. Offer fewer colors or materials. Do the cutting, trimming or gluing yourself. Shorten the session to ten or fifteen minutes.

If hands or eyes tire easily, choose a seated, larger-scale project, such as a wash of watercolor on a big sheet. Keep the choice open: the person can pick the subject, the colors or whether to start at all.

When should we stop?

Stop when the person seems tired, bored, frustrated or upset. Put the project somewhere safe, and offer something restful, such as a cup of tea or a quiet walk. A half-finished piece is fine, and you can come back to it another day or not at all.

Stopping early is a good outcome, not a failure. The point is a shared, pleasant time, and a few minutes of making something together can be enough.