3 hours ago
1
As National Puzzle Day approaches on January 29, toy store chains are already celebrating with giveaways like this free printable puzzle activity from Melissa & Doug.
But many jigsaw puzzles—particularly the 1,000-piece variety—are aimed at adults. There’s something deeply satisfying about this gradually unfolding task, fitting a large number of pieces together into one, cohesive whole. Research shows that people can gain numerous mental health benefits from puzzling, such as stress reduction, memory enhancement and problem-solving skills.
Why not celebrate National Puzzle Day by starting one of your own? Choose one with a scene that interests or delights you. And definitely take the level of difficulty into account. A puzzle with a large number of pieces, a complex image and only a few colors is a great challenge for an experienced puzzler. But If you’re just starting out, you’ll have a better chance at success by choosing one with fewer pieces, distinct sections and lots of bright, varied colors.
Here are 15 options that might inspire you to give puzzling a try.
Areaware Gradient Puzzle
Image: AmazonWhat to expect: Gradient puzzles are among the toughest jigsaw puzzles. There’s no image to construct—just varying shades of color that unfold gradually across your tabletop. This 500-piece puzzle moves from yellow to orange to red. Slowly.
Considerations: If you’re in a hurry, obviously this one isn’t for you! But if you’re looking for an easy-going, deliberate activity (that goes well with a cup of warm tea and a long afternoon by a cozy fire), this one’s perfect.
Price: $25 at Amazon
Bgraamiens Puzzle-Blooming Color
Image: AmazonWhat to expect: The bright, unfolding petals of this pretty puzzle stretch out into a circle that’s about two feet around. All the shades of the rainbow are here, and each unique petal has at least two colors. There are 1,000 pieces, but the flip side of each piece is marked with a lettered zone to help you.
Considerations: This is one of those gorgeous puzzles that you won’t want to take apart once it’s done. Of course, you can always preserve it with a peel-and-stick puzzle saver!
Price: $9.99 at Amazon
Springbok Valentine’s Day
Image: WalmartWhat to expect: Is your sweetheart a puzzler? Then this might be your next Valentine’s Day gift. Rather than champagne, cake, a teddy bear or roses, give your better half a 500-piece puzzle depicting those things. Or, you could splurge and buy all of those items along with the puzzle.
Considerations: Puzzles with bold colors and distinct images are much easier to piece together. If you’re picking this up as a Valentine’s gift, it’ll be even more special if you join your partner in putting it together—preferably with a glass of champagne in hand!
Price: $21.95 at Walmart
BBOLDIN Butterfly Treehouse Puzzle
Image: AmazonWhat to expect: Toward the end of January—when the real world starts to feel a little dreary—you might prefer a fantastical image that takes you to another realm. How about this one, which looks like it’s straight out of a fairy tale? When you complete this 1,000-piece puzzle, you’ll have a gorgeous, luminescent tree house castle that seems to be attracting lots of colorful, fluttering butterflies.
Considerations: This one is so pretty, you might want to frame it.
Price: $14.99 at Amazon
MasterPieces ‘80s Greatest Artists
Image: TargetWhat to expect: Do you pine for the days when the radio was always playing songs by Cory Hart, Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper and Salt-N-Pepa? This 1,000-piece puzzle features all of those ‘80s-era pop stars and many others. As you snap the INXS pieces next to the ones forming Billy Idol, you and your friends can sing their best songs.
Considerations: The ‘80s isn’t your musical decade? No worries—MasterPieces also has puzzles about singers from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘90s.
Price: $18.99 at Target
White Mountain Broadway Musicals
Image: AmazonWhat to expect: If you prefer your music belted from a Broadway stage, consider this 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle. It’s jam-packed with images of over 30 hit musicals, going back to the 1920s. Once the puzzle is complete, even avid Broadway aficionados may have a tough time naming each one pictured.
Considerations: Younger friends will recognize “Wicked” and “Mama Mia,” while older theater lovers will probably be able to spot “Porgy and Bess,” “Hair” and “Bye Bye Birdie.”
Price: $19.99 at Amazon
Eeboo Piece and Love Jane Austen’s Book Club
Image: Macy’sWhat to expect: As you configure this 1,000-piece puzzle, you can imagine yourself in the fictitious book club it depicts. The other members besides Austin? The illustrious female novelists pictured are Mary Shelley, Zora Neale Hurston, George Eliot and Virginia Woolf.
Considerations: Do you love Jane Austen best of all? You might opt for a puzzle that’s exclusively dedicated to her and her beloved characters.
Price: $21.99 at Macy’s
Bgraamiens 3D Visual Sunrise Modern Art Puzzle
Image: AmazonWhat to expect: This 1,000-piece puzzle doubles as a work of modern abstract art. Its 3D visual design gives the impression of layers and texture, and its warm colors are soothing and tranquil.
Considerations: Circular puzzles like this one obviously don’t have the square end pieces that puzzlers use to anchor the image. Jigsaw veterans will love this extra challenge!
Price: $16.99 at Amazon
Eurographics Vincent Van Gogh Starry Night
Image: Kohl’sWhat to expect: Fine art jigsaw puzzles are a category unto themselves, so art lovers can piece together iconic works from Klimt, Vermeer, and Seurat, among many others. This 1,000-piece image of Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” is among the most famous of his masterpieces.
Considerations: Would you like to work on a puzzle that features several great paintings at once? You can buy this one that features Botticelli, Renoir, Monet, Gaugin and many more.
Price: $18.99 at Kohl’s
Pickforu National Parks Puzzle
Image: AmazonWhat to expect: Travel enthusiasts (who also love puzzles) can turn their jigsaw activity into a time of bucket-list dreaming. Have you yearned to venture across the country to see all of the national parks? This puzzle will remind you of your goal.
Considerations: You might also enjoy piecing together this collection of famous world landmarks while discussing which ones you’d like to visit.
Price: $21.99 (orig. $29.99) at Amazon
Bgraamiens Puzzle-Floating Numbers
Image: AmazonWhat to expect: With its colorful, floating numbers (some of which seem to be popping forward), this visually arresting, 1,000-piece puzzle will be endlessly fascinating to put together.
Considerations: Newbies should keep in mind that its complex pattern makes it extra challenging. On the other hand, its low price certainly makes it worth a try.
Price: $9.99 at Amazon
Piecework Bookworm Puzzle
Image: Bloomingdale’sWhat to expect: With 500 pieces and lots of different colors, this puzzle is a good option for amateur puzzlers. It would also make a great gift for a teacher friend who loves puzzles.
Considerations: 500 pieces make this an easier puzzle to solve. If you’d like a book theme but want a bigger challenge, this puzzle featuring a dream-like bookshelf “dam” is 1,000 pieces and has much more muted hues.
Price: $34 at Bloomingdale’s
Spyglass Fun Confetti
Image: AmazonWhat to expect: This puzzle has lots of bright colors, but its complex, repeating pattern and circular design will require several afternoons of your attention.
Considerations: This is a difficult puzzle, not for newbies. Another advanced option for someone with many previous puzzles under their belt is this 1,000-piece, black-and-white-lined puzzle from the same company.
Price: $16.99 at Amazon
White Mountain Pencil Collage
Image: AmazonWhat to expect: This interesting collection of back-to-back pencils was created by an artist who literally glued hundreds of ad agency pencils into a frame. The sheer multitude of writing implements and the variety of colors make this a scene that never gets boring.
Considerations: Want a slightly easier puzzle that sticks with the pencil theme? This rainbow-colored one should do the trick.
Price: $19.99 at Amazon
Time Warp Puzzle Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle
Image: AmazonWhat to expect: This is a jigsaw puzzle with a fun twist. The image on the box depicts a certain place during the day. The puzzle you’ll put together depicts that same place—but at night. There will be similarities and differences, so you’ll have to look extra carefully at each piece.
Considerations: What will be different, besides darker colors? Here’s a hint: The cats pictured have secret lives, and they do different things when people aren’t around. As you put the pieces together, you’ll uncover the mystery!
Price: $24.95 at Amazon
The post Adulting Just Got Fun Dive into the Best Jigsaw Puzzles appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
