Big List of Hobby Ideas for Creative People

Whether you’re desperately in need of some creative hobbies in your life or you’re just looking to branch out, sometimes all you need to get started is inspiration. Or in this case, a big list of hobby ideas.

I’m a huge advocate for crafting in particular, but it’s not the only way to express yourself artistically. Any of the activities in the following list of hobby ideas can help you flex your creative muscles, focus your free time and maybe even make some money.

The Fiber Arts: Craft Hobby Ideas

First, my list of hobby ideas will run through my personal favorites: fiber arts. If you love the idea of sewing, cross-stitching or knitting, then take a look at these options.

1. Knitting

Naturally, I’m not going to start off a list of creative hobby ideas any other way. Knitting has been my hobby of choice for years now. It’s relaxing, it makes wonderful gifts, and you can even do this while you watch TV. How could you go wrong?

You can learn to knit in a few ways, and the startup cost is low. Head to a local yarn shop and pick up some straight knitting needles and worsted weight yarn. Then, ask a crafter friend for lessons, join a knitting class or simply learn on your own with the help of YouTube.

2. Crocheting

Crocheting has all the great benefits of knitting, just with a different approach. Many crafters believe it’s a bit easier for quick projects, as the stitches are larger and mistakes easier to fix. But if you can’t decide, I’d suggest picking one for now and learning the other later — many hobbyists tackle both skills!

Again, head to your local yarn shop and pick up a crochet hook and yarn. You can ask for guidance if you’re not sure what to get. Then, learn online or in a crafting community to get started on your crochet journey.

3. Embroidery

Embroidery is the art of stitching designs into fabric using a needle and thread. It’s a classic creative hobby with a long history, meaning you’ll be joining the ranks of thousands of great crafters. If you have a great attention to detail and love the idea of focusing on delicate, lovely designs, then it’s a great pick for you.

Getting started with embroidery requires a few tools, like the appropriate fabric, needles, and hoop for your preferred style and type. Like with most crafting hobbies, you can easily get started with online tutorials and advance your skills over time.

4. Needlepoint

Needlepoint is just a form of embroidery, but as it has a distinct style, I’ve given it its own category. Artists work with a needlepoint canvas and blunt tip tapestry needles to stitch patterns laid out in needlepoint charts. It’s a delicate, detailed craft hobby that’s sure to be a relaxing outlet for anyone.

If you’re looking to get into needlepoint specifically, keep it simple to start with the basic canvas, needles, yarn and thread you need to learn. As you advance, you’ll pick up fancier techniques and learn how to accent your work with different kinds of thread.

5. Sewing

Sewing is a versatile crafting hobby idea. Once you learn how to do it, you can make your own clothes, put together pillow covers and design killer costumes. Of course, it’s going to take some practice to get to that point.

Learning to sew requires a sewing machine (or, perhaps, immense patience), fabric for the projects you’re interested in, and various odds and ends including scissors, pins and seam rippers. Make sure you follow online tutorials carefully and take the time to learn your machinery before trying complicated sewing projects.

6. Quilting

Love the idea of crafting intricate quilts for everyone you love? Quilting can be both therapeutic and wildly creative, but it does require some time invested to learn the ropes first. Once you get the basics down, you can start working on designs that inspire you.

Quilting can get expensive, but that doesn’t mean you have to break your budget to learn the skill. Start collecting the basic supplies, pay attention to what fabric you choose, and follow along with online guides or local crafting groups to pick up new techniques and ideas.

Food and Drink Hobby Ideas

Needlework and fiber arts not doing it for you? If you have a sweet tooth or find kitchen adventures compelling, then the following creative hobby ideas should be an excellent pick for your next learning experience.

7. Cooking

Needlework and fiber arts not doing it for you? How about an activity you likely already do multiple times a week? Cooking isn’t only a necessity; it can be an art form, too. Start with the basics by learning techniques and flavors first, then put them together into delicious dishes.

Cooking doesn’t need to be expensive. Brush up on knife skills, collect a few spices and start working with what you have. You can learn techniques with Food Network, YouTube and blogs galore.

8. Baking

Baking is a little more particular than cooking, which makes this creative hobby more science-focused. But between tackling bread-making, cake decorating and unique flavor combinations, there are tons of ways to think creatively and learn new skills over time.

Take the time to learn the science behind the bakes. Then, get in your kitchen and start practicing techniques. My favorite resource for getting started with fancier bakes was Kitchn’s Baking School, which offers both lessons and “assignments” for beginners. Make sure to throw on a season of The Great British Bake Off if you’re ever in need of inspiration.

9. Mixology

Of all choices in this list of hobby ideas, maybe you want one that’s a little less wholesome and a little more fun at parties. Crafting cocktails is an art form, and you can learn to mix impressive drinks from the comfort of your home bar with some patience and practice.

Mixology can certainly get pricey, especially if you’re considered about the quality and variety of your alcohol. To get started, try mastering a few of the classics using the basics. As you learn what makes good drinks tick, you can pick up new, experimental ingredients and start creating new mixes for your friends and family.

Home Goods: Creative Hobby Ideas

The following are classic creative outlets that will help you fill your home with lovely, handmade goods. From soap to candles to antique furniture, here are some ideas to start a home-based endeavor that could even grow into a small business.

10. Soap-Making

Handmade soap is all natural, creative and a timeless gift for anyone you know. Plus, soap making is one way to get creative without a huge expense.

Soap is essentially a chemical reaction between fats/oils and lye, and it’s not hard to learn how to make it happen. You can either purchase blocks of unprocessed soap to melt and pour or make a mix from scratch. Then, you can add fragrances and color to your heart’s content.

11. Candle-Making

If you can’t resist sniffing every product at a candle store, then you might want to turn to making candles at home. It’s pretty inexpensive to start, and soon you’ll have nice, customized candles to burn every night at home.

You’ll need to invest in some type of wax, wicks, containers, a double boiler and any fragrance you’re interested in. With time and practice, you’ll soon be bringing in your husband’s coworkers as unwitting investors and making zero dollars a year (plus benefits, babe)!

12. Wood Carving

Wood carving might be a great creative hobby for you if whittling sounds fun — and you don’t mind cleaning up some wood shavings. With lots of wood types to choose from and figures to carve, it’s a hobby with beautiful and tangible results.

Make sure you put your own safety first. Invest in a quality carving knife and a protective glove, then go crazy with some great beginner’s wood.

13. Furniture Restoration

Bargain hunters can step up their interest in antique furniture by taking up furniture restoration. Check out a few garage sales and vintage shops for great finds, then refinish, paint and decorate away until your piece is unique and perfect.

It will take a learned eye and some careful work to bring furniture back to its former glory. But once you get into it, you can start turning a profit with your one-of-a-kind, quality projects. It’s great for flexing some creative muscle, practicing yoru DIY skills and even padding your wallet.

14. Pottery

Pottery can be a wonderful, therapeutic hobby. Plus, you’ll be filling your home with handmade vases and plates in no time. Unfortunately, it can be expensive to get started, and you probably won’t want to invest in a kin and spinning wheel on a whim.

If you’re looking to learn, look for a local pottery class to get a hang of the art form. Once you feel like pottery is for you, then you can look into starting a home-based studio. What’s nice is that the learning process can help you find a community by necessity!

Hobby Ideas in the Fine Arts

There’s a reason people pursue careers built around music, art and writing. The following ideas may just be hobbies for you, but they’re all ways to engage in meaningful creative expression.

15. Painting

Painting can mean so many different things. Watercolor, acrylic or oil-based? Landscapes or portraits? Contemporary or traditional? Once you learn the basic skills and techniques, you can experiment with painting to create art that reflects any number of emotions, experiences and ideas.

Getting started can be as simple as investing in some canvas and paints and turning on a Bob Ross episode, or joining a local class to paint along with a professional. Try reading a few guides or watching YouTube videos to get a feel for the techniques that can help you become a better painter over time.

16. Drawing

Drawing is another hobby that can mean something entirely different from one artist to the next. While it’s not hard to get started, it does require confidence and direction if you want to make the hobby your own. You’ll also want to learn the fundamentals for shading, control and other skills.

The startup cost for drawing can be low, although as you improve, you’ll be ever more tempted to invest in higher-quality materials. Keep up your confidence and don’t be afraid to seek out help online or in local classes. Soon, you’ll be able to tackle any style you like.

17. Creative Writing

The great thing about creative writing as a passion is that it’s largely cost-free. If you’ve ever felt inclined to take pen to paper — or fingertips to keyboard — then you can get started right away. Like any of the listed hobbies, it serves to take the time to practice the basic techniques and read up on the craft, even if for you, that just means reading more books.

18. Playing an Instrument

Whether you’re a former musician or simply missed the boat back in school, there’s always time to pick up a new musical skill. You don’t have to start as a child to enjoy the great benefits of this creative hobby idea, including improvement in memory, multisensory skills, and reduced stress.

Depending on which instrument you choose, it might be expensive to get started. You may also want to learn more effectively by taking private lessons, where it will be easier to progress and grow your skills. But if your budget is limited, a keyboard at home and an Internet connection can take you far. Plus, there will be constant room for growth, whether you want to learn challenging new pieces or new techniques.

19. Photography

Let’s be upfront. Photography is an expensive hobby, and you’ll likely only spend more money the more advanced you become. But the tradeoff is worth it. Learn the basics, and you’ll soon be critically examining your surroundings looking for the perfect composition. You’ll create beautiful pieces of art from the environment around you, and what could be better than that?

Getting started requires a lot of legwork. Do yourself a favor and research the hobby thoroughly, learning what equipment is a wise investment and what should be put off until later. Then, you’ll need to choose from a huge variety of lenses, camera bodies and other pieces that will affect your work.

Miscellaneous List of Hobby Ideas

To round out this list, here are a few ideas that don’t fit neatly into my previous categories, but are nonetheless wonderful ways to express your creativity.

20. Origami

The art of paper-folding is a great creative hobby for anyone. It’s soothing, it’s inexpensive, and it allows you to gradually advance your skill, crafting ever more complex pieces. You can start with the traditional origami crane, paper plane and envelope before trying more advanced techniques.

You can pick up origami paper at any craft store for a fairly low price, giving you plenty of sheets to practice with. Just make sure you have a plan for all of the cranes you’ll be cranking out.

21. Flower Pressing

Pressed flowers allow you to preserve pieces of your garden, a special celebration or just a beautiful bloom you caught in the park. Better yet, you can use the finished flowers to decorate cards, book covers and home decor, creating memorable and lovely keepsakes for your loved ones.

Pressing flowers doesn’t require much specialized equipment. You can get by with newspaper, blotting paper and other drying agents, and a few heavy books for the pressing itself. Then, all you need is patience and a supply of beautiful flowers to preserve.

22. Scrapbooking

Speaking of keepsakes, there’s no better way to keep track of your photos than to memorialize them in creative page layouts. Scrapbooking is an excellent creative outlet because it’s so varied; you can try out new styles and techniques with every page you make.

Scrapbooking does tend to get pricey, as there are a ton of materials on the market. You’ll want different kinds of paper, glue, cutting tools, buttons, stickers and more, especially if you’re deep into trying out creative techniques. I grew up in a home with an entire room taken up by scrapbooking supplies, so let that be a warning to you all.

23. Journaling

Journaling is a great way to get in touch with your own thoughts. Whether you keep a more formal diary or use the journal to track your weekly habits and experiences, this hobby becomes a way to record — and reflect on — your life. Plus, there are different ways to get crafty. Bullet journaling has become ever more popular in recent years, allowing journalers to create their own layouts and styles with colored pens.

24. Jewelry Making

Jewelry making is yet another option on this list of hobby ideas with a ton of avenues for growth. You can take up a variety of interests within this craft, and really hone in on a jewelry style that reflects you best.

Getting started requires a variety of tools, including a jewelry saw, pliers and files, solder and more. But once you have the basics, you have everything you need to start mastering some of the basic techniques and get more deeply involved in this creative hobby idea.

25. Makeup

Many might overlook beauty as a potential creative hobby, but makeup is an art form. It’s just like any of the ideas listed above — you need the right equipment and a desire to learn, but with time, you can express your passion in a variety of interesting ways. You’re just doing it all on your own face.

YouTube can take you a long way in mastering the basics. You can start learning what products work for you and how you can pull off different looks. Eventually, you could even tackle crazy costume makeup for dramatic results that require tons of time, patience and skill.

Get Started With This List of Hobby Ideas

The twenty-five ideas I shared above barely scratch the surface, but they’re a great jumping off point for anyone seeking a new hobby. There are so many benefits to arts and crafts, and I encourage you to try out a few activities before settling on one that you could really find passion in.

Just remember that with any choice in this list of hobby ideas, you’ll need patience to progress. Nobody masters knitting, writing or music when they’re just getting started. Stick with it and learn the fundamentals first, and you’ll be tackling more advanced skills before you know it.