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It’s official: it’s time to unplug and go analogue! In 2026, we’re ditching the screens to enjoy face-to-face creativity, reconnect with nature and immerse ourselves in our communities – it’s goodbye to the doom scroll and hello to a nourished soul! From tactile, grounding crafts such as collage art and perfume making, to cosy grandma hobbies like knitting and crochet, this year's creativity is hands-on, heart-warming and beautifully nostalgic.
In the digital age, staying connected to analogue is more important than ever – we need social connection and creativity to thrive. Ditching the screens is not only good for your mental health, but also for helping us feel less lonely.
So whether you want to meet a few fresh faces, kick that Instagram habit or you’re just looking for a little bit of inspiration, we’ve done some handy research on our most-searched creative experiences that’ll add vibrancy and creativity to your life in 2026. It’s time to stop scrolling, turn off your TV and get ready to reconnect with your creativity!
Embrace sentimentality with collage and zine making
We’ve gotten into a strange habit that often goes unnoticed – all of our pictures and heartfelt memories are stuck on our phones, lost amongst thousands of screenshots. We’re scribbling down ramblings and feelings in our notes apps, jammed between shopping lists and saved passwords.
Collage and zine making invites us to put these memories, thoughts and feelings back into the real world. With more and more people opting for physical media over digital, it’s the perfect time to get those pictures printed and turn your precious memories into beautiful artwork! You’ll be in good company as well: with searches for paper collage on TikTok up by almost 90% in the last 6 months, there’s never been a better time to grab the scissors and get inspired.
3 reasons why you’ll love it:
- It’s a lovely chance to get creative with your memories. Think cute paper, washi tape, magazine clippings and all of your favourite colours.
- You’ll have something tangible to keep – whether it’s for you, or you want to create a zine for a sentimental friend.
- It’s a gorgeous way to explore your creativity and express yourself – if you’ve got some secret poems hidden away in your notes app, get them written out and decorate them with those stickers you’ve been saving for the “right” moment.
Classes that embrace this trend:
- Always wondered how to start scrapbook journaling and ready to dive in? Try it yourself in a supportive environment where materials are provided for you in this collage making workshop in London. or this relaxing collage experience in Manchester.
- Learn how to make a book for your next big zine project in this introduction to bookbinding class in Edinburgh.
Get cosy with grandma hobbies
These hands-on, tactile crafts might have once just been something we spotted our granny doing – but now, we’re embracing traditional creativity and their popularity is at an all time high. From crochet to knitting and embroidery, these are the cosiest offline activities around and they’re having such a moment! We’re not the only ones who think so either: the amount of crafters browsing our embroidery classes has lifted 161% in 2025 compared to 2024, so it’s a great time to grab your hook or needles and get stuck in!
In the midst of everyday life filled with long commutes and constant screens, old fashioned crafts like crochet and embroidery offer us the chance to switch off and reconnect with ourselves. These ‘grandma hobbies’ are perfect for analogue living – they’re grounded, screen free and help us feel connected to time-honoured, heritage crafts.
3 reasons why you’ll love it:
- Embroidery, crochet and knitting are super useful skills to have – whether you’re a lover of handmade over store bought or you love to whip up your own gifts, you can’t go wrong with these.
- Once you get the hang of the stitches, it’s a lovely mindful process. Picture it – hot cup of tea in your favourite mug and calm music playing as you craft. Forget going out, cosy grandma nights are in!
- You get to make something completely original! Any time you complete a project, you’ll feel a great sense of accomplishment that you made something with your own hands.
Classes that embrace this trend:
- Learn these fun skills from scratch and try custom hand embroidery in this embroidery basics taster class in London, or this beginners embroidery workshop in Edinburgh.
- Delve into the art of crochet and start working on your adorable boho granny square cardigan in this beginners guide to crocheting in Manchester.
Connect with the outdoors with nature-based crafts
We’re all super busy these days – juggling work, socialising and other responsibilities means we’re spending less and less time connecting with nature. We’ve all seen beautiful scenery or a lush, green forest scrolling on Instagram, but in 2026, we’re craving the real thing – with the amount of budding plant parents browsing our gardening classes lifting over 350% in 2025 compared to 2024, and a huge 5.2million posts tagged with #growyourownfood on Instagram, we think the green revolution has definitely arrived!
Nature-based crafts give us a chance to go back to our roots, living off the land and using greenery to brighten up our home spaces. Whether you’re learning how to grow your own vegetables or hand-crafting a gorgeous terrarium for your window sill, you’re sure to enjoy the mindful calm that comes along with connecting with nature. The best part? You don’t need any skills or fancy tools – our classes offer the perfect way in!
3 reasons why you’ll love it:
- Feeling fatigued with big city life? Trying DIY nature crafts will give you the escape you need – even if it’s just for a mindful afternoon of creating.
- It doesn't get lovelier than surrounding yourself with greenery! Working on your vegetable garden or tending to a lovely collection of houseplants will leave you feeling nourished and in tune with the world around you!
- Nature provides mental health benefits! Whether you already live in the countryside or you’re in a big city, more nature and greenery has been proven to help boost your mood.
Classes that embrace this trend:
- Imagine how proud you’d feel if you made soup from your own veggies – find out how in this grow your own vegetables class in London.
- Make a vibrant self-sustaining eco-system in this terrarium making class in Manchester.
- Explore the art of traditional Japanese flower arrangement in this ikebana taster workshop in London, designed to nurture harmony between nature and humanity.
Recentre yourself with sensory perfume making
In 2026, we’re reconnecting with ourselves and what we like – and that extends to beauty and self care, too. With the folks at Pinterest predicting scent stacking as the self-care trend of the moment, and the amount of crafters browsing our perfume making classes lifting 100% in 2025, we think 2026 will be the year of creating fragrances as unique as you!
Perfume making is a long-standing tradition – as we work on grounding ourselves, staying screen-free and giving analogue living a try, what better way than to try your hand at this lovely, sensory craft? Pick your favourite fragrances and learn how to stack them, combined with essential oils for a little extra self care.
3 reasons why you’ll love it:
- It’s a practical, traditional craft that’ll leave you with a physical keepsake. Every time you use a spritz and layer your favourite scents, you’ll feel a little bit more you.
- It'll provide you with a mindful break. In the busyness of everyday life, you’ll love having the chance to enjoy a slow, mindful craft and engage your senses!
- Guaranteed compliments every time you leave the house – and you can proudly share that you picked and layered each note yourself. Let’s smell gorgeous in 2026!
Classes that embrace this trend:
- Make a DIY perfume with essential oils in this perfume making class in London for mindful fun.
- Level it up in this perfume making workshop in Manchester – make three scents and learn how to layer them for extra loveliness.
- Make a homemade perfume that’ll be stored online for you to use again and again in this perfume making workshop in Edinburgh.
Find vibrancy and colour with DIY dopamine decor
In 2026, we’re saying goodbye to minimalism and prioritising joyful interiors, packed with colour, pattern and all things bright – and handmade! Pinterest Predicts notes that 'FunHaus’ decor will be a trend this year, with clown-like interiors everywhere – think a circus, but make it chic. Instead of scrolling interiors and DIY projects online, we’re making it a reality with handmade, colourful crafts.
One of the main motivations for this analogue era is a connection to the past, before constant screens and distractions. It’s no surprise we’re seeking out visuals that spark joy, with colourful, nostalgic interiors that we might have enjoyed just as much in our childhood bedrooms. Let’s swap bright screens for vibrant environments and add a little bit more whimsy into our lives!
3 reasons why you’ll love it:
- This decor style lends itself to limitless crafts – think vibrant, abstract painting and fun DIYs like colourful candle painting. With 97% more people browsing our glass and mosaic classes in 2025, and 50% more eyes on our bendy candle making class, we think it’s time to decorate your space with things you’ve made yourself and more you!
- Opting for handmade home decor over store bought gives you full creative freedom. – and better yet? It’s the greener choice, too.
- You’ll find happiness in the DIY process – you want to learn how to paint so you can cover your doors in flowers? Do it!
Classes that embrace this trend:
- Ready to do some DIY crafts for home decor? Create candles almost too gorgeous to burn in this bendy boy candle making workshop in London or try this tufting workshop to make your own rug!
- Master your painting skills and make your own wall art in this freestyle painting workshop in Manchester.
- Make a beautiful tiled heart or coaster in this mosaic making class in Edinburgh for the most whimsical decor!
Looking ahead: the future of crafting
As we step back and look at the big picture, one thing is crystal clear – we’re looking for hands-on, meaningful creativity in 2026. Martha Stewart lays it out perfectly in her morning routine – prioritise yourself, do meaningful activities and most importantly – embrace the quiet! Whether you’ve already got your analogue bag packed or you’re simply curious, this is your year to focus on you and your creativity.
Across this lovely range of crafts to try this year, they all have a few things in common – less doom scrolling, more sensory engagement and creativity as connection to not only each other, but ourselves and the world around us too.
