New Adventures Ahead! (January 2020 Wallpapers)

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Happy 2020! Let’s welcome the new year with wallpapers created by the community for the community. Available with and without a calendar for January, they’ll help guide you through your first adventures of 2020.

Let’s welcome 2020 with a new wallpaper! After all, the new year is the perfect occasion to tidy up your desktop and start on a fresh, blank slate - no clutter, just the things you really need and space for what’s about to come. And some inspiration, of course.

As every month since more than nine years already, artists and designers from across the globe once again took out their favorite tools to create wallpapers to inspire you, make you smile, think, or just to cater for a blob of color on a dark winter day. The wallpapers are available in versions with and without a calendar for January 2020 and can be downloaded for free. And since this little challenge has brought forth so many unique artworks over the past few years, we also assembled a selection of older January favorites at the end of this post. We wish you a wonderful start into the new year and a lot of exciting adventures to cross your way in 2020!

Please note that:

  • All images can be clicked on and lead to the preview of the wallpaper,
  • We respect and carefully consider the ideas and motivation behind each and every artist’s work. This is why we give all artists the full freedom to explore their creativity and express emotions and experience through their works. This is also why the themes of the wallpapers weren’t anyhow influenced by us but rather designed from scratch by the artists themselves.

Submit your wallpaper

Do you have an idea for a February wallpaper design? We are always looking for creative talent to be featured in our wallpapers posts. Don’t be shy, join in! →

New Year, New Beginnings

- Designed by MasterBundles from USA

New Year, New Beginnings

Winter Night

“The tradition of making cute wallpapers continues. At the beginning of the year 2020, a new wallpaper will grace your screen throughout the month of January, which is generally considered to be a cold and short month. Therefore it is the dark hue that prevails, the festive atmosphere from the end of last year continues, as well as the rest from the work and having some time with your loved ones. We usually rest somewhere far from the city, on the mountain, enjoying the winter spells, sledding and skiing. These are the moments that make this month so special.”- Designed by Milos Mitrovic from Serbia.

Winter Night

National Popcorn Day

“In this epic Netflix and Chill era, nothing has gotten more important than popcorn during the newest blockbuster! Time to gain awareness about celebrating our delicious guilty pleasure during the movies! A little story around the wallpaper: Mr Popcorn and Mrs Popcorn are enjoying a great movie with… You guessed it right, popcorn!! But Mr Popcorn is somewhat annoyed as his Mrs eats Popcorn from his head instead of eating from the bucket right in between the loved ones.” - Designed by Nicolas van der Straten Ponthoz from Belgium

National Popcorn Day

It’s Snowing!

“It is January, it’s cold and snowy… In the house, the fireplace is on and it’s hot. Only penguins are enjoying time out there.” - Designed by Veronica Valenzuela from Spain

It’s Snowing!

Month Of The Garnet Birthstone

“I wanted to approach the monthly challenge from a more unique perspective. Instead of chosing a cliché subject that has been done way too many times before, I chose a less known, special subject. The birthstone. Enjoy.” - Designed by Bram Copermans from Belgium

Month of the Garnet Birthstone

Rubber Ducky Day

“Winter can be such a gloomy time of the year. The sun sets earlier, the wind feels colder and our heating bills skyrocket. I hope to brighten up your month with my wallpaper for Rubber Ducky Day!” - Designed by Ilya Plyusnin from Belgium

Rubber Ducky Day

Good Intentions

- Designed by Jonathan Verhaegen from Belgium

Good intentions

The King Of Rock And Roll

“On January 8th 1935, the creator of the rock ‘n’ roll genre was born and he’s back for his final debut on this wallpaper!” - Designed by Bailey Lievens from Belgium

The King Of Rock And Roll

Aquaman

“Aquaman relaxing in the ‘nice’ January weather.” - Designed by Ricardo Gimenes from Sweden

Aquaman

Laughter Is An Instant Vacation

“These are polarized times we’re living through. It seems like there is division all around. So sometimes you just have to find the time to remember that the one thing that connects us all is a good laugh. And there is no better laugh than the belly laugh! So on the 24th of January, let’s celebrate one of life’s truly great joys and let it all hang out!” - Designed by Ever Increasing Circles from the United Kingdom

Laughter Is An Instant Vacation

Chocolate Cake Day

“I really love chocolate cake, so when I found out about “Chocolate Cake Day” I had to make a wallpaper about it!” - Designed by Aaron Claes from Belgium

Chocolate Cake Day

Earth’s Rotation Day

- Designed by Bob Storms from Belgium

Earth’s Rotation Day

Go Green & Save The Earth

“Taking care of the Earth is not just a responsibility, it’s a necessity. So I designed a wallpaper to remind everyone what we can do to help save the planet.” - Designed by Farhat Asif from India

Go Green & Save The Earth

Stickers From The 70’s

“I didn’t want to make a typical New Year themed wallpaper for January so I started looking for fun ideas. Apparently January 13th is day of the stickers and so I made something original with this. I wanted to add an extra challenge that was totally out of my comfort zone. So I designed everything in seventies style. Grooovy baby!” - Designed by Bastien Corens from Belgium

Stickers from the 70's

The Wolf’s Month

“I love wolves!” - Designed by Morgane Van Achter from Belgium

Wolfs month

Oldies But Goodies

The beginning of something new, the colors of winter, local New Year’s traditions - these are just a few of the things that inspired people to create a January wallpaper over the years. Below you’ll find a selection of designs from our archives that are just too good to be forgotten. Enjoy! (Please note that these wallpapers don’t come with a calendar.)

Start Somewhere

“If we wait until we’re ready, we’ll be waiting for the rest of our lives. Start today - somewhere, anywhere.” - Designed by Shawna Armstrong from the United States

Start Somewhere

Facts

“I was reminded of a simple fact while I was browsing for inspiration for this wallpaper. I’ve read on Wikipedia that January is the coldest month on most of the northern hemisphere and the hottest one on most of the southern hemisphere. I found it fascinating that someone in Australia is enjoying a surf while I am watching the first snowflakes of the winter. I was hoping to create a wallpaper that will serve as a reminder of the fact that we live in a fascinating world full of varieties and contrasts. The old-worn-out-encyclopedia style hopefully emphasizes the educational theme of the wallpaper. - Designed by Danijel Gajan from Serbia

Smashing Desktop Wallpapers - January 2012

Hidden Gem

“Kingfishers are called ‘ijsvogels’ (ice-birds) in Dutch. Not because they like the winter cold, but because of the intense blue and teal colors…” - Designed by Franke Margrete from the Netherlands

Hidden Gem

Freedom

“It is great to take shots of birds and think about the freedom they have. Then I start dreaming of becoming one and flying around the world with their beautiful wings.” - Designed by Marija Zaric from Belgrade, Serbia

Freedom

January Is The Month For Dreaming

“It can be very hot in Australia and very cold in Europe so I think that it is a good month for dreaming and making plans.” - Designed by Tazi from Australia

January Is The Month For Dreaming

Travel And Explore

“For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. (Leonardo da Vinci)” - Designed by Dipanjan Karmakar from India

Travel & Explore

A New Beginning

“I wanted to do a lettering-based wallpaper because I love lettering. I chose January because for a lot of people the new year is perceived as a new beginning and I wish to make them feel as positive about it as possible! The idea is to make them feel like the new year is (just) the start of something really great.” - Designed by Carolina Sequeira from Portugal

A New Beginning

Open The Doors Of The New Year

“January is the first month of the year and usually the coldest winter month in the Northern hemisphere. The name of the month of January comes from ‘ianua’, the Latin word for door, so this month denotes the door to the new year and a new beginning. Let’s open the doors of the new year together and hope it will be the best so far!” - Designed by PopArt Studio from Serbia

Open the Doors of the New Year

“I wanted to try my hand at creating a low poly illustration and thought a champagne glass would be fun.” - Designed by Denise Johnson from Chicago

Pop, Fizz, Clink

Oaken January

“In our country, Christmas is celebrated in January when oak branches and leaves are burnt to symbolize the beginning of the New Year and new life. It’s the time when we gather with our families and celebrate the arrival of the new year in a warm and cuddly atmosphere.”- Designed by PopArt Studio from Serbia

Oaken January

Snowy Octopus

Snowy Octopus

Soft Wishes

“Let yourself be carried away by the delicate desires of your heart” - Designed by Katia Piccinni from Italy

Smashing Desktop Wallpapers - January 2012

Boom!

Boom.

The Early January Bird

“January is the month of a new beginning, hope and inspiration. That’s why it reminds me of an early bird.” - Designed by Zlatina Petrova from Bulgaria

The Early January Bird

Winter Leaves

  • Designed by Nathalie Ouederni from France
Winter Leaves

Caucasian Mountains

“From Caucasus with love!” - Designed by Ilona from Russia

Smashing Desktop Wallpapers - January 2012

Wolf-Month

“Wolf-month (in Dutch “wolfsmaand”) is another name for January.” - Designed by Chiara Faes from Belgium

Wolf-Month

Be Awesome Today

“A little daily motivation to keep your cool during the month of January.” - Designed by Amalia Van Bloom from the United States

be awesome today

Blue Neon Sign

Smashing Desktop Wallpaper — January 2013

Join In Next Month!

Thank you to all designers for their participation. Join in next month!

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Further Reading

Smashing Editorial (cm, il, mrn)