Opening The Doors To 2023 (January Wallpapers Edition)

Let’s start into the new year with a little inspiration boost: wallpapers created with love by the community for the community. Happy 2023!

The new year is the perfect occasion to tidy up your desktops and home screens and start on a fresh, clean slate — no clutter, just the things you really need and space for what’s about to come. So how about some wallpapers to make the makeover complete and cater for a bit of fresh inspiration this January?

More than eleven years ago, we started our monthly wallpapers series to bring you a new collection of beautiful, unique, and inspiring desktop wallpapers every month. And, of course, this month is no exception.

In this post, you’ll find January wallpapers to inspire, make you smile, or just cater for a bit of color on a dark winter day. All of them are created with love by artists and designers from across the globe and can be downloaded for free. A big thank you to everyone who shared their wallpapers with us — you are truly smashing! Have a happy and healthy 2023, everyone!

  • You can click on every image to see a larger preview,
  • 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 a wallpaper!
    Did you know that you could get featured in our next wallpapers post, too? We are always looking for creative talent.

Bird Bird Bird Bird

“Just four birds, ready for winter.” — Designed by Vlad Gerasimov from Georgia.

Bird Bird Bird Bird

Yogabear

Designed by Ricardo Gimenes from Sweden.

Yogabear

Hoppy New Year

“2023 is the Year of the Rabbit in the Chinese Zodiac. All of us at Mad Fish Digital wish you a Hoppy New Year!” — Designed by Jenna Miller from Portland, OR.

Hoppy New Year

Christmas Snow Globe

“Take a trip down memory lane with this enchanting snow globe.
The little house inside transports you straight to a cozy Christmas atmosphere. 🎄
Shake it up and let the snow fall for an instant winter wonderland.” — Designed by PopArt Studio from Serbia.

Christmas Snow Globe

Dangerous

Designed by Ricardo Gimenes from Sweden.

Dangerous

Winter In The White House

“The new year is here and in this 2023 we will visit some of the best-known buildings around the world. We start with The White House. What will be next?” — Designed by Veronica Valenzuela Jimenez from Spain.

Winter in the White House
More after jump! Continue reading below ↓

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

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

Winter Leaves

Designed by Nathalie Ouederni from France.

Winter Leaves

Don Quijote, Here We Go!

“This year we are going to travel through books, and you couldn’t start with a better one than Don Quijote de la Mancha!” — Designed by Veronica Valenzuela Jimenez from Spain.

Don Quijote, Here We Go!

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

The Little Paradox

Designed by Ricardo Gimenes from Sweden.

The Little Paradox

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

Boom!

Designed by Elise Vanoorbeek from Belgium.

Boom.

Let The Magic Begin

“When the noisy holidays stay behind us and everything calms down to a peaceful setting, it is a perfect moment for the magic to step in and start making our wishes, hopes, and decisions come true. Happy January, everyone!” — Designed by PopArt Studio from Serbia.

Let the Magic Begin

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

Japanese New Year

Designed by Evacomics from Singapore.

Japanese New Year

Happy Hot Tea Month

“You wake me up to a beautiful day; lift my spirit when I’m feeling blue. When I’m home you relieve me of the long day’s stress. You help me have a good time with my loved ones; give me company when I’m all alone. You’re none other than my favourite cup of hot tea.” — Designed by Acodez IT Solutions from India.

Happy Hot Tea Month!

Angel In Snow

Designed by Brainer from Ukraine.

Angel in Snow!

Colorful January

Designed by Nathalie Ouederni from France.

Colorful January

Peaceful Mountains

“When all the festivities are over, all we want is some peace and rest. That’s why I made this simple flat art wallpaper with peaceful colors.” — Designed by Jens Gilis from Belgium.

Peaceful Mountains

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

Wolf-Month

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

Wolf-Month

Snowman

Designed by Ricardo Gimenes from Sweden.

Snowman

“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

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

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

Rest Up For The New Year

“I was browsing for themes when I found this “Festival of Sleep” that takes place on the 3rd, and I’m a big fan of sleep… Especially in these cold months after the holiday craziness, it’s nice to get cozy and take a nice nap.” — Designed by Dorothy Timmer from Central Florida, USA.

Rest Up For The New Year
Smashing Editorial
(cm, il)