Have you been thinking about getting a meaningful small tattoo? Designing it yourself will make it really personal, and no one else will have the same one. While the idea of wearing your own design on your skin can feel daunting, there are lots of simple designs that look amazing.
Whether you want a permanent tattoo or a temporary one, here are several minimalist designs you can personalise. I’ve also edited an example photo for each one so you can see what it might look like on skin.
Tiny and simple tattoo designs
1. Surreal window
Drawing a window is as easy as drawing a rectangle, but the magic lies in the fact that it can open onto any scene you can imagine: a city, a landscape, nature… or even an imaginary world.
2. Serotonin
Serotonin is popularly known as the “happiness hormone”. It is often tattooed as a symbol of happiness and well-being. What’s great about this design is that you can customise the molecule by adding icons representing the things that make you happy, such as love, friends, music, travel, books and nature.
3. Love on fire
This is an easy drawing that expresses the idea of a ‘heart on fire’ or ‘lighting the flame of love’. All you need to do is draw a lit match and replace the match head with a heart.
Is it dedicated to someone special? Then draw their initial inside the heart.
4. Yin yang
The contrast between day and night, light and dark, is always an interesting subject for drawings. As well as day and night, many other opposites can be represented. What other opposites come to mind?
5. Cherries
In many cultures, cherries symbolise abundance, fertility and wealth. Since they grow in pairs, I like to depict them as having contrasting personalities, such as sad and happy or angel and devil.
6. Shark
You can find tons of classic side-view shark drawings online. That’s why I preferred this view from above, which is much more elegant and less scary.
7. Door to…
An open door is an invitation to enter — but where? Rather than opening the door to reveal a dull room, allow your imagination to run wild. Behind it, you could find yourself in outer space, on a beach, in the future or on the ocean floor.
8. Planet
Draw a circle with a ring inside it to make a planet in outer space. Add some stars and enjoy decorating it in different ways, such as adding dots, stripes, rings or craters.
9. Infinite flight
We all know how to draw the infinity symbol. It’s also relaxing to let the pencil flow to create that continuous line. All you need is an eraser to create gaps in the line and draw a flying bird.
10. UFO abducting a cow
This is a very fun design that you can make using basic shapes — perfect if you’re a sci-fi fan! Personalise it however you like by swapping the cow for any other animal, person or object.
11. Flight with a message
We all know how to write; just practise writing the message or name you want with a single continuous line. Add a bird at the end and you have a beautiful tattoo design.
12. Night seascape
A simple scene with a magical touch. Unlike simple curved lines, the spiral waves prevent it from looking plain.
13. Dragonfly
The dragonfly silhouette is one of the most elegant, which is perhaps why it appears so often in tattoos. You can add lots of detail or keep it much simpler.
14. Leaves in the wind
Rather than simply drawing fallen leaves, depict them being carried by the wind. Use leaves from your favourite trees.
15. Mini dinosaur
There’s something fun about drawing such a huge animal on such a tiny scale. Why not try your favourite dinosaur? It’s a great way to practise drawing different shapes.
16. Heart and flower
If you love flowers, this is an easy way to show it. Simply draw your favourite flower with a gently curving stem, then complete the shape of a heart with a single continuous line.
17. Light bulb
A classic bulb can be given a special touch by adding a meaningful shape to its filament.
18. Whale
The great thing about animal tattoos is that they can be made very simple, almost like icons, yet still be perfectly recognisable.
19. Paper airplane
Paper aeroplanes are very easy to draw and can look a bit plain. However, you can make it more interesting by adding different shapes to its flight trail.
20. Arabesque
Using the stylised curved lines of arabesques to draw a flower creates a very elegant design.
21. Dragon
Dragons often symbolise strength, courage and protection, or perhaps you simply admire these mythical creatures. Although dragon tattoos are usually intricate, they can also be depicted with a simple drawing.
22. Swallow
This one is a little more complex, but it is beautiful and poetic. If you pay attention to proportions, it’s not that hard. You could also try drawing your favourite bird using reference photos, such as a sparrow or a dove.
23. Happy cat
Cats are both adorable and elegant, and drawing them will put a smile on your face. Is this a nod to your feline friend? Make it personal by adding their coat colours, spots and stripes.
24. One-line flower
Creating one-line drawings without lifting the pen takes quite a bit of practice. But it’s worth it, as the results are really special.
Before you go
Thank you for reading this far! I hope that this collection of meaningful tiny tattoos has inspired you.
If you enjoyed these sketches and are looking for more inspiration, I’m sure you’ll love this collection!
Would you like me to add anything else? Tell me in the comments!
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