33 Lotus Flower Tattoo Ideas

For a botanical-inspired tattoo that’s not just any flower tattoo, consider the meaningful and gorgeous lotus flower. Lotus flower tattoos not only look beautiful, but they also symbolize purity, enlightenment, and growth. It is attributed to these qualities because the lotus flower grows from mud and murky water. From the muck, nature’s magical beauty emerges in the form of these flowers. That’s why lotus flowers prove such powerful symbols to so many people.

We wanted to get a better understanding of the lotus flower tattoos people are getting these days so we looked to Instagram to discover which designs and ideas are red-hot right now We saw so much variety among lotus flower tattoos. They range from small and unassuming to giant and full of detail. Due to the lotus flower’s importance in Eastern Religions, especially Buddhism, we saw plenty of added symbolism and imagery to fortify just how special the lotus flower is. Now, go find a lotus flower design that works for you.

Discover the Perfect Design for Your Lotus Flower Tattoo Below:

Delicate, Light Pink Lotus Flower

If you’re after something delicate, forego black ink altogether for a lotus flower tattoo that appears to float in the air. A nice blush-meets-orange blossom looks so warm and inviting.

Ultra-Fine Lines

If you’re not interested in colorful ink, consider going thin with black ink for an equally delicate look that offers a touch more definition. This example also shows some really lovely shading.

Dainty and Ornamental

You will see lotus flower tattoos of all shapes and sizes on this list. This one is on the smaller side which would be perfect for those wanting a modest tattoo.

A Colorful Gem

Wow! The ink colors used for this vibrant design are just right. Everything seems to gel together in this treasure of a lotus flower tattoo.

With Unalome

In Buddhism, the unalome symbol represents a path to enlightenment. The spiral characterizes the crown or head of Buddha. It’s paired with the lotus flower often and it could be the right pairing for you.

Floating with the Fish

There’s such an ethereal, liquid quality to this design that features warm tones on both the fish and the lotus blossom. It’s pure magic.

Simplicity Is Bliss

You don’t have to reinvent the wheel for your lotus flower tattoo. Straightforward designs are always welcome and you can see an example of the virtue in the above example.

Moody Magic

A subtle ombré makes this lotus flower tattoo with black petals really pop for all the right reasons. The petals offer tons of texture while the colorful inks bring warmth and life to the design.

Rainbow Realness

We’ve got another example of some ombré action in this tattoo that changes from warm pinks to a cool blue. Work with a tattoo artist with an eye for color and you could walk away with something equally as mesmerizing.

Traditional Style

Here’s the first American Traditional-style lotus flower tattoo on this list. Interpretations of this flower in this style vary greatly. We find this one to be a big success.

As Light As Air

Super crisp lines make this example a remarkable one. The lines vary in thickness and offer tons of visual interest.

Almost Abstract

We’ll show you a more straightforward watercolor tattoo later on this list but this is also an example we feel fits that description. A swirl of color is full of energy with the small lotus flower tattoo detail at the top-right edge. What an interesting design!

Micro Baby

Micro tattoos are a big trend these days. If you’re interested in going small, you can do something similar or go even tinier with a stick and poke tattoo.

RELATED: 30 Lotus Tattoo Ideas That Symbolize Purity & Enlightenment

Red and Black Lines

“Be like a lotus, trust in the light, grow through the dirt, believe in new beginnings,” the person who shared this image captioned it. Red and black inks look smashing together and you should consider the combination to make a real statement.

Big and Bold

We didn’t know we’d stumble across a lotus flower tattoo that would seem to read as “goth lotus,” but here we are. It’s been made to look as if black ink has splattered all around it. This gives the tattoo a sense of action and movement.

Housed in a Mandala

Mandala tattoos are also wildly popular today. The meditative designs come in all sorts of styles and shapes and sizes. This notable one wraps around a lotus flower that appears housed inside of it.

The Thickness

Here’s an interesting point of view. We find the lotus blossom tattooed with extremely thick lines which looks so graphic and visually stunning. It’s not the way we’d think to go but it totally works on this person.

A Marvel

Color has been applied so that it appears transparent and ghost-like on the skin. There’s a very cool jewel detail at the top of the tattoo that seems to capture and reflect all of the beautiful colors beneath it.

Perfectly Paired

Here’s another pairing of pink and light blue that also slays. The tattoos are similar with certain design elements shared in each. Work with your artist to get a spiritual cousin for your own lotus flower tattoo.

Haunting

The tattoo artist who shared this image explained that the concept was lotus flowers through an X-ray. We think they nailed it. “The lotus blooms beautifully from the mud,” a short quote underneath states.

Red Is Rad

We try and do this with every tattoo list we prepare! Red ink is such a thrilling option that is such an upgrade from standard black. If you’re not wildly into colorful tattoos, consider just one. Red really pops off of many skin tones and looks much better than just black, especially for simple designs.

Minimal Yet Impactful

If you take a less is more approach to many aspects of your life, a design like this one could be the right lotus flower tattoo for you. It’s a very simple yet bold, black design that packs a punch without much fanfare.

Dot Work

Dot work is a term of art in tattooing that refers to shading and other applications of tiny dots to create texture and even shapes. The lotus blossom seems ghostly in this design thanks to the application of dots. What a thrill!

Off to a Great Start

This is the start of a tattoo sleeve and we must say it was so good we had to show it to you before it was finished. A natural scene will be perfect if you’re wanting a lotus flower tattoo that provides a lot of coverage.

Watercolor Wonder

Here’s the straightforward watercolor tattoo that we promised earlier. As you can see the color has been applied in such a way to mimic watercolor painting. It’s playful and full of energy and undeniably beautiful.

A Surreal Scene

Here’s a surreal and cosmic half-sleeve design that really looks otherworldly. The lotus flower portion of the tattoo looks unlike any other design on this list. What a dream!

A Gentle Reminder

“Think twice before you speak and three times before you act,” the old maxim reads from this tattoo. If you’ve got a quote that you need on your body, pair it with a lotus flower tattoo for a finished and romantic look.

Anchor Meets Lotus

What a cool concept! We find a sort of single-line drawing in the shape of an anchor that seems to contain a lotus flower. It’s one of the most interesting lotus flower tattoos on this list and a completely original idea.

A Peaceful Om Scene

We find an Om symbol that looks as if it’s been painted on with a brush. The surrounding botanical scene is lush with leaves and even a bee. Nice work!

Another Traditional Take

Here’s another traditional-style tattoo that looks way different than the last one that we showed you. Interpretations in this style are varied so be specific with your tattoo artist about the elements you want it to include.

Ornamental Petals

Here’s another one of the ornamental lotus flower tattoos. We find the petals decorated with simple shapes that are pleasing to behold.

Mimicking Engraving

The tattoo artist who shared this image noted that the person tattooed here “collects” lotus flower tattoos. This one was made to look like an engraving. We’d say they nailed it.

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Sketch-Inspired

Finally, we leave you with a sub-genre, of sorts, to the watercolor tattoo. Sketch tattoos use lines that you might find in comics or animation to bring a subject to life. Take. a look at all of those thin lines that are reminiscent of drawing on paper. We leave you with this fun design and hopefully much more to consider!

Did you find the perfect style of lotus flower tattoo for you? There are many options and directions to take your design so just work with an artist you trust to help realize your unique vision. While it’s always good to look at other lotus flower tattoos for inspiration, you don’t want to rip off someone else’s design. Make it all your own!