8 Unique Ornamental Tattoo Ideas And Designs With Meanings

Ornamental tattoos are timeless designs that enhance the beauty of the wearer’s body. They have deep symbolic meanings rooted in ancient cultures and traditions. These tattoos originated in the Roman Empire, where people etched beautiful patterns and intricate details on their skin to enhance their natural beauty. Tattoo enthusiasts draw inspiration from Buddhist and Celtic cultures as well for these designs. Thus, along with artistic appeal, they also embody deep symbolic meanings. From mandala art and symmetrical shapes to henna patterns, ornamental tattoos come in all kinds of aesthetic designs. In this article, we have listed 8 ornamental tattoo designs that look beautiful both up close and from afar. Scroll down to check them out!

Meaning Of Ornamental Tattoos

Ornamental tattoos include aesthetic motifs and delicate patterns that look beautiful and carry varied meanings, depending on the wearer. Some may simply embrace this artwork for its outward beauty, while others may attribute cultural significance to designs. For instance, in ancient Greek culture, ornamental designs are seen as powerful symbols of status and social standings. People sported delicate ornamental pieces to display their spiritual beliefs. On the other hand, in Polynesian cultures, ornamental artworks with specific symbols depict the wearer’s milestones and serve as symbols of their life journey and challenges. In Egyptian culture, people wore ornamental designs on their skin as a sign to ward off evil entities and attract blessings from divine guardians. In Indian traditions, ornamental tattoos are simply seen as a way to enhance one’s beauty. These elegant artworks also symbolize celebrations and joy.

So, it’s clear that these tattoos have a timeless appeal, making a canvas out of the skin. These delicate art designs are not just a way of expressing your deepest thoughts and beliefs, but also a reflection of your personal journey and your heart’s secret desires, instilling a sense of ownership and pride in the wearer.

No matter your motivation for considering an ornamental tattoo, let us explore 8 amazing tattoo designs to creatively inspire you to get one for yourself.

8 Ornamental Tattoo Ideas

Whether you want an intricate pattern on your neck, shoulder, or back, the tattoo designs below will give you an idea of what you can expect. Scroll down to learn about each design.

1. Ornamental Tattoo On The Back

This tattoo features a big flower motif that is adorned with intricate mandala patterns around it, covering a large part of the back. The flower at the core symbolizes natural beauty and also indicates the desire for personal growth and enlightenment. Additionally, the detailed mandala motif may represent the interconnectedness of all significant aspects of life. You can pair it with a tribal flower tattoo to make it look more artistic.

2. Ornamental Tattoo On The Hand

This tattoo on the hand is inspired by mehendi-style designs. It covers the top of the hand and extends to the half of the forearm. This embroidery tattoo design sports a flower motif drawn with bold irregular lines, and the gradient shading adds depth to the tattoo. You can choose to keep this ornamental glove tattoo monochrome or add vibrant colors to the design.

3. Flash Ornamental Tattoo

Flash tattoos are pre-designed minimalist patterns for the customers to choose from. This flash tattoo positioned on the back of the neck allows you to showcase it freely to the world. It has a simple flower motif, with patterned petals. At the core of the bigger flower lies another with delicately designed close-set petals, symbolizing inner harmony. Inked in simple linework, this design is subtle and elegant.

4. Ornamental Tattoo On The Chest

This tattoo looks like a heavy neckpiece, featuring floral patterns and mandala patterns. The shaded motifs add to the overall aesthetic appeal of the design, while the deep black outlines give the tattoo a vivid look. The flower motif in the middle represents the bearer’s ability to grow through adversities and blossom beautifully.

5. Ornamental Tattoo On The Finger

This small mandala pattern on the middle finger appears like a ring. It features a rhombus with intricate patterns, and a leafy stem on top complements the cutesy aesthetic of the artwork. You can consider getting this ring-finger tattoo with your partner to signify your commitment to each other.

6. Ornamental Tattoo On The Spine

This ambitious tattoo features several motifs and elements that come together to form a gorgeous decoration along the spine. It appears like an antique necklace on the back. The leafy motif and the intricate abstract patterns meet at the base, creating an open oval that uniquely frames the spine. The graduated shading and balanced placement make this a standout piece of work.

7. Ornamental Flower Tattoo

This ornamental tattoo features a blooming flower with individually designed petals, making for a gorgeous piece. The deep turquoise-blue hue in the design makes the flower appear to be moving, while the deep black outlines add a 3D effect. This tattoo represents femininity and growth and serves as a reminder to celebrate natural beauty. You can pair it with a geometric flower tattoo design to enhance the art.

8. Fine Line Ornamental Tattoo

This artwork features an intricate collection of interconnected motifs working horizontally along the arm. The placement helps the design open up, and it looks striking both up close and from a distance. This fine-line design includes several rhombi, each with beautiful patterns inside, cascading along the length of the upper arm, symbolizing the linear yet interconnected nature of life.

While ornamental tattoos enhance the physical beauty of the wearer, that is just one quality of these artworks. There are so many different types of tattoos to choose from. Being inspired by ancient art pieces, they also carry profound symbolic meaning and hold deep cultural value. Some common motifs are symmetrical patterns, mandala symbols, fine-line designs, and flora and fauna. Although ornamental tattoos are commonly done using blackwork with gradient shading, artists can customize the styles and create colored ornamental designs as well. Thus, if you are on the lookout for some ornamental tattoo inspiration, our list of designs and placement options can surely help you out. So, run and get a decorative body art piece for yourself!

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Brik RangelTattoo Artist

     

Brik Rangel is a highly skilled tattoo artist who has 12 years of experience in the field. She specializes in transformative tattoo makeovers and cover-ups. After honing her craft in São Paulo, Brazil, she now works as a tattoo artist and manager at Manhattan Tattoos in New York, and as a tattoo artist at Divine Tattoos in New Jersey.

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Aparna HarryBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

 

Aparna Harry is a beauty and lifestyle content writer with over three years of experience in writing for different genres. She has a master’s degree in English Literature from The English And Foreign Languages University and a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Mysore.

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Ramona SinhaEditor

Ramona is an editor at StyleCraze with 11 years of experience in writing and editing. She has authored over 200 articles on skin and hair care. She graduated from the University of Calcutta, West Bengal, and did her post-graduation from the University of Kalyani, West Bengal.

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Gracia OdileBeauty & Lifestyle Writer

Gracia Odile is a teacher-turned-beauty and lifestyle writer with three years of professional experience. She has a bachelor's degree in English from St. Stephen's College, a master's in Anthropology from the University of Madras, and a degree in education from GGSIPU.

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