Tattoo Ideas & Inspiration: How to Choose a Tattoo You'll Actually Like
You know you want another tattoo.
There's just one problem:
You have absolutely no idea what to get.
That's more common than you might think.
Some people walk into a tattoo shop with a finished design they've been planning for years. Others know they want something on their arm but haven't figured out the subject, style, size or exact placement.
You don't need to have everything figured out before talking with a tattoo artist.
This guide will help you narrow down your tattoo ideas, find inspiration and turn a rough concept into something that actually works as a tattoo.
Start With What You Actually Like
Before worrying about meaning, trends or what everyone else is getting, think about what you're naturally drawn to.
What kind of imagery do you like?
Maybe it's:
Animals
Flowers
Nature
Skulls
Daggers
Snakes
Insects
Space
Horror
Fantasy
Religious imagery
Mythology
Cars
Music
Movies
Video games
Ocean imagery
Florida imagery
Lettering
Abstract designs
Start broad.
You can narrow everything down later.
Does a Tattoo Have to Be Meaningful?
No.
This is probably one of the biggest misconceptions about tattoos.
A tattoo can represent something incredibly important.
It can commemorate:
A family member
A relationship
A major life event
Someone who passed away
A personal achievement
A belief
A place
A period of your life
But a tattoo can also exist because you thought a skull with a dagger through it looked cool.
Both are legitimate reasons to get tattooed.
You don't owe anyone an elaborate explanation for what's permanently on your body.
Meaningful Tattoo Ideas
If meaning is important to you, start with the idea rather than the finished image.
For example, instead of searching endlessly for “tattoos representing strength,” ask yourself:
What represents strength to me?
That might lead to:
A specific animal
A plant
A religious symbol
A place
An object
A person
A date
A piece of imagery connected to a memory
Personal symbolism usually gives you more interesting possibilities than simply copying the first image that appears in a search.
Tattoo Ideas Based on Your Interests
Your hobbies and interests can be excellent sources of tattoo inspiration.
Think about things you've consistently loved rather than something you became interested in last Tuesday.
That could include:
Favorite music
Books
Movies
Video games
Sports
Cars or motorcycles
Outdoor activities
Travel
Art
History
Mythology
Nature
The tattoo doesn't necessarily have to literally depict the interest.
Your artist may be able to create something more subtle around it.
Memorial Tattoo Ideas
Memorial tattoos can be deeply personal.
Possible elements include:
Names
Dates
Handwriting
Signatures
Flowers
Portraits
Objects associated with the person
Symbols
Locations
Animals
Short phrases
One of the strongest approaches is incorporating something genuinely connected to the person rather than choosing generic memorial imagery.
If you have handwriting, photographs or other references, bring them with you.
Small Tattoo Ideas
Not every tattoo needs to take six hours.
Small tattoo ideas might include:
Hearts
Stars
Moons
Flowers
Butterflies
Animals
Symbols
Initials
Dates
Numbers
Small traditional designs
Minimalist imagery
Short lettering
Just remember:
Small doesn't mean unlimited detail.
A design needs enough room for the individual elements to remain readable.
If you're specifically looking for something smaller, read our Small Tattoos in Merritt Island guide.
First Tattoo Ideas
If you're choosing your first tattoo, don't feel like you need to find the “perfect first tattoo.”
There's no required starter tattoo.
Your first piece could be:
Small flash
A custom symbol
Lettering
A medium-sized arm piece
A memorial tattoo
The beginning of a sleeve
Think about what you actually want rather than what seems easiest to explain to other people.
If you've never been tattooed before, our First Tattoo Guide explains what to expect before, during and after your appointment.
Flash Tattoos for Inspiration
Sometimes the easiest way to figure out what you want is to actually look at tattoo designs.
That's where flash comes in.
Flash is pre-drawn artwork that's ready to tattoo.
You might walk into the shop with no idea what you want, see one design and immediately know:
That's it.
At Moon & Ash Tattoo Co., flash tattoos start at $25.
Check out our Flash Tattoos in Merritt Island page for more information.
Custom Tattoo Ideas
You don't need to bring your tattoo artist a finished piece of artwork.
You can bring a concept.
For example:
“I want a snake and flowers on my forearm.”
That's enough to begin a conversation.
Bring references showing:
Subjects you like
Styles you like
Composition you like
Placement ideas
Details you want included
Your references don't all have to come from tattoos.
Paintings, photographs, illustrations, architecture and other visual references can help communicate what you're imagining.
Don't Just Copy Someone Else's Tattoo
Reference images are useful.
Directly copying another person's custom tattoo is different.
Instead of asking for an exact duplicate, show your artist what you like about it.
Maybe you like:
The composition
The subject
The line weight
The shading
The colors
The placement
The overall style
That gives your artist room to create something for you.
Choosing Your Tattoo Style
The same subject can look completely different depending on tattoo style.
A rose could become a bold American traditional tattoo, a delicate fine-line piece, a black and grey design or a colorful neo-traditional tattoo.
Understanding which visual style you prefer can dramatically narrow down your tattoo ideas.
American Traditional Tattoo Ideas
American traditional tattoos commonly use bold outlines, strong shapes and classic imagery.
Popular subjects include:
Roses
Eagles
Snakes
Daggers
Skulls
Panthers
Swallows
Hearts
Ships
Traditional tattooing can work well for individual pieces and patchwork sleeves.
Neo-Traditional Tattoo Ideas
Neo-traditional tattooing can take some of the boldness of traditional tattooing and combine it with additional detail, dimension and expanded color palettes.
Animals, portraits, flowers and fantasy-inspired subjects can all work well in this style.
Black & Grey Tattoo Ideas
Black and grey tattooing can work for:
Portraits
Animals
Religious imagery
Horror
Flowers
Skulls
Realistic subjects
Illustrative designs
If you like depth and shading without relying heavily on color, black and grey may be worth considering.
Fine-Line Tattoo Ideas
Fine-line tattoos use thinner lines to create a lighter visual appearance.
Common ideas include:
Flowers
Botanical designs
Animals
Symbols
Minimalist artwork
Lettering
Geometric designs
The amount of detail possible still depends on the tattoo's size.
Color Tattoo Ideas
If you love bright artwork, don't automatically assume your tattoo needs to be black and grey.
Color can work particularly well with:
Flowers
Animals
Traditional tattoos
Neo-traditional tattoos
Fantasy imagery
Cartoon-inspired designs
Talk with your artist about how your color choices work with the design.
Matching Tattoo Ideas
Getting tattooed with someone else?
Matching tattoos can be identical or simply connected.
Ideas include:
Matching symbols
Complementary images
Shared dates
Inside jokes
Flowers
Characters
Opposite or paired imagery
Small flash designs
Friends, couples, siblings and family members can all use the same basic idea differently.
Tattoo Ideas Inspired by Florida
Living on or visiting the Space Coast gives you plenty of local inspiration.
Florida-inspired tattoo ideas could include:
Palm trees
Waves
Sea turtles
Sharks
Alligators
Florida wildlife
Citrus
Space imagery
Rockets
Beach imagery
Maps or coordinates
Local plants
It doesn't have to scream “FLORIDA” across your arm to remind you of a place.
Space Coast Tattoo Ideas
Being near Kennedy Space Center and the Space Coast opens another category entirely.
Ideas could include:
Rockets
Astronauts
Planets
Moons
Stars
Spacecraft
Retro space imagery
Sci-fi-inspired artwork
These can range from small flash pieces to large custom tattoos.
How to Choose Tattoo Placement
Once you have a design idea, you need somewhere to put it.
Think about:
Visibility
Size
Body shape
Pain
Clothing
Work
Sun exposure
Existing tattoos
Future tattoo plans
A design that works beautifully on a forearm may need to be redesigned to fit an ankle.
Our Tattoo Placement Guide goes deeper into choosing the right location.
How Much Will the Tattoo Hurt?
Pain shouldn't be your only consideration, but it's fair to think about it.
Outer arms, forearms, shoulders, outer thighs and calves are commonly considered more manageable.
Areas like ribs, sternum, elbows, knees, feet and spine can be considerably more sensitive.
Our Tattoo Pain Chart compares common placements if pain is affecting your decision.
Think About Future Tattoos
This becomes particularly important if you think you'll eventually want a sleeve.
A tattoo takes up physical real estate.
Putting a small design directly in the middle of a large open area can affect how future pieces fit around it.
Tell your artist if you're planning to eventually build:
A full sleeve
A half sleeve
A leg sleeve
A large back piece
A connected collection
Our Tattoo Sleeve Guide explains how to plan larger projects before filling the available space.
What If I Have Too Many Tattoo Ideas?
Good problem to have.
Start separating them into categories:
Definitely want
Maybe someday
Looks cool, but I'm not sure
Then think about which idea you're most excited to actually wear.
You don't have to fit every idea into one tattoo.
You can always get another one.
What If I Have No Tattoo Ideas?
Come look at flash.
Seriously.
You don't have to spend three months searching the internet before walking into a tattoo shop.
Sometimes seeing actual tattoo artwork is much more useful than scrolling through thousands of random images.
You can also talk with an artist about the subjects and styles you like.
How Much Does a Custom Tattoo Cost?
Pricing depends on the design.
Factors include:
Size
Detail
Placement
Color
Complexity
Tattooing time
At Moon & Ash:
Flash tattoos start at $25.
Custom tattoos start at $50.
8-hour tattoo day sessions are available for $500.
For more information, see our Tattoo Pricing Guide.
Tattoo Ideas FAQ
How do I find a good tattoo idea?
Start with subjects, imagery and styles you genuinely like. Collect references and look for patterns in what you're drawn to.
Does my tattoo need a meaning?
No. Tattoos can be deeply meaningful or simply artwork you enjoy.
Can I bring several tattoo ideas to my artist?
Absolutely. References can help your artist understand what elements you're trying to combine.
Can a tattoo artist design something from an idea?
Yes. You don't necessarily need finished artwork. Bring your concept and references and discuss it with your artist.
Can I copy a tattoo I found online?
It's better to use another tattoo as inspiration and create your own version rather than directly copying someone else's custom artwork.
What if I don't know what style I want?
Show your artist examples of tattoos you like. They may be able to identify the common style or elements you're responding to.
What's a good first tattoo idea?
There isn't one universal first tattoo. Choose something you genuinely want at a size and placement that work for the design.
Should I get a small tattoo first?
You can, but you don't have to. Read our First Tattoo Guide if you're preparing for your first experience.
Find Your Next Tattoo at Moon & Ash
You don't need to walk through the door with every detail figured out.
Bring your references.
Bring your rough idea.
Or come look through the flash and see what catches your attention.
Moon & Ash Tattoo Co.
76 E Merritt Island Cswy, Suite 210
Merritt Island, FL 32952
Upstairs above Tijuana Flats
Walk-ins welcome.
Flash tattoos starting at $25.
Custom tattoos starting at $50.
8-hour tattoo day sessions available for $500.
Come find your next tattoo.