How to color a mandala, step by step

A mandala looks like a thousand tiny shapes. It isn’t.

Look closer and you’ll find a handful of shapes, repeated in rings around a center. Color them one ring at a time and the whole design comes together, balanced and bright, even on your very first try.

Here’s the method we use, step by step, plus the common mistakes worth skipping.

What is a mandala?

Mandala is a Sanskrit word for “circle”. It’s a design built around a center point, with shapes that repeat as they move outward: petals, dots, triangles and waves.

Mandalas have a long history in Hindu and Buddhist art, and you’ll spot similar round designs in rose windows and tiles around the world. On paper, all that repetition is exactly what makes them so satisfying to color.

11. Pick your mandala

For your first one, choose a mandala with fewer, bigger shapes. Big shapes forgive a wobbly line and leave room to try blending. Save the fine, lacy designs for later, once the method feels easy.

You can color a mandala from a book, a printed page or one you draw yourself. To draw your own, use a compass for the circles and a protractor to divide them into equal slices, then repeat the same shape in every slice.

No mandala at hand? Print ours.

Print the practice mandala (opens in a new tab)PNG, 2000 × 2000 px

22. Choose 3 to 5 colors

A small palette keeps the design tidy and makes every repeat easy. Three to five colors are plenty for a first mandala, plus the white of the paper.

Not sure which colors go together? Look at a color wheel and try one of these three recipes:

• Opposites, like yellow and purple, orange and blue, or red and green. Bold and bright.
• Neighbors, like blues and greens. Soft and quiet.
• One color family, from very light to very dark. Simple and elegant.

• Opposites
• Neighbors
• One color family

Before you start, test your colors side by side on a scrap of paper: they often look different on the page than on the pencil. Want to go deeper? Read Color theory: how to make colors pop.

33. Start in the center

Begin with the small shape in the middle and work outward, ring by ring. It’s the easiest way to keep track of where you are, and each finished ring helps you choose the colors for the next one.

Rest your hand on a clean sheet of paper as you go. It keeps the finished rings smudge-free, especially with soft pencils and crayons.

44. Give twin shapes the same color

This is the heart of mandala coloring: the same shape gets the same color, all the way around the ring. That repetition is what makes the finished design look balanced.

Color one shape, then all its twins in that ring, before you pick up the next pencil. Turn the book as you go, so every shape sits comfortably under your hand.

Tip: rings with lots of small shapes, like dots or triangles, look great with two colors that take turns. Pick your pattern, A B A B, and keep it all the way around.

55. Build color in light layers

Press lightly for the first layer, then go back over it to deepen the color. Several light layers look smoother and richer than one heavy one, and they leave room to fix things.

Want two colors to blend? Overlap them lightly where they meet, then add a little more of each. A white pencil or a colorless blender on top smooths everything together.

Using markers? Test them on the back of the page first and slip a sheet of paper behind it, in case the ink bleeds through. More tricks in 5 tips for smooth color with markers and gel pens.

66. Let light and dark take turns

Contrast is what makes each ring stand out. If one ring is dark, make the next one light. When every ring has the same brightness, the pattern blurs together.

• Same brightness everywhere
• Light shapes, dark background

Want a bold look? Keep the shapes pale and color the background between them in a deep shade.

And leave a few small shapes white. White paper counts as a color, and it makes the colors around it look brighter.

Practice on flowers

Here’s a little secret: every flower is a tiny mandala. A center, a ring of petals, sometimes a second ring of leaves. That makes flower pages the perfect warm-up for the method: center first, twin petals in the same color, light against dark.

Common mistakes (and easy fixes)

• Too many colors. Twelve pencils in one mandala often turn into noise. Stay between 3 and 5.
• Starting at the edge. You lose track of the rings and smudge the outside. Start in the center.
• Pressing hard right away. The wax fills the paper and new layers slide off. Press lightly first.
• Twins in different colors. It's easy to do by accident. Finish all the twins before you switch pencils.
• Filling every single shape. A few white shapes give the design room to breathe.

Your turn

There’s no wrong color in a mandala, and no clock either. Go at your own pace, and when the last ring is done, sign and date the page.

Then pick a brand new palette and start the next one. You’ll be surprised how different the same mandala can look.

Questions about coloring mandalas

Should I color a mandala from the center or from the outside?

From the center. Working outward, one ring at a time, keeps you on track and helps you avoid smudging the parts you've already finished.

What should I color a mandala with?

Colored pencils give you the most control in small shapes. Crayons are great for big shapes and for kids. Markers and gel pens give bright, even color: test them first so they don't bleed through the page.

How many colors should I use?

Three to five, plus white. You can always add one more for the tiniest details at the end.

Can kids color mandalas?

Yes! Choose big, simple shapes and chunky crayons, and let them pick the colors. Taking turns, one ring each, turns it into a game for two.