20 Shockingly Easy Nail Designs You Can Totally Do at Home

20 Shockingly Easy Nail Designs You Can Totally Do at Home

  January 21, 2022    daNIAL

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 Stepping out of the nail salon with a set of freshly painted nails can make you feel like a new person. There's nothing like a little pampering and a fresh mani to make you feel like your best self. But it can get expensive fast, especially if you opt for some nail art.

That's why we rounded up 30 of our favorite simple and easy nail designs that you can do at home (and probably with the nail colors you already own). We're not nail artists by any means, but luckily with these looks, that doesn't matter. Whether you want to rock a set of stars along your cuticles, a tonal gradient across all 10 fingers, simple glitter stripes, or a double French mani, you're sure to find a look (or three or four) that you love. See all of our favorite easy nail art ideas to DIY below.

01

Statement Red

@OLIVEANDJUNE

Who doesn't love a classic red manicure? The simple star accent on the ring finger takes it to a whole other level. Pick up this 10-Piece Nail Art Brush Set ($8), or any similar set, to achieve stars and many other details you'll find in this roundup.

02

Shimmering Tips

@PAINTBOXNAILS

Play up your bare nails with a swipe of gold at the tips. Try a chunky metallic shade like L'Oréal's Colour Riche Nail Gold Dust ($9). 

03

White Stripe

@JINSOON

In this case, less is definitely more. We love the simplicity of these neutral nails with a thin white stripe down the middle.

04

Pastel Mismatch

@OLIVEANDJUNE

We love a good pastel nail look, and having multiple shade options is even better. Mirror the color order on each hand for a polished nail art look that doesn't require any tricky precision. 

05

Golden Stripes

@PAINTBOXNAILS

This nail art is almost too easy. Use a thin gold polish like FingerPaints' Striping Polish in He-Art of Gold ($3), swipe it down the center of your nails, apply a top coat, and you're good to go. The design above features stripes overtop half-painted nails, providing inspiration for a way to make your mani last longer as it grows out.

06

Starry Details

@OLIVEANDJUNE

Olive & June's nail stickers make for a unique and easy mani, and it's safe to say we're impressed. 

07

Teal and Gold

@PAINTBOXNAILS

Teal and metallic gold collide in this chic design. Try a shade like Essie's Go Overboard ($9) when recreating this look. 

08

Party Dots

@JINSOON

You've probably seen polka-dot nails before, but this one creates a new layer of fun. Pick a few colors to create a bunch of tiny dots all around bare nails—variation and overlap are all part of the fun here.

09

Colorful Lines

@OLIVEANDJUNE

The colored stripes make this neutral mani fun and interesting, while remaining simple enough for both execution purposes and more conservative settings. Nail stripe stickers can make achieving this look even easier.

10

Graphic Neon

@PAINTBOXNAILS

The impact of this manicure far outweighs the time it takes to achieve it. No metallic or color combo is off limits with this simple, chic style.

11

Canary Yellow

@PAINTBOXNAILS

The contrast between the yellow base and blue dots really makes this look from Paintbox pop. These dots are 3D, but a contrasting polish will also provide a bold impact if you're not looking to shop for extra baubles.

12

Blue Dots

@CHILLHOUSE

An easy nail art hack? You can use a toothpick to create different-sized dots like the ones in this Chillhouse manicure.

13

Silvery-Blue Stripes

@PAINTBOXNAILS

Spice up your summery white mani with a strip of metallic blue. We love China Glaze's Nail Lacquer in Can You Sea Me? ($8).

14

Two-Tone Purple

@CHILLHOUSE

Purple on purple totally works here. Different shades of the same tone are always a good choice for a polished, understated take on nail art.

15

Diagonal Periwinkle

@PAINTBOXNAILS

The unique color combo is what drew us to this two-toned nail design, and achieving the look is as simple as letting your first shade set, then applying the second diagonally across half the nail. The baby blue reminds us of Essie's Bikini So Teeny ($9). 

16

Sprinkle of Glitter

@PAINTBOXNAILS

Get this sparkly yet understated look by using a sponge to press on glitter from the lower left corner, tapering into nothing. Set with a clear coat and bam—instant party nail art.

17

Blushing Beauties

@OLIVEANDJUNE

We're totally here for this twist on the two-tone manicure. Each nail is a little bit different, which keeps things interesting. 

18

A Sleek Swoop

@PAINTBOXNAILS

Shift your French tip to the corner of your nail for a modern take on the classic manicure. Stick with a pastel shade or go bolder with bright rainbow hues.

19

Black and White

@JINSOON

If you're not a fan of bright colors on your nails, this easy nail art idea is a stunning choice. We love how the thin black stripe adds dimension to the white base, creating a design that's super versatile. 

20

Bling Fingers

@JEWELEDNAILS

Bejewel your nails for a minimum-effort, maximum-impact design. Grab some sparklers—like these Swarovski Create Your Style Xirius Nail Combo Crystals ($10)—and get to gluing.

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