60 of 2023's best nail designs to save for your next mani (2024)

Main image – @Betina_goldstein/Instagram

Beyond clothes and makeup, nails are possibly one of the quickest, easiest ways we can express ourselves on a daily basis.

Whether you’re a classic French tip girl, a festive nail art fan or a full-on coffin/gel/nail jewel gal, changing up your nails is just a way to add a little extra sunshine into your daily life (and who doesn’t love sunshine?).

That’s why we’ve put together a list of the 60 stand-out nail designs for 2023 to make picking your manicure that bit easier.

Whether it’s by colour, occasion, nail shape or type (acrylic/gel/ombre), we’ve got you totally covered.

Oh, and if you’re looking for the more cool nail designs, we’ve got you here.

Enjoy!

The 60 best nail design ideas for 2024

By Colour

1. White nail designs

A classic option for a simple, elegant or monochromatic look, white nail designs look great on any shape and length and are a pretty great colour for nail art designs of all colours.

2. Black nail designs

Black doesn’t have to be grungy (although there are plenty of cool grunge options if that’s your thing too).

With lots of textures to play with and shapes to try, black nail designs can look really chic and elegant. The fact that they go with pretty much *every* outfit makes them a great year-round choice too.

3. Black and white nail designs

Monochrome goes with everything, and this set of mismatched black and white nails will look great with absolutely every outfit (this set also combines so many current nail trends).

4. Nude nail designs

Nude nail designs never go out of fashion and look great with any outfit. We have 60 more stunning nude nail design ideas here if you’re looking for more inspo!

5. Nude glitter nails

Glitter doesn’t have to be bold! Take a look at these gorgeous glitter accent nails for a more modest take on the trend – or go all out and add glitter to the whole nail.

6. Peach nail designs

How cute are these white nails with yellow and peach 3D nail art?!

7. Light pink nail designs

A light pink nail design with airbrushed stencil designs is a delicate choice that adds a touch of elegance and girliness to your manicure.

8. Hot pink nail designs

They’re giving lava lamp. In love.

9. Yellow nail designs

When life gives you lemons… Paint them on your nails?!

10. Neon yellow nails

There are so many neon nail designs to choose from, but these 90s melted smiley faces top the list.

11. Red nail designs

One of the most popular colours that clients ask their nail techs for is red polish, and this matte swirly set is a fun but classy mani that’s perfect for autumn and winter.

12. Orange nail designs

These juicy bright orange nails are perfect for spring and summer and the pretty daisies with swirls are bang on trend.

13. Green nail designs

Green slime? Or green lava lamp? Either way, we are obsessed with this 3D mani.

14. Blue nail designs

Micro Frenchies with tiny dot details. Short and sweet.

15. Light blue nail designs

A light blue nail design can create a fresh look, I love this modern mani.

16. Turquoise nail designs

These turquoise glitter gradient nails give real mermaid vibes which is perfect for summer. But these could also be a frosty winter set for Christmas! Very versatile.

17. Royal blue nail designs

How gorgeous is this bright royal blue shade from@nailsinc? The shade is called Summer Street – you’re wlecome.

18. Navy blue nail designs

When it comes to cool, dark-and-mysterious nail designs, navy-blue manicures never go out of style and look great with warm silver tones, copper or gold.

19. Purple nails designs

Shades of purple and stars – and don’t forget, glitter isn’t just for Christmas!

20. Lilac nail designs

These incredible press on nails combine so many current trends, including 3D nails, charms, chrome, bows, moon, and stars. The perfect fashion accessory.

21. Sparkly purple nails

Whether you’re going to a special event, celebrating a holiday, or simply want to add a bit of glitz to your everyday life, sparkly nail designs are a fun and versatile style that can easily be customised.

22. Lavender nail designs

What’s dreamier than literal lavender nails?! We’ll wait.

23. Brown nail designs

A brown nail design can be a stylish and sophisticated choice that adds warmth and elegance to your overall look, but this set is super fun and bang on trend at the moment. Both silver and gold jewellery looks amazing against brown.

24. Gold nail designs

There are tons of ways you can do gold nail designs – chrome gold, glitter gold, sparkle gold, and gold accent nails. We love this set with gold and iridescent details.

25. Copper nail designs

Rose gold is a classic colour for any occasion and outfit and looks great incorporated into nail art.

26. Silver nail designs

The smiley face nail trend is still doing the rounds on social media, we love this take with silver smileys on a milky base.

27. Chrome nail designs

If you feel like adding a bit of glam but don’t want to go all out, try some chrome tips or swirls on longer nude nails. Slide your fave silver rings on your fingers and you’re good to go.

28. Multicoloured nail designs

These mismatched nail designs are so fun and bold, I love how you can wear something different on each fingertip!

29. Multicoloured Gem Nails

Now these are a real head-turner! There are thousands of gem nail designs out there that are topped with rhinestones, studs, crystals or charms, but we love this French tip set.

30. Abstract Cloud Nails

Think block colours, squiggly lines and abstract shapes for this trend that’s taken over Instagram.

Nail Art Designs

31. Flower nail art designs

There are tons of ways to do this trend – flowers on every nail, dainty dots, painterly leaves, or loads of colour. With so many flowers to recreate, you’ll be spoilt for choice!

32. Chrome flower nail art designs

Futuristic chrome but with cute pastel flowers. I love the French tip details on this set.

33. French tip nail art designs

We’ve done the best 60 French tip nails, but this is our fave French tip flower set.

34. Colourful glitter ombre French tip nail art designs

How cute are these smiley face glitter French tip nails using cool pastel colours?

35. Rainbow nail art designs

Rainbow nail art doesn’t have to be *too* bold and bright, how dreamy are these swirly pastel rainbow nails complete with flowers and clouds?

36. Tie-dye rainbow nail art designs

Tie-dye nail art designs are a great take on a rainbow nail.

37. Mismatched nail art designs

Another really cool mismatched set! The shape and length of these nails are perfect for this trend.

38. Easy nail art designs

Prefer to DIY your nails rather than go to the salon? We’ve got you with this easy-peasy nail art design that any novice can try their hand at – simply use a small brush or a wooden dotting tool to create these small hearts.

Holiday nail designs

Spring nails

39. Easter nails

Nothing says Easter like tulips and bright yellow!

40. Valentine’s nail designs

They love me, they love me not.

Summer nails

41. Short summer nail designs

Short and neat but still making a statement.

42. Tropical nail designs

There are loads of takes on this trend – palm tree gel nails, neon colours, pineapples, flamingos, the list goes on – but we love this set that will fit right in when you’re sipping that pina colada on the sand (or even just pretending).

Fall nail designs

43. Halloween nail designs

Ghosts, pumpkins, bats, and bright colours – the perfect Halloween mani does exist.

44. Olive green and pink Fall nails

Olive is a beautiful warm, muted green colour that’s perfect to wear year-round, but it’s particularly popular in the fall as a neutral base for other shades like this light pink.

Winter nails

45. Winter nail designs

Slightly gothic, these lace nails are perfect for winter and would look great with a lacy dress.

46. Christmas nail designs

The tapas of Christmas nail art!

Nail shape

47. Long nail designs

Long nails are shaped into a graceful almond, square, round, or stiletto shape, accentuating their length and elegance.

48. Long cloud and star nail design

We are seeing suns, moons, and stars EVERYWHERE lately! To be honest, we love it. These mystic iridescent designs are a perfect take on the trend.

49. Short nail designs

Lots of us want to keep our nails short and clean, especially if we work in a job that requires using our hands a lot or typing all day. You can still do loads with a short nail – add some cute nail art like the set above.

50. Block colour short nail designs

Block colour short nails are a really cool and versatile look that can be customised with any colours.

51. Almond nail designs

The cutest little smiley face on classic nude nails.

52. 3D almond nail designs

Take your design even further by adding a 3D element like gems, pearls and charms. So cute.

53. Stiletto nail designs

Long nails are a must to capture this dramatic style and colour is less of a priority than safety when it comes to this daring choice – just watch you don’t poke yourself in the eye!

54. Flame stiletto nail designs

Flame designs on nails are really taking off, and they look super cool on stiletto-shaped nails.

55. Oval nail designs

The classic oval nail shape is known for being the most suitable style for everyone. The curved edges mirror the curve of the natural cuticle, making for a super neat and symmetrical look.

56. Nude oval nail designs

A nude base goes with literally any colour, we love this understated pink French manicure.

57. Square nail designs

Square nails don’t have to be long!

58. Long square nail designs

But if long nails are more your thing, there are so many pretty designs, like this blooming square set with gems.

59. Coffin nail designs

Coffin-shaped nails are typically longer than other styles, offering plenty of space for cool designs like this set above – these are so perfect to make a statement at festivals over the summer!

60. Marble coffin nail designs

Marble nail designs are really big at the moment and look especially great on long coffin nails.

And there we have it! The 60 best nail designs for 2023 – now, off to the salon!