As much as we love maximalist nail looks decked out with accents like three-dimensional jewels and intricate patterns, there’s something undeniably stylish and equally statement-making about the best simple nail art designs. From teeny-tiny polka dots to timeless French tips, there are a number of ways to enter your nail art era and stay true to your streamlined tendencies.
These sleek and streamlined nail looks are not only more versatile than a more involved manicure but also tend to be slightly easier to DIY. Whether you plan on unleashing your inner nail artist with an at-home painting session or showcasing a few inspirational pictures at your local salon, we rounded up some of the best simple nail designs to try in 2024.
Butterfly Motif
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The butterfly motif is one Y2K fashion and beauty trend that’s here to stay. Yes, even in 2024. Lean into the early aughts aesthetic even more with coordinating hair clips.
Bright Lines
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Bored of the classic French mani? Try a reverse French using bold, alternating shades of polish.
Rainbow Hearts
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Grab a thin brush and paint the rainbow in teeny-tiny hearts, dedicating each nail to different colors within the same shade range.
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Blush Nails
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Blush nails bring a pop of playful color to the dreamy aura design.
Little Hearts
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Even on otherwise naked nails, the tiny design shines. For a more unexpected take, try using black polish, as seen here.
Smiley Faces
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It’s hard not to grin when you catch a glance at this multicolored manicure, which can be easily achieved with both lacquer or nail stickers.
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Baby Bugs
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As nail artist Zola Ganzorigt demonstrated on Kylie Jenner’s manicure, nothing goes better with butter-hued French tips than baby bugs.
Negative Space Stars
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The secret to these negative space stars? Stickers that you peel off post-painting.
Dainty Flowers
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Florals can be as minimal or intricate as you want them to be. For something on the easy end of the spectrum, consider this design, created out of simple dots.
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Negative-Space Neon
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Swirls of highlighter-yellow polish are even more vibrant against a neutral background.
Glitter Tips
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Don’t call it a French: Celebrity nail artist Tom Bachik deems this look on Jennifer Lopez “glitter liner.”
Berry Cute
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Who knew? Paint a few little dots and flicks, and suddenly you’ll have a bushel of blueberries on your fingernails.
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Pretty Petals
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Go for an abstract take on florals with a trio of dainty petals near the inner and outer corners of your nails.
Minimalist Dots
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One dot, two dots, three dots, four: This look proves that even the smallest effort can be highly effective.
Rainbow Half-Moons
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The half-moons are easy, especially with a guide like hole-punch stickers. The hard part will be choosing your fave polish shades.
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Evil Eyes
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Eye motifs don’t have to be super-intricate. As Betina Goldstein proves, you can keep the negative energy at bay with just strategically placed blue polish and sparkles.
Modern Art
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If you can draw a straight line, you can do this look in minutes.
Subtle Aura
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You may want to see a pro for results this consistent, but you can get a similar look using a makeup sponge.
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Shiny Swoops
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Once your base polish dries completely, use a contrasting nail shade to paint a curved line on top.
Loose Lines
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Calling all doodlers: All you need is a couple of nail polish pens to draw on this fun design.
Accent Stripe
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It doesn’t get much simpler than adding a single contrasting stripe on your ring finger
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Studs and Spots
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For a twist on the polka-dot trend, try adding a few rhinestones to the mix.
Yin & Yang
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Wearing different shades of polish on each hand is tried and true, but adding a Yin Yang accent nail? Inspired.
Opposites Attract
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Easy and unexpected: Alternate French tips and a reverse French on each nail.
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Cloudy Skies
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The best thing about clouds? They’re naturally misshapen. So if yours don’t look as perfect as those pictured here, they’ll still look like, well, clouds.
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