Simple Nail Designs For Beginners

Decorating your nails with stylish designs is a fun way to express yourself. While some Nail art can look complicated, beginners can easily DIY cute and simple looks at home. From pretty patterns to trendy techniques, so many nail designs exist. 

Nail art ranges from minimalist to more advanced based on your skill level and the time you want to spend. Your taste and personality determine the best designs. Ready to upgrade your bare nails? Here are easy nail designs for beginners to DIY.

1. Classic French Manicure

The iconic white-tip French mani always stays in style. For a clean look, use striping tape to create the tips. This works great on both long and short nails.

1. Black And White Polka Dots

Paint on different-sized black dots over a white base for a retro polka dot pattern. You can also reverse it and do white dots on black for a striking contrast. 

1. Simple Floral Designs 

You don’t have to paint elaborate flowers for a pretty floral theme. Start with single blooms like roses, daisies, or tulips in your favorite colors.

1. Cute Fruit Nail Art

Have fun with fruit-inspired designs like strawberries, lemons, cherries, and watermelon slices. They look great on nails in red, pink, green, and more. 

1. Geometric Shapes

Triangles, squares, zigzags – geometric shapes make for easy nail art. Paint one shape per nail in different colors for interest. 

1. Striped Nails 

Vertical, horizontal, or diagonal stripes are a timeless, easy nail idea. Paint mini stripes in two alternating colors, like black and yellow.

1. Gold Foil Tips 

Elevate your mani by painting just the tips in metallic gold foil for an elegant touch. It caps off any base color beautifully. 

1. Polka Dot French Manicure 

Give classic French tips a playful update with white or black polka dots along the tips. The high contrast is so cute. 

1. Single Star Accent Nail

Just one star on the ring finger adds a subtle celestial vibe. The simplicity makes it an unexpectedly sweet detail.

1. Line Nail Art

Use striping tape to help paint on clean vertical, horizontal, or wavy lines. According to Nail Designs Journal, it adds interest to bare nails fast. 

1. Skittles Nails

Paint each nail in a different bright color like red, orange, yellow, or green for a fun and colorful Skittles candy look. 

1. Matte Top Coat

Add a layer of matte top coat over any manicure for an instant sophisticated look. Matte nails are so chic. 

1. Girly Pink Manicure 

An all-pink manicure with a pearl accent nail is a feminine nail art option. There are so many pink polish choices, too.

1. Simple Heart Nail Art

Paint a single red or white heart on your ring finger for a delicate detail. Keep the rest of the nails bare. 

1. Gold Half Moon Manicure 

Metallic gold half-moons along the base of the nails create subtle drama. Leave the rest of the nails naked.

1. Leopard Print Nails

Paint on black and grey leopard spots for an exotic animal print look. Keep the palette muted for versatility.

1. Mixed Nail Shapes

Mixing shapes like round, oval, square, and squoval adds an edge to one-color manicures.

1. Cow Print Nails 

Paint black and white cow spots on one or all nails for a playful take on animal prints. Moo-ve over plain nails!

1. Checkerboard Nails

Alternating black and white mini-checks create a retro checkerboard effect. Use striping tape for clean lines. 

1. Dainty Rhinestones

A few rhinestones or pearls along the tips or cuticle add subtle sparkle to any manicure. 

1.  Simple Ombre Nails

Gradually blend two colors, like pink to white, for a subtle ombre fade. It’s easier than it looks! 

1. Unique Cuticle Designs 

Get creative with the cuticle area! Try dots, stripes, hearts, or other shapes in a contrasting color. 

1. Simple Scribble Nails

Use a toothpick and white acrylic paint to scribble freehand squiggles on one or more nails. 

1.  Marble Nails

Magic marbling kits make swirling two nail polishes together easy for a trendy marble effect.

1. Natural Nude Nail Designs

A super short, natural nail shape in a nude tone is effortlessly chic. File into a rounded squoval.