The Prettiest Nail Art You’ll See This Spring (2025)

It’s never too early to start thinking about what spring nail art we want to try once the weather warms up. Let’s call it manifesting. Nail enthusiasts are familiar with the high that comes with romanticizing those fun designs and mixing and matching bright colors for the upcoming season, so why not indulge in those good feels now?

This spring we can expect to see classic pastel shades (hello, butter nails!) as well as fun finishes like chrome, pearl, and loads of iridescent shimmer. Florals, naturally, are a must, as are gingham prints and French tips. But you can expect lots of psychedelic and retro-inspired designs, as well as metallic 3D art to make your typical spring nail a little bit more exciting.

Whether you’re booking gel nail appointments with your trusted manicurist or a big DIY nail artiste, there’s a design on this list that’ll get those creative juices flowing. Below are 47 spring nail art ideas we found on Instagram to get you prepared for the upcoming months.

Ladylike Florals

Hand painted dainty florals create a watercolor effect on nude nails (we love a nude like the Hermès Les Nail Polish in Rose Coquille). It's still springy and festive, but in a more subtle way.

Bright Blooms

Groovy, baby! These retro daisies are easy to DIY (you really just need a dotting tool) and the neon yellow center makes adds a fun pop.

Colorful Aura

Your aura can be whatever color you want it to be this spring (we're letting the Emilie Heathe Aurora Nail Artist Polish be our guide)—or every color all at once.

Chrome and Pastels

Sweet shades of pastel get an edge when combined with chrome. Opt for a shade like the Aprés Nails Caribbean Sunset for that soft pastel shade.

Artsy Nail Art

Hailey Bieber's nail artist recreated one of her (many, many) viral manicures on herself. The results are colorful and artistic. To do these designs yourself, you just need the right tools like a set of nail art brushes.

Cherry Bomb

In the heart of the spring season, delicious cherries not only bloom on trees, but on our manis as well—by the way of nail art, of course. Celebrity nail artist Tom Bachik draws adorable cherry decals against a bare nail (use something like Dior's Nail Glow Polish to give your natural nail some shine) for something super fun.

Faint French

When in doubt, one can always go the French mani route. Bachik opts for two pink shades (we love something like Chanel's Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour in Ballerina for the perfect base) that just barely contrast each other to give Selena Gomez’s mani a subtle coquette touch.

Crystal Clear

Glitter isn’t the only way to show some serious shine. Throwing it back to J.Lo’s appearance at the Super Bowl, Bachik used Swarovski crystals over clear nails that are just super pretty to look at. You can recreate the look with more wallet-friendly options costume jewels.

Alien Metal

We’re always looking for unique ways to elevate classic French tips. For Camila Cabello, Bachik used chrome finishes against a bare base in Aprés Nails Spring Sigh and Swarovski crystals for added texture.

Holy Ground

Dress up a bubblegum pink nail with gothic cross decals to give your spring nails some edge. Celebrity nail artist Brittney Boyce uses CND’s Kiss From a Rose for the base, and tacks on a cross at the center of each nail.

Neon Aura

Call upon the happy and good vibes by channeling those aura nails. This mix of orange, neon pink, and lime green (we love the Aprés Nails in Lime Pop) colors will make anyone smile.

Candy Coded

Chrome nails are striking on their own, but one of the easiest ways to level up is with some 3D nail art. These candy-like shapes in bright neon colors contrast quite nicely against a silver base. We love Zoya's Nail Lacquer in Trixie if you wanted to add some shimmer to the look.

Art Inspo

Nail artist Hang Nguyen took inspo from one of the greats: Yayoi Kusama. Replicate Kusama’s iconic polka dots in bright colors, like Chanel's Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour in Activiste, for the ultimate spring mani.

Color Splatter

You can’t go wrong with a muted lilac and soft pink (we especially love the Dior Vernis 108 Muget) nail, but the right red splatter shapes painted on top make a lovely spring mani just a little bit more fun.

Dainty Florals

You don’t need a whole bouquet drawn on your hands to make a statement. Dress up a simple mani with minimal floral designs that will still stand out. Nguyen uses Nails Inc.'s Cobalt Blue in its Summer Street collection.

Written in the Stars

Astrology girlies know to turn to the stars for some guidance. Channel the power of the universe on your nails with this chic constellation design. Adding blue accent nails make it more whimsical, so opt for periwinkle shades like the Côte Beauty in Nightingale.

Delicate Daisies

This is the ideal spring nail art for minimalists at heart. Simply grab an acrylic pen like the Olive & June's HD Nail Art Pen (Nguyen writes in her caption that it’s easier to do it this way than using a dotting tool) and draw tiny daisies across each finger. Set against a bare nail and you’ve got a chic flower nail that anyone can replicate on their own.

Mismatched

Throwing a mixed bag of designs and colors can make for a magical look. Celebrity nail artist Zola Ganzorigt uses celestial shapes in silver, neon orange, electric blue, and turquoise against a bare nail to give actress Madelyn Cline an out-of-this-world mani that’s simply stunning to look at. Look for a vibrant and fun neon like Mooncat's Sinking Feeling so it really pops.

Snakeskin

Even if Taylor Swift has yet to drop this particular re-record, it’s never too early to start living out your Reputation era. Ganzorigt gives actress Jenna Dewan a textured mani with this snakeskin design. Top an intricate design with something like Zoya's Naked Manicure Glossy Seal Top Coat to prolong your mani and keep it chip-free.

Milk Bath Chrome

Give your pearly chrome manicure a creamy texture and opt for a milky base. Celebrity nail artist Kim Truong mixes a light pink chrome polish from Toy’s x Inity and polishes from PLA’s Fashionably Light collection to get that ethereal vibe going.

Pucci French

Springtime calls for the idyllic colorful print that is Pucci. Truong keeps the signature kaleidoscope of colors on a white tip for a dynamic spin on the French mani. The base is kept bare, which makes for the perfect contrast for the artful tip. We'd use a good base coat like the Nails Inc. Superfood Base Coat to strenghten and nourish your nails and buff the natural nail.

Romantic Lace

Lace works for all seasons, but it just feels right at home during spring. For Kerry Washington’s nail look, Truong paints on intricate white lace-line lines against a neutral-colored base (we love Gucci's Ellen Blush) before topping it off with floral detail.

Cutting Corners

Dare we say, Bring back the square tips? Truong makes a strong case for it and goes minimal with thin French tips and daisies peeking out on the corners of each nail for singer Ella Mai.(And the baby blue is super pretty and you can use something like the Sunday's N. 17) It also makes for an easy short nail look if you’re not looking to invest in acrylic nails.

Black & White

Not a fan of loud colors for spring? No problem. Take a cue from Truong as she paints on tiny black-and-white floral decals to match the black-and-white French tips for a super cute nail look. To get those perfect circular petals, use a tool like Manicurist's Dotting Tool, for fool-proof application.

Fairy Dust

Bring on the shine. Celebrity nail artist Coca Michelle dresses up French chrome tips with loads of silver shimmer to give nails a cool velvet finish. To get that vibrant glitter, we like something like Essie's Set In Stone.

Abstract Tips

Using one of spring’s hottest nail colors, Michelle creates a curved striped ombré look that slowly fades into a soft pale pink at the base. Our pick is the Aprés Nails in Sweet Cheeks; it’s so pretty to look at.

Groovy Flowers

These ’70s-inspired flower designs are just so fun. Go with an eclectic mix of orange flowers with neon pink, electric blue, and light green outlines against a bare nail that will help you get your groove on this spring. And for all your nail art needs, use a nail brush like the Doublemoss Arte 2 Detailer Brush to get those intricate petals looks clean.

Geometric Dots

As far as nail art designs go, spring 2025 is just calling for us to go all out on dots. Mix and match shades of mustard, turquoise, maroon, green, and yellow to lighten up a neutral nail. (We love a fun deep mustard shade like the Hermès Les Nail Polish in Jaune Imperial and plus, they’re super easy to DIY, which is always a welcomed bonus).

Crystal Energy

Spring cleaning calls for all sorts of cleansing, so why not sweep away the bad vibes with some crystal-inspired nails? Mix in pink and white in a marble-like design so that when you hold your actual rose quartz crystal, you’ll feel double the good energy. Use a top coat like the Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat to make sure your mani doesn't chip and for a glossy finish.

Chrome Texture

You can’t go wrong with colorful chrome shades, and we especially love a bright purple (like Londtown's BRILL-Ant), green, gold, and silver mix. Celebrity nail artist Eri Ishizu opts for raised shapes and curves for a unique twist.

Preppy Gingham

Spring is pretty synonymous with gingham—and we’re here for it. Go classic with a mix of white and cherry red, like this Chanel's Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour Incendaire.

Spring Garden

You’ll always have us at Saltburn-inspired. Celebrity nail artist and Euphoria nail lead Natalie Minerva mixes dreamy pastel nail colors from OPI’s Your Way collection, and tops each nail with a floral sticker and jewels for added romance.

’60s Mod Half Moons

What Minerva calls “cuffed half moons” is giving us the ultimate ’60s mod nail. Stick to a classic black-and-white combo (we love using Deborah Lippmann's Fade to Black and Amazing Grace together) on these geometric shapes for something especially striking.

California Dreams

This sunset ombré nail mixes orange and purple from OPI's Big Zodiac Energy Collection and has a lovely shimmer finish, which can make for a stunning spring nail on its own. But Minerva’s palm tree details just give such a nice added touch, and it’s something that can easily turn into a summer nail if you want it to.

Subtle Accents

Another chic and simple design for minimalists, we love these floral petals peeking out of the corners against a nude nail.It gives the mani a cool negative space feel without doing too much in the floral nail department. Be sure to use a good top coat the like Olive & June Super Glossy Top Coat to lock in the designs and add some shine.

Little Cherry Blossom

One can never go wrong with a cherry design. We especially love it against a milk white base (like Orly’s Sea Spray) so that it really pops.

Mocha Mousse Details

Taking inspo from the 2025 Pantone color of the year (which celebrity nail artist Queenie Nguyen predicts will be a huge nail color for 2025), opt to use the mocha mousse shade in fun geometrical designs for your spring nail art. Mix in metal decals and French mani designs for a really unique look. And if you’re looking for a perfect creamy caramel brown, use something like OPI’s Espresso Your Inner Self.

Pink Punk

We’d wear metallic pink all year-round. But as another 2025 spring nail color to be on the lookout for, it’s the perfect base (we especially love the ILNP Showstopper) for some nail art for when the weather gets warmer. Add designs like these tiny black hearts for that minimal aesthetic.

Iced Chai Velvet

Bachik’s velvet mani creation for JLo is just so creamy and smooth. He used his own Tom Bachik Iced Chai Magnetic Gel Pen to get that lovely mix of white and chai with a mesmerizing shimmer finish.

Platinum Shine

This spring 2025 color also doubles as stunning spring nail art. Shiny and striking on its own, a platinum chrome nail makes for a bold statement. Use something like Sally Hansen’s Color Foil in Steal a Kiss to get that metallic finish.

Fruity Leopard

These nails are just pure joy. Boyce uses the Red Carpet Manicure Solid Cream Gel Polish Palette in Cuddle Me Teddy to give Megan Fox’s nails the cheetah print base and cure these adorable 3D cherry decals on top.

Cloud Nine

Dreamy and whimsical, these cloud nails by Ganzorigt mix the prettiest pastel shades of lavender, pink, and baby blues with a slight chrome finish for a nice added touch. To get the cloud designs, she uses the classic white in OPI Alpine Snow.

Hearted Tips

We’re always looking for ways to elevate a French mani. Ganzorigt opts for heart decals made with OPI’s Big Apple Red to line the tip of the nail for the top arch and a glazed donut base.

Lunar New Year

These Lunar New Year-inspired nails are true pieces of art. Set against a bare base, Nguyen uses a bright red polish (our pick is the JINSoon in Ardor) to draw these pretty floral designs all over the nail. She then outlines the outer edges of the nail to really make them pop.

Floating Florals

We love nail stickers to dress up any nail. Nail artist San Sung Kim uses these romantic floral designs from Powpop on top of a deep lavender velvet shade.