Wealth Whispers—These 20 Simple Nail Designs Reverberate Pure Elegance

Don't get me wrong; I'm all for a bold, maximalist mani moment, but a luxuriously simple nail design will forever occupy a special place in my heart. Call it the quiet luxury appeal, but there's something about a strategically placed rhinestone, bow, or fine line detail on an otherwise naked nail plate that just exudes pure elegance. Consider it a low-lift way to jazz up your expensive-looking neutrals while keeping the overall look classy, understated, and (dare I say?) demure.

Loud prints and molten, 3D layers have their time and place, but pro manicurists have certainly seen an uptick in delicate designs as of late. "People love a balance between clean and artistic," celebrity nail artist Saccia Livingston told Who What Wear about spring's hottest mani trends. That said, I'd suggest screenshotting these 20 stunningly simple looks ahead of your next salon appointment or DIY mani date. (Yes, they're that easy to tackle at home.)

20 Chic, Simple Nail Designs

1. Baby French Tips

It doesn't get more elegant than a simple, baby French (also called the micro French, depending on the nail aficionado you ask). Want proof? Take a look at Hailey Bieber's, Bella Hadid's, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's manicures of late; each celeb sports an ultra-thin line at the top of each nail that appears subtly sophisticated.

2. Steel Finish

A simple dusting of chrome powder goes a very long way. You could totally opt for a pearly base for more of a glazed-doughnut finish, but I'm partial to this silver mirror-like moment using CND's Steel Kisses.

3. Confetti Nails

Celebrity nail artist Holly Falcone shows off some of the chicest party nails I've ever seen. All you need is a simple dotting tool (like this, from Amazon) and a metallic polish (like this OPI number) for dazzling digits like hers.

4. Coquette Bows

Coquette accents like bows (plus pearls and lace) are on-trend for 2025, say the pros. You can either go all-out with it or, as pictured above, choose just a nail or two to dress up.

5. Licorice French

The licorice French—aka, a black French mani with an emphasis on shine—is a popular choice among the style set. Celebrity nail artist Julie Kandalec even calls it the "little black dress" of manicures. "Like an LBD, it looks good on everyone and matches everything," she previously told WWW.

6. Fruit Basket

"So many nail trends tie back to foods," Kandalec shared in our spring nail trends guide. Glazed-doughnut nails, blueberry milk nails, cherry mocha nails… I could go on! A simple fruit design adds a cutesy touch to those trending hues.

7. Aura Nails

They look incredibly intricate, but aura nails are actually incredibly easy to create at home. "I like to use a tight-pored makeup sponge (like the ones your grandma used to use for foundation) to create those soft, blended gradients," nail artist Juli Russell once shared with WWW. You could also opt for press-ons, like this cotton candy design from celebrity nail artist Brittney Boyce.

8. Color-Blocked Dots

For a simple yet bold design, try color-blocking your manis with contrasting dots. It adds such a vibrant punch.

9. Nail Crowns

French tips, but make them sparkly. Rather than sprinkling jewels randomly on the nail plate, align them on the tip of the nail, right where you'd paint a French tip. "Just outline the smile line," instructs Kandalec, who recommends using teeny-tiny gems to keep the look minimal. "It's a little more chic," she told us.

10. Cowhide

Of all the animal prints you can paint (Tortoiseshell! Leopard! Snakeskin!), cowhide is arguably the easiest to create at home. After all, any imperfections just make the print appear more realistic. I love celebrity manicurist Betina Goldstein's iteration with a matte white base; feel free to check out her tutorial for each step.

11. Dirty Martini Tips

When you think about it, an adorable olive detail just requires two dots: one green, one teeny-tiny red. Simple and chic.

12. Sunny French

Butter-yellow nails are poised to dominate summer manis yet again. To update the look for 2025, might I suggest committing to colorful French tips?

13. Glazed Hearts

What do you get when you mix French tips, a cutesy heart design, and a glazed-doughnut finish? This elegant pink situation, of course. Here, celebrity nail artist Imarni Ashman uses the Glazed Top Coat from The GelBottle Inc to secure that pearlescent result.

14. Reverse French

I'll see your classic French tips and raise you the "reverse French," which features lines on the nail beds as opposed to the tips of the nails. You can opt for any polish color you please. Though, I will say the midnight sparkle Ashman here looks incredibly chic.

15. Double French

Double the French, double the fun, right? You can either switch up the colors or keep the look monochromatic—a rich, forest green will never steer you wrong.

16. Ribbon Details

If you're hoping for a more abstract, less cutesy take on nail bow trend, try adding one ribbon on your middle digit and "extending" the tails to the rest of your tips. A simple nod to coquette magic.

17. Teeny Florals

Floral nail art will always feel nostalgic for me, especially the tiny, detailed designs like these from Falcone. They're also pretty easy to master at home, considering all you need is a precise dotting tool.

18. Negative-Space Doodles

A negative-space mani is such a low-lift way to make a bold impact. I'm personally swooning over these retro squiggles set on a milky, matte base.

19. Evil Eye Accents

I say this as someone who has the nail art skills of a scribbling toddler: Evil eye accents are arguably the easiest to try at home. All it takes is three dots—one blue, one black, one white—to nail (pun intended) the design.

20. Checkerboard Blue

Cobalt blue is such a cool polish choice year-round (just ask Selena Gomez!) and this negative-space checkerboard look makes it even more intriguing.

What is the easiest nail design?

All of these nail designs are relatively easy for the average at-home nail artist—they're called "simple" for a reason!—but if you're looking for the lowest-lift option, you can never go wrong with a dusting of chrome powder for a steel finish. This design doesn't take any dexterity whatsoever—just a few seconds of rubbing the powder into your nail plate until it shines.

If you're craving something on the more artistic side, I say go with polka dots. All you need is a dotting tool (like this one) to place the spots wherever you please: all over à la confetti nails, smack-dab in the middle for a color-blocked spot, or stacked on top of each other for an evil eye accent.

What's hot for nails right now?

I'll point you to our 2025 nail trends guide for more of a deep dive, but many of the simple designs above are particularly en vogue. Think mirror chrome, jewel decals (aka, nail crowns), micro French tips, and negative-space movement. Simple, delicate nail designs truly never go out of style, though, so don't be afraid to experiment with a tiny, elegant floral or variation of the classic French mani.

Take it from celebrity manicurist Thea Green, founder of Nails Inc: "The simple nail art trend is set to continue, as many people are prioritizing low-maintenance beauty, and this requires less upkeep," she once told WWW about the delicate, micro French.

Why Trust Us

At Who What Wear, trend reporting is our bread and butter. Our editors have a knack for spotting the latest in-demand beauty looks—often before they hit the mainstream—while also working closely with trusted experts, like renowned manicurists, celebrity makeup artists, and other leading industry insiders for their personal takes. Together, this ensures every trend report is well-researched, inclusive, and relevant to you.

In addition, we focus on products that deliver, whether they're affordable favorites or luxury investments. Our curated selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how, and what we'd truly recommend to our closest friends and family members.

This post was published at an earlier date and has since been updated.