If you love adding visual interest to your manicure, but aren’t into bold over the top nail art, we’ve got you covered. These 18 nail art inspo may be subtle and elegant, but they are anything but humdrum. Browse these sophisticated yet sassy designs for ideas for your next manicure. These elevated looks carry over perfectly from day wear into evening. Whether your nails are short or long, round, or square tip, these chic designs will look great on fingertips of all shapes and sizes. 

Black French Tips

Looking to shake up your traditional French manicure? Swap out white tips for black polish for a sophisticated twist on this classic nail trend. This bold look pulls together a polished office ensemble and pairs nicely with your favourite little black dress.  

Negative Space

If your least favourite part of a DIY manicure is the maintenance, give this new nail trend a try. Have your manicurist (or you) leave some of your natural nail showing at the base and only add colour to the top two-thirds of the nail. This will keep your nail art looking chic much longer and require less upkeep. 

Colour Scales

If you are an ombre fan, try this on-trend twist. Emulate a colour scale by painting each nail a different hue of the same base colour, starting from dark to light. For a versatile day to evening look, we recommend a berry or nude colour palette. 

Neutrals with Gold Foil

Jazz up your neutral nail colour with daring gold foil. Whether you choose a geometric design or something more abstract, gold foil will take your manicure to the next level. 

Nude Art Deco

Nude and black is one of the classiest colour combinations for minimalists. Paint your nails with a nude base and make it pop with some black art deco-inspired striping for a simple yet elegant style.

Chevrons

Whether at the base of the nail or mid-way, glitter polish or matte, a simple chevron can class up any nail colour.

Pearly Whites

Elevate your polish or French tip with the addition of stacked flat-back pearls. A single strip of pearls in varying sizes up the centre of your nail will add visual interest and sophistication to any look. 

Marble Nails

Marble nails are making a comeback this season. Whether you opt for a classic look with neutral colours or a colourful base, this nail trend is a ten out of ten.  

Tortoiseshell 

Tortoiseshell nails are all the rage right now. Full nails look fabulous, but if you are looking for something less bold, you could try out tortoiseshell tips or just one accent nail.  

Glitzy Reverse French Tip

Add some class to your cuticles this season! Paint a reverse French tip with metallic (or glitter) polish over a neutral base or your natural nail for a glitzy glow up. 

Delicate Floral

For a fun feminine nail art, paint the base of your nail in a nude or pastel shade, and decorate the outer rim with intricate floral designs like stems, leaves, buds, and berries. 

Heart-Shaped Tips

Looking to add a little romance to your classic French tip, try painting your tips in the shape of hearts in a bold shade of red or pale pink. It’s the perfect look for Valentine’s Day or date night. 

Simple Stripe

For foolproof nail art, try this beginner design. Place a piece of contrasting striping tape down the centre of your manicure. This streamlined look is simple, yet elegant and impossible to mess up. 

Everything Emerald

Emerald has emerged as one of the trendiest colours of the season. Incorporate it into your manicure by pairing a bold emerald polish with glitzy accents like gold foil, glitter, or gems to amp up the wow factor. 

Holographic Polish

For a pain-free manicure, choose a polish that does the work for you! Holographic nails are so easy–just apply your nail colour and let it dry, and you will be rocking the most on-trend manicure of 2023.

Swirls

This fun style may look intimidating, but it’s actually very forgiving. Just use a fine line brush to apply swirl stripes in contrasting or complementary hues, leaving some of your natural nail shining through. We like gold and white or varying shades of brown. 

Abstract French Mani

Try replacing your prim and polished white tips for a pop of colour. For added visual interest, combine two or more colours, and swipe it on freehanded for a more casual look. 

Darling Dots

An easy way to add some eye appeal to any colour of polish is a good old-fashioned polka dot. Whether going full polka dot or adding a few “freckles” here and there, dots are a great way to spice up plain old polish. 

Jessica Gardner | Contributing Writer