Summer 2025 is going to be anything but boring. Imagine colorful outbursts, fun patterns and nail polishes that just make you feel good. No matter if you’re going to the beach, to brunch or just doing your daily tasks, your nails can always add to the fun. You can do these at home; all you need is some inspiration, the correct colors and perhaps a glass of chilled matcha nearby. Want to try out the coolest nail art trends this season?
Playful Polka Dot Pop
This one is joy in manicure form. A combination of matte yellow and pastel pink nails turns into a small celebration with rows of dots in various colors like blue, red, green, white and pink. It has a simple almond shape, but the print is what makes it fun. There’s something charming about it—like adding sprinkles to cupcakes, but in a fashionable way. This is one of those crazy nail designs creative fun art ideas that instantly says you’re not afraid to stand out, and it works for both summer weddings and ice cream runs alike.
To pull this off, I’d go with a high-quality matte top coat like the OPI Matte Top Coat and grab a bunch of classic polishes like Zoya’s “Bee” for yellow, Essie’s “Mod Square” for pink, and a nail art dotting tool (or just a trusty bobby pin). If you want to separate your nails neatly, use thinner brushes or toothpicks. This style is colorful, daring and strangely soothing to put on.
The first step is to paint the base with two-tone yellow and pink. After the first coat is dry, dip your dotting tool into the polish colors and lightly dot them across your nail. Don’t worry too much about the spacing—a little unevenness adds charm. Cover the model with the matte coat and let it dry level and smooth for a moment.
I chose this outfit for a beach weekend last July and received compliments from people at the hotel breakfast line. And honestly? It set the tone for my whole trip. Bright nails, bright mood. Sometimes the simplest details change everything.
Color Block Confidence
Bright and mismatched nails always seem to bring out the summer spirit. This mani uses different shades and contrasts like a professional: Each nail tells its own story but they all go together perfectly: mustard yellow, bubblegum pink with an abstract black swirl, royal purple and turquoise blue. It’s glossy, vibrant, and screams creative self-expression. By fun nail art ideas simple, I am referring to the fact that a strong color and a little daring are enough to create a striking look.
To achieve this, select polishes that cover the nail well in only one coat. My favorites are Sally Hansen’s “Mellow Yellow,” “Back to the Fuchsia,” “Pacific Blue,” and OPI’s “Do You Lilac It?” A mirror finish can be achieved with the help of a good glossy top coat. It’s important to paint with a steady hand and smooth polish, so there are no bubbles formed.
Want to amp it up? That pink swirly accent nail is surprisingly easy. Draw your loops and squiggles with a black striping brush or a fine liner. No need for symmetry—this is abstract on purpose. Once you’ve applied two coats of clear topcoat, your project is complete.
I love that every finger can have its own unique feeling. Last year, I wore this outfit to a weekend festival because it was eye-catching but still simple. This manicure can make a simple white tee and jeans look more stylish.
Geometric Gelato
The style is like seeing the many colorful gelato flavors displayed on a boardwalk’s stand, with bold black dividers. It combines sharp angles with soft colors, using lemon, pistachio, blush and white like sections of stained glass. One thing I appreciate is how this mani takes simple nail art ideas and extends them like this, making the design look elegant but still fun on any nail length. It’s modern, but not too serious.
To get this look, you should use Essie’s “Mint Candy Apple,” “Lemon Cello,” “Fiji,” and a crisp white called “Blanc.” You will need a good nail striping brush and a polish with strong black color or a nail art pen for this design. You can use tape to create clean edges if you’re not confident about your cutting skills.
Fill your cup in a neutral color, then design your color layout using thin lines or tape. Complete every section of the sketch and let it dry before you outline it with black. You can either use satin or high-gloss to give your nails a different look.
There’s a certain lightness to these shades that reminds me of a summer dress. It’s a fun nail design that matches well with picnics and ice cream outings.
Sky Marble Blues
Summer blues are always refreshing and this manicure makes them even better. This manicure uses a sky-blue base and adds two marble nails, with soft white lines over a gray-blue background. It’s elegant, calm, and just a little icy. You can wear these nails for a fancy look or a casual one based on your clothes. One thing’s for sure—this is peak fun nail art ideas easy elegance.
ILNP’s “Blueprint” or Olive & are great options for a pale blue color. June’s nail features an angelfish pattern and the marble nail gets its smoky base with sheer white swirled using a small, precise brush. You can find many online tutorials that explain how to layer marble in order to achieve nice cracked textures.
I have tried marble a few times and the most important thing is to avoid overdoing the polish. Let it flow naturally and don’t panic if it looks messy halfway through—once you add the topcoat, it blends like watercolor. Total spa-core vibes.
Ocean Breeze Botanicals
This style is neat, sharp and brims with coastal appeal. Think clear blue sea meets leafy beach sarong. The nails on the thumb and pinky are painted with white leaf silhouettes on a soft blue background and the rest are left plain blue. It’s chic without being loud, and totally delivers on that fun nail art ideas spring energy with a summery update.
You will need a light blue polish, a thin brush and a white gel polish for this design. If you’re not into freehanding, try a leaf-pattern stamping plate—they’re way easier than they look and save time if you’re not steady with a brush.
On my trip to Laguna Beach last summer, I wore these nails and every server seemed to notice and comment on them. Blue and white have a timeless appeal—they look nautical, clean and match both dresses and swimwear.
Glossy Teal With Black Contour
I’m calling this one the “sunglasses-at-sunset” mani. These well-groomed almond nails are painted with bold aqua and cerulean and each nail is accentuated by a black border that makes the color shine like neon under a full moon. A tiny pearl-dot in the center of each nail gives the manicure a touch of elegance. It looks bold, strong and can be worn easily, especially if you like fashion-forward nail designs.
You can achieve this look at home by using OPI’s “Can’t Find My Czechbook” and Essie’s “Turquoise & Caicos.” Use a nail brush with a fine tip and a dark Essie polish called “Licorice” for the outline. The tiny dot in the center? You can either use a dotting tool or a crystal drop to add a bit of sparkle.
This style is all about contrast. Do the black outline once your base coat is completely dry to keep the edges clean. If your hand shakes (relatable), try resting your pinky on the table for stability.
I wore a version of this design for a friend’s poolside birthday dinner. The silver rings and white linen shirt made the clothing look fantastic. Minimal effort, maximum drama. That’s the dream.
Electric Waves on Navy
You remember those evenings when the breeze smells like the sea and your music fits perfectly? That’s this nail design. Nails with short squares and a deep navy base, decorated with thin, wavy white lines that look almost like dancing waves. It is a more mature way to do crazy nail designs, but it still maintains its cool factor.
Pick up Essie’s nail polish in Aruba Blue and get a white gel striper or thin nail art pen. Paint two layers of navy, let them dry and then freehand the wavy lines. Don’t worry too much about making everything even—the main thing is for the room to feel natural and comfortable.
If you’re into nail stamping, you can cheat this look with a wave-pattern stamp. Top it all off with Seche Vite to give your nails that nice glassy look.
This is my favorite kind of short nail design: stylish, office-appropriate, but still playful. You can also use this as a foundation to add rhinestones or change the white lines to silver foil.
Clear-Edged Teal With Sparkling Accents
There’s a luxe softness to this set. It combines seafoam teal nail polish with clear squared-off tips, some jewels and a three-dimensional butterfly charm. And yes—it’s just as magical as it sounds. For summer weddings or birthdays, this is the style I would go for. Combining romance and boldness, nail art gets a playful upgrade with sparkle and brightness.
You’ll need a teal gel polish (try Beetles Gel Polish Set “Ocean Breeze”), some small rhinestones, and a butterfly decal or 3D charm from Shein or Amazon. A gel builder keeps the tips clear so the base color is not affected.
Paint the teal color on the nail bed and mid-shaft and leave the tips free of color. Use tweezers to frame your rhinestones and then cure them using a UV lamp. Take your time—this one’s worth the detail.
This kind of design makes me remember why I became passionate about nails. It’s a glamorous style, but it has a soft touch that makes it comfortable. Bonus: the sparkle looks amazing in summer light.
Lavender Sparkle Pop
If you want a manicure that says, “I’m glowing, keep your hands off,” this is it. A touch of lavender with a full glitter accent nail in deep purple? Instant confidence. This mani is both bold and cute, yet it works well for everyday. This is a great nail art idea to try when you’re short on time.
Try applying Essie’s “Play Date” and top it off with a purple glitter gel made by Madam Glam or Born Pretty. You can make your nails look textured by mixing loose glitter into wet polish and finishing with a thick topcoat.
You can be done in no time by applying two layers of solid lavender and glitter over them. Try changing the order you place the glitter to try a different style.
I wore this manicure to a concert with a lavender slip dress and felt like I was in my own Y2K fantasy. So easy. So impactful. So you need to try this.
Barbiecore Chic With Metallic Accent
This one reminds me of enjoying rosé wine with your friends on a rooftop. A pale pink base is combined with a clean white accent nail and a tiny silver line adds the finishing touch to the Barbiecore style. It’s both stylish and strong, making it a great way to add some class to your short nail art ideas.
Get ORLY’s Bubblegum Pop for the lighter color and OPI’s Alpine Snow for something bold and bright. Apply silver striping tape or a foil pen to make sure your line is very precise. Finish with high-shine gel topcoat.
It’s an excellent choice for those who are just getting into nail art. A little bit of effort and some basic tools are enough to make your work look very professional. Bonus: pink and white always elongate the fingers.
I did a version of this look for a friend’s engagement party and matched it with a slicked-back ponytail and glossy lips. It’s gentle and strong and I find myself wanting to wear it all the time.
Green Tips & Gold Geometry
This design is a bold statement made with nails. The combination of emerald green, chartreuse and tiny golden triangles around the cuticle results in a style that looks bold yet elegant. It walks the line between jungle-chic and red carpet. The square design gives it form and the transparent nude base ensures it remains clean and comfortable. It’s a wonderful choice for anyone who wants to try grown-up nail art without losing their creativity.
If you’re ready to replicate it, you’ll want to get a green polish like Zoya’s “Hunter,” plus a lime gradient shade like “Key Lime” by Cirque Colors. You can easily purchase gold foil triangle stickers from Etsy or nail supply stores. Apply a sheer pink-nude color as the base and then brush the green diagonally, fading it up with a sponge.
Mixing earth tones with metallics has always been a favorite of mine—it looks luxurious without much effort. You could wear this look with a silky halter dress or even a linen two-piece outfit. Yes, please.
Classic Terracotta Simplicity
Sometimes you just want something that goes with everything. These nails with almond tips in terracotta orange are the perfect example of simple summer style. Rich, warm, and full of sunset-in-the-desert energy. No fuss, no extras—just a gorgeous shade that gives instant polish (pun intended). This design fits perfectly under the category of fun short nail art ideas simple and you honestly can’t go wrong.
All you have to do is use a highly pigmented polish like “Canyon Clay” by Olive & June or “Hot & Spicy” by OPI. To get the best result, use two coats and top them off with a glossy finish.
This mani is the kind I go for when I’m between bold looks but still want something striking. It’s especially gorgeous against denim or anything ivory. Add stacked gold rings and you’re golden.
Soft Gradient Summer Sunset
This gradient is like a sorbet swirl on your nails, with peach, mint, coral and soft green fading one into the other in a tropical-looking ombré. It is easy to use, feels light on the nails and adds a touch of color to make spring nail art fun.
You’ll need several pastel gel polishes (I love Modelones’ “Macaron Collection”), a sponge, and a steady hand. Apply the polish colors to the sponge in stripes and press and blend them onto your nails by repeating the process. It’s messy but super satisfying once topcoated.
It reminds me of having brunch on a rooftop with some fruit salad. It looks great on almond-shaped nails, but you can also use it on shorter nails by adjusting how much gradient you use.
Neon Graphic Pop
Let’s call this one Hot Girl Circuit Breaker. Thanks to hot pink, fluorescent green and bold white, plus geometric stripes and blocked tips, this manicure is a mix of summer rave and Y2K nostalgia. It is full of excitement, even shocking at times and a blast of creativity.
You can begin by using “Flip Flop Fantasy” from China Glaze and a pure white called “Blank Canvas” by Olive & June. You can use nail tape or striping brushes to paint the neon green lines or simply freehand them if you’re confident. Seal everything in with a glossy top coat.
Whenever I’m feeling lively, I’ll create this design, especially when I’m traveling. It can instantly brighten any look and, surprisingly, matches well with basic items like denim or a white crop top. This is a fun nail art idea that’s easy to do and looks impressive.
Cartoon Chic & Color Pop
Even without the art, the base color is quite bold, but when you add the groovy-style accents on your finger nails? Total art school girl summer. The use of red, yellow, white and black dabs of color gives this mani an artistic and confident look, like something you’d find on someone who wears second-hand denim and enjoys reading graphic novels.
Your base color should be a matte blue like Essie’s “Butler Please.” Dot the designs in with a dotting tool and use a thin brush with bold acrylic paint color. Try combining shapes in a way that they don’t fit together perfectly—you want the design to seem kerflacious and handcrafted. Add a matte top coat to finish.
These nails practically beg for compliments. Once, I was wearing a similar outfit on vacation and a barista asked me if I was a designer. (Not officially, but I said thank you anyway.)
Pink Hearts & Gold Love
This mani is pure romance with a modern twist. A combination of soft pink, hot pink and bright white is used, with the main attraction being a half-heart on two nails and gold foil along its edges. One of the nails is wrapped in a sweet gold-foil heart that looks like a little letter of love. It’s one of those fun nail art ideas simple enough for everyday wear, but so cute it turns heads.
You can use “Watermelon” from Essie for your dark pink, “Fiji” for the light pink and “Snow White” from Zoya for a classic white. Gold leaf and nail foil glue help you achieve a unique luxurious effect.
I prefer designs like this when I want to be a little playful but not too bold. Perfect for date nights or just when you’re in a soft-girl mood. Bonus: it pairs well with heart-shaped rings and latte runs.
Glitter Galaxy Gradient
If cotton candy and the night sky got together, the result would be this mani. A beautiful shade formed by mixing turquoise and lavender, then sparkles with tiny glitter that looks like the stars overhead. Its almond shape makes it elegant and the gradient creates the wonderful fade effect. It fulfills the fun nail art theme associated with spring, making a pretty and festive look.
To get the perfect ombré, I’d suggest using “Play Date” by Essie and “Mint Candy Apple.” Paint in several overlapping washings of color and seal it all with a layer of clear glitter like “Fairy Dust” from China Glaze.
I wore a similar outfit to a rooftop DJ night and the lights made every sparkle shine. There’s one set you keep admiring and smiling at because it’s so lovely.
Sea Treasures 3D Shells
Calling all beach lovers: this design is literal summer in 3D. The base is a dusty seafoam green, while the raised starfish and seashells give it a feel of being from the beach. I think it’s great that it’s both creative and fun and I love how it looks playful without being too over-the-top.
For this look, you should use Orly’s “Sagebrush” nail polish and nail glue or gel to stick on the 3D embellishments. Etsy and AliExpress are places where you can buy these mini starfish and seashells.
While you might not wear it often, it’s perfect for vacations or special events. For a beach bachelorette, I tried this and people could not stop talking about it.
Pink & Neon Fade
There are certain color combinations that just feel right and pink to neon green ombré is perfect for the summer. It reminds me of watermelon ice pops or sorbet at the end of the day. The gradient is strong and bold and its square shape makes it look even sleeker. Are you looking for easy-to-do nail art ideas that still impresses? This is the right place.
Strawberry Margarita from OPI and Electric Daisy from Holo Taco are fine options. Apply both colors to your nails using a makeup sponge and finish by coating them with a top coat.
I love how bright and shiny my nails look in the sunlight. It’s ideal for a weekend brunch or drinking by the pool, as it has that fun and lively feeling I look for in July.
Strawberry Milk Vibes
This mani makes you look like a soft girl with a dash of sass. Pink nails with various shades and a strong strawberry design on top of a white base. It’s adorable, polished, and surprisingly wearable—especially if you’re into fun nail art ideas simple that still give a pop.
You can try out the colors “Sugar Rush,” “Ballet Slippers,” and “Mod Square” from Essie. Use a sticker or stamp for the strawberry, since it’s much simpler than drawing it by hand.
This set reminds me of picnics and Pinterest boards. I remember wearing this while strawberry-picking last year and the photo always reminds me of the sweet berries I ate. A forever fave.
