Here are 56 Autumn Nail Art Designs You’ll Love

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While classics like deep wine and navy will always be in trend, why not experiment with some new fall nail art ideas this year? Instagrammers and established nail artists alike appear to favor a more unconventional approach. With the (slight) drop in temperature, our feeds have been flooded with humorous twists on French manis, creative usage of negative space, and an abundance of metallic accents. There have even been a few solid (but far from dull) neutrals trending for the purists among us. 

These aren’t your typical autumn nail fashions. We’ve compiled the best fall nail ideas that have been residing in the bookmarks of our beauty editors so that you can combine all your big sweaters with a mani worth skipping gloves for.

Glamour’s editors make all product recommendations on their own. But if you make a purchase after clicking on one of our retail links, we may get a commission.

Nail polish of a milky white hue, such as Nailtopia’s Sunday Funday, can make even the darkest skin tones look radiant. Put on a bulky sweater and lots of gold jewelry, and you’ll look instantly stylish. Visit the Maby blog to discover the most trending nail designs today.

Dual Tone

The least time-consuming approach to fooling people into thinking your nails are professionally done? Make one hand a different color than the other. This pair from Triple O Nail Polish, a soft lilac and a warm mustard green, is ideal for the season’s changeover. 

Simple Advice 

Yes, the French manicure is very much alive and well today. Use a dark, somber color like hunter green or navy to transition the appearance from summer to fall. It’s a good method to experiment with deeper shades, too.

Swap and Change 

All you Libras out there, listen up! Try a different pattern on each nail if you can’t decide on just one. It has a great appearance and provides a lot of practice opportunities. 

Delicious Nudities 

On bare nails, simple shapes can appear surprisingly stylish. If you want to take it to the next level of elegance, use a metallic shade like Essie’s Mosaic on Down nail color. 

Ombre Nails 

To this day, the ombré nail style (also known as the “Skittles manicure”) is one of the simplest ways to decorate your fingertips. We recommend Olive & June’s assortment of browns for snuggling up with a mug of hot cider. In addition, please refer to: Ombré manicures are a foolproof method for making blue nail polish *really* stand out.

Pale and Pink

Adding a matte finish can make any neutral look and feel brand new. To achieve this look, paint Mademoiselle on your nails and then blur Essie’s Matte About You over it. 

Cartoon “sparkles” are a great way to have fun with glitter without dealing with the mess. It’s better to have a professional handle this, although it’s not impossible to do on your own. 

Burning hot 

There are a lot of different styles going on here (French mani, cool flames, and square tips), but the use of a monochromatic color scheme keeps it from seeming too busy and makes the nails appear exceptionally long. 

Nails with a Tortoiseshell Pattern

One of the most popular looks this fall can be updated by painting simply part of a few nails in the pattern. The smaller footprint encourages do-it-yourself experimentation. 

Purple fervor 

Try a lovely plum for a splash of color that won’t scream “summer.” Invoke the ’70s-inspired swirls of everyone’s favorite Instagram filter. 

Fragrant Flowers 

How much cuter could these blossoms be? You can recreate the look with the Like Lush + Like Flora nail paint combination from Paintbox with a dotting tool or bobby pin. 

Release the Waves 

Mocha and cappuccino browns entwine to create a pleasant atmosphere. To achieve the desired squiggly effect, use a very fine nail brush. 

Double-Dipped 

The French can also be made to feel new by… Dress in layers of soft pastels. To achieve a similar effect, try OPI’s To Be Continued or To Infinity and Blue-yond. 

When you think of fall manicure trends, splatter paint neon probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. However, just imagine how adorable it would look in contrast to fall’s more subdued color palette and jeans. 

All-New Nude 

The term “nude” does not refer to a neutral color scheme. You can never go wrong with a classic combination of flattering colour and a glossy finish. 

Retro Flower Prints 

These vintage-style blooms are very sweet! As an added bonus, their irregular form makes them simple to recreate on one’s own. 

Manicure with Plaid Adornments

Is there anything cozier than a plaid sweater in the fall? Find a nail polish to complement your favorite plaid shirt and get in line. Clueless. 

Collaborative Work 

Love the look of mismatched nails but don’t want to commit to 10 distinct designs? Get some sticker sets from ManiMe and combine them whichever you like. 

Abalone Nail Art The beauty of this shell-inspired manicure cannot be overstated. Use Essie’s Let It Ripple collection to attempt a replica. 

Tips fit for a aMidas 

Refined gold appears a little more modern than classic white, and gold tips make a French feel much more opulent. 

Gold Stars Stickers are a blessing for effortless, eye-catching manicures. There’s a reason why Olive & June’s stars are so popular with L.A.’s chicks. 

The French Square 

Square-shaped, ultra-fine-tipped French manicures are perfect for short nails. When trimmed short, the squared ends provide a very contemporary appearance. 

Snake Skin 

Although rich shades of orange and burgundy are a natural fit for the season, they can feel repetitive after a while. Add some zing by using your favorite colors in a shimmering metallic sheen. 

Verdantly Green 

Pick a bright hue like a deep green and pile on the rings if you don’t have time for any sort of artistic expression. The China Glaze shade In the Lime Light is a good alternative. 

In the Color of the Evening Sky

When done in a lovely ombré, the colors red and orange make a seamless transition from summer to fall. To achieve a similar look, apply Chanel Le Vernis in Sailor and Cruise with a latex makeup sponge. 

Even if the temperature outside goes below 60 degrees, you can keep the summer spirit alive on your nails with this Wavy Baby Swirly art. If you need something right away, check out the press-ons from Chillhouse. 

Confetti Fingernails 

One of the most popular nail art styles this year has been blue or pink butterflies. The orange monarch butterflies on the neutral background look and feel like fall.

Check Mate 

Sweaters in a lilac and red check pattern will add a dash of color to your coziest outfits. Use SinfulColors’ Speedster and Vvvroom! nail polishes to achieve these tones.

Peach Ends 

Creamy orange accents are a nice touch for the autumn season in your micro-French. If you’re looking for a comparable shade, try Essie’s Check to Check Out. 

Silver from the Stars 

In a flash, your manicure will have a more ethereal feel thanks to a scattering of silver stars. Nails fit for a princess can be achieved without a base coat and a sprinkle of Cirque Color’s Celestial Charms.

Super Dots 

One of the hottest nail styles of the season? Manicure inspired by the work of Yayoi Kusama and the most talked-about outfit by Jean-Paul Gaultier. Fortunately, it’s not hard to accomplish. Create a basic bright French manicure, and then use a bobby pin or dotting tool to add some dots. 

White as Snow Fall is associated with new beginnings, so paint your nails white to reflect that. It is everything but dull thanks to its iridescent coating and small pearl accents. 

Horizontal Slashes 

Almost retro, almost contemporary, almost French, and very hip. To make your nails appear even longer, use a graphic swoop design instead of a traditional French manicure. 

Colorful Twirls 

Your natural inclination may be to wear darker nail polish as the temperature lowers, but a bright mani might help you forget about the winter blues. 

Red Undertones 

Add some cheeky red dots to your French manicure and make it feel less stuffy. Nails will appear exceptionally long and sophisticated because to the negative space. 

Hot Drinks 

While elaborate manicure designs are certainly eye-catching, not everyone has the time or skill to have their nails done professionally. Choose a shiny variation of your favorite autumn shade when you want to make a statement without putting in much effort. 

Inlaaid with Crystals 

Not the most functional manicure, but if you want to make an impression, crystals are your best bet. When sprinkled over a traditional French, they look both opulent and incredibly hip.

Confetti in the French Language 

Dress up your French manicure by placing a single sequin on each nail if allover crystals aren’t your thing but you still want a little something extra. You may find a huge variety on Amazon and Etsy, in every conceivable size, color, and form. 

Art-Inspired 

Think of your nails as mini canvases and paint them with a rainbow of colors and abstract designs. Avoid a chaotic appearance by sticking to nail paint colors that are close in tone.  

Toenail Fungus 

It’s currently trendy to have ’70s-inspired mushroom prints on your nails. They’re perfect for the autumn season because of their gold coloring and their gradient orange and green tips. 

Warm Hearts Heart Nails were really popular this summer. Get them in the mood for autumn with a warm brown color scheme and stylish white space. 

A Few Easy Squiggles 

Simple, freehand squiggles in a neutral color palette are both understated and stylish. 

Sparkly Points 

There’s been yet another variation on the French manicure. This time, try short silver tips for a different kind of sparkle. 

Sweethearts 

With cute little hearts on each finger, you can celebrate the arrival of cuffing season in style. It doesn’t matter if you do it yourself with nail polish or buy a sticker, this manicure is adorable. 

The French Butterfly

This monarch butterfly meets French manicure will make your heart skip a beat.

Moon’s Inky Shadows

All the drama of a classic black mani, with a surprising twist: that’s what you get with this unique take on the half-moon. 

Color of Fall, Orange

This cute pattern will look great on your nails and will complement fall’s fiery foliage. To recreate this look, all you need is bright orange color (we recommend Essie’s To DIY For), a shimmering topcoat, and some flower-shaped nail decals.

Silver with Negative Space

Though not quite as garish as multicolored metallic, this space-themed nail art is packed with negative space and ready for liftoff.

Animal Matte This autumn is a great time to experiment with new textures and new takes on your favorite patterns. To achieve the appearance, use a topcoat such as Dazzle Dry’s Mattify Top Coat. 

Points of Tangerine

Orange is the reason we adore fall, and this manicure is sure to perk us up in anticipation of Halloween.

Metallic Magical

The autumn equinox is the ideal moment to experiment with a manifestation manicure. The best fall manifestation mani idea comes from this mystical take on metallic tips.

Sharply French

Weary of the standard French language? The double V-shaped French is a more daring alternative. You may put together any color scheme you like, but this black-on-pink look is particularly fitting for the upcoming season.

Halloween is Here!

Have you been eagerly anticipating October 31st all since spring? This easy, yet eerie, manicure is calling your attention this Halloween. Boo!

Draconian Drink

Wine red manicure polish adorned with snake and star nail decals is a sensual Halloween look.