Flower nail designs remain a go-to for many, especially in spring. “Flowers are delicate and beautiful, so it’s no surprise that people love them around their house, on their clothing, or as nail art,” says celebrity nail artist Betina Goldstein. “As we see flowers blooming around us in nature, I believe it inspires us to embrace spring.”
“Floral designs are easy to DIY at home,” agrees celebrity nail artist Queenie Nguyen. “It’s also easy to request in salons, with the versatility of many colour combinations.”
Goldstein likes drawing her favourite flowers – peonies, tulips, or poppies – for her designs and opts for classic spring colours such as pink, lavender, yellow or pops of green. Though she likes to keep it simple and focus the art solely on the florals, Nguyen says you can also mix and match with other trends, for something fun and unexpected.
“Pairing daisies with French tips is so cute – and extremely popular in spring every year,” she says. “[So are] ombré, aura, chrome and 3D-moulded flowers with rhinestones or pearls.”
If you’re having a go yourself, Nguyen recommends having a dotting tool and a good painting brush to draw on your flowers. Goldstein concurs, and suggests her Doublemoss Arte brushes, which come in different bristle lengths and angles depending on what kind of detail you need. She adds that a nail polish with strong pigment, like the Chanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour, will help with achieving vibrant and crisp colours.
So if you’re looking for some mani and pedi inspiration this spring (or beyond), below are 25 of the best flower nail art ideas.
Gold leaf
The gold leaf background really elevates this manicure and makes for a striking contrast to the delicate and minimal floral designs. For detailed flower nail art in general, Goldstein likes to start by drawing the stem and leaves with a liner brush before mixing in the petal shades. This mix of white, blush pink, and deep rose creates the perfect peony, which happens to be our flower of choice every spring.
Black and white floral
Whether you want florals for all ten fingers or do 50/50 with another trend (like a French mani), this black-and-white floral combo remains one of our favourites. Pro-tip: Nguyen recommends not dipping your dotting tool (or the rounded end of a bobby pin) too much into the polish, or you won’t be able to control the size of your dots. Keep some space between them, so that they don’t touch each other and smear.
Tropical vacay
Nothing says spring quite like a burst of colour. The mix of magenta and deep orange here makes for a dynamic colour duo. Top it off with bright white floral petals and lines in abstract designs for something unique and fun.
Romantic milk bath
Nguyen says that the milk bath nail is the perfect backdrop for florals to float on. With a creamy translucent shade for the base, it makes your flower nail designs extra dreamy to look at – and we’re all for romanticising everything and anything this spring.
Ombré effect
You can’t go wrong with a nail sticker or press-on option, especially if you’re on a time crunch (or a strict budget). We love KISS’s Salon X-Tend Starter Kit, which gives you everything you need for your spring mani. You get a mini LED lamp, glue, nail file, and a set of nails to give that salon gel quality at home. You can also buy one of 18 nail designs and finishes to choose from, including this classic daisy nail art set against a white ombré background.
Flower vine
If drawing intricate petals looks intimidating to do on your own, these floral-like designs might just ease that particular anxiety. Paint on a few strokes of a bright colour in an inverted triangle shape to mimic flowers in bloom for an abstract (and easy) spin on the classic spring design. We especially love the vine that Nguyen uses to connect the flowers, and give the look a more vintage feel.
Daisy half moons
For something a bit more unexpected with daisy nails, go the half-moon route. Nguyen draws on half a daisy at the base of a nail against a bare base, for a really adorable design.
Sunny D
We love throwing two trends together to see what magic can occur. This mash-up of the classic French mani and mini orange and white flowers make for a bright spring mani that will put a smile on your face.
Flower halo
We love the idea of drawing flowers along the edges of your nails and keeping the centre bare. Celebrity nail artist Gina Edwards’s design is bold and fun without going too over the top.
Fine china
This simple yet stunning floral design could give some of our favourite porcelain dishes a run for their money. To get the look, Goldstein uses a combo of Chanel’s Le Vernis in Rhythm and JINSoon’s Nail Lacquer in Dew.
Tiny details
A rose design by any other name would smell just as sweet, but there is a special place in our hearts for minimal designs like these, by Goldstein. Set against a bare nail, it’s just a chic way to play with florals.
French edges
Wanting to go minimal in a more unique way? We love this vine full of tiny flowers painted just along the edge of a bare nail to make the most subtle of statements.
Mini daisies
Daisy nails will be a staple this spring. We love this hand-painted design that hangs right off the tip of the nail against a neutral background, so that they really pop.
Psychedelic vibes
This mix of bright colours has a cool watercolour effect, giving you a playful and groovy ’70s feel. Wear this when you’re feeling happy about the warmer weather.
Pretty pastels
Why not lean all the way in with pastels? We love brighter hues of yellow and lavender as a base for the colourful spread of flowers.
Fairy dust
Adding jewels and glitter always makes a nail look more whimsical – and that’s why we love these added touches. Take inspo from celebrity nail artist Tom Bachik, who uses a lot of sparkle in his flower nail design.
Early Noughties
An ode to the clothing store that defined the pre-teen era for US millennials, Natalie Minerva, celebrity nail artist and nail lead on Euphoria, aptly described her flower nail design in her Instagram caption: “It’s giving Limited Too.” Classic white daisy decals are drawn all over a metallic baby-blue base for a call back to the 2000s that just warms our nostalgic hearts.
3D effect
Celebrity nail artist Eri Ishizu created this 3D-like floral design that looks so real, you’ll have people doing a double take. It’s adorned with jewels and glitter for extra shine.
Hot pink
We love a hot-pink moment, especially in spring. Nail artist Hang Nguyen mixes the vibrant shade with a cooler pink for her floral design, and uses a Q-tip to create those perfect flower dots.
Spring bloom
Bright hues often overshadow their muted counterparts when the weather starts to warm up. But we’re here to make a case for softer colours this spring. This mix of pale and deep blues make for a really pretty base for your flower nail designs.
Taste the rainbow
For the indecisive, painting each nail a different colour is truly the way to go. Play with the colours of the rainbow with a matching flower design right at the top of the nail.
Greener pastures
We love this flower design that strikes the perfect balance between intricate and minimal. It’s the perfect accent to full-coverage green nails.
Work of art
This mix of white, blue and yellow makes for a stunning combo. But we especially love the stroke-like features, which are reminiscent of an impressionist oil painting. Monet would be proud.
Lace details
Celebrity nail artist Kim Truong created this lace and floral combo for Kerry Washington back in 2023, and we’ve been thinking about it ever since. From the intricate details to the soft romantic hues, it’s the perfect way to elevate a bare nail.
Dotted flowers
Dress up a black and white French manicure with these mini polka dot floral decals. They’re simple to do and a whole lot of fun.