27 Best Accent Nail Ideas to Try Right Now

K, I promise these flame accent nails are easier to DIY than they look. After painting your nails with a neutral shade, grab a nail art brush and dip it into the nail polish of your choice to slowly trace curvy lines that resemble fire.

💫 Re-create it with: Static Nails Liquid Glass Lacquer in Cabana Boy

I love personalizing absolutely everything, hence my obsession with this initial accent nail. I 10/10 recommend using initial nail stickers if you want to incorporate this accent nail idea into your next mani.

💫 Re-create it with: Yvemk Self-Adhesive Alphabet Nail Stickers

I love how this look pairs a red French manicure with a heart-filled accent nail. This love-themed design could also double as the perf Valentine’s day nail idea too.

💫 Re-create it with: Sunday Studios Nail Polish in No. 16

This look is proof that the checker trend and accent nails are basically made for each other. These checkers, mushrooms, and smiley faces are giving me ’70s vibes—plus, I love how bright and colorful the design is too.

💫 Re-create it with: Jinsoon Nail Polish in Absolute White

Feeling a more futuristic vibe? Then these cool, chrome accent nails are the perfect way to elevate your manicure game. It’s a super unique, eye-catching look and I’m totally here for it.

💫 Re-create it with: Emilie Heathe Nail Polish in Mr. M

Fruit-inspired nail art is one of my favorite trends right now, and this graphic detail is just too cute. To re-create this design, you’ll need some skinny nail art brushes, a pale-yellow nail polish, and a deep-green nail polish. Draw on your lemons and their leaves by creating ovals and then adding sharp points to the ends of each shape.

💫 Re-create it with: Essie Expressie Quick Dry Polish in Beeline

If you’re not into bright colors, opt for a simple black matte design and accent nails with numbers that mean something to you. I’m guessing this person was born in 1991, but you don’t have to use your birthday—try an anniversary date or maybe even some angel numbers too.

💫 Re-create it with: Beetles No Wipe Matte Top Coat

Sunny-side up eggs, anyone? If you’re a big fan of this delish breakfast dish, this accent nail design sure is an adorable way to show it—and it’s sort of making me hungry.

💫 Re-create it with: Smith & Cult Nail Polish in Color Me Curious

I love the way this butterfly nail design looks like it’s popping off of this manicure. I’m NGL though—painting these tiny insects might be tricky, but DW, I found a little shortcut for you: these glittery butterfly nail stickers. They’re straight Mariah Carey vibes.

💫 Re-create it with: Pear Nova Class Lacquer in Knight in Shining Armor

This minimalist nail accent is a simple yet unexpected way to give your mani a little something extra. Dip a nail art brush into a black nail polish and paint a thin line across your ring finger nail and voilà, you have runway-worthy nails.

💫 Re-create it with: Triple OOO Classic Lacquer in Eze Nri

I’m going to let you in on a little secret: The tiny petals on these accent nails aren’t the work of a nail art brush but a dotter tool. The tiny circles on the end of these tools create the perfect circles, so all it takes to make a pretty flower is dunking it into the nail polish color of your choice in the pattern of your favorite florals.

💫 Re-create it with: Sally Hansen Insta Dri Nail Polish in Pursuit

Speaking of dotter tools, this alternating polka-dot accent nail idea *looks* like it would be difficult to achieve, but if you have a dotter tool, it’s honestly easy. Choose three colors of nail polish you’re into and lightly submerge the dotter tip into the polish so you can easily place a few dots onto two nails that you’ve left bare.

💫 Re-create it with: Revlon Ultra Nail Polish in Commander

Smiley faces are really having a moment right now, and these gold and pink nails are a great opportunity to give them a try. Layer on two thin coats of a pale pink nail polish and then stick on some fun nail stickers on a few fingers.

💫 Re-create it with: Memeda Neutral Gel Nail Polish

Listen, if you only have a few minutes and you want to dress up your mani in a hurry, nail stickers will be your BFF. There are so many cute ones out there, like these adorable aliens on these green nails.

💫 Re-create it with: Deco Miami Nail Stickers

Want to add some variety to a classic glitter manicure? Go ahead and add some gems to your middle and ring fingers to mix things up. The cool thing about this design is that the glitter and gems reflect each other seamlessly for a stunning look.

💫 Re-create it with: Tammy Taylor Swarovski White Opal Gems

I don’t know about you, but accessorizing my nails with delicate is my new obsession after seeing this photo. BRB while I elevate my days-old mani and glue one a few pearls and shiny sparkles.

✨ Re-create it with: Agcfabs Loose Pearl Nail Beads

The cutest combination of different shades of green, this retro mani is pretty enough to wear year-round. Ask your nail tech to accessorize your French tips with by layering multiple shades of green polish into a heart design.

💫 Re-create it with: 516 Polish in Habitat

If you’re worried about a few of these rocks snagging on something, don’t fret, a thick coat of a gel top coat layered on can help soften any rough edges so they won’t catch on your sweater—plus, the gel helps keeps them in place for longer.

💫 Re-create it with: Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab Pro Top Coat