Accent nails are a fun way to change up your look without having to commit to a complete set or manicure style. Sometimes less is more and these accent nail ideas can really highlight your own unique style. Limitless possibilities with less effort that lets your creativity run a little wild.
We looked through thousands of ideas from some very talented nail artists to share our favorites. Whether you want some inspiration to show your nail tech or some easier ideas to try yourself, we’ve got you covered.
If you’re gonna get your nails done, might as well make a statement 💅🏼
We’re starting this collection with these beautiful plum matte nails. I love how the accent nail is a bright contrast that’s toned down a bit by the simple flower designs.This nail set has two different accent nails found on each nail. I like how they added this pretty diagonal criss-cross pattern with the full gold glitter, as it perfectly balances out the look.If you’re looking to have a full gold glitter nail set, I’d recommend toning it down a bit by either adding a deep-colored accent nail or with a nice design like the green stripes one.If you’re got a rather simple nail set that’s predominantly painted with just one color, it’s best to spice it up a bit with some glitter.There are so many fans of these classic white French tips. Sometimes you want to just add a little something, which is why I’d recommend a nice simple white design like this one over here.If you have more of a decorated look painted on most of your nails, you can choose to spice it up with something more simple like this full pink glitter nail.Here we’ve got this full pink glitter nail set that may be a bit too dull for some. You could try adding a bright nail set to the mix with a bit of design. We’ve got this full pink nail set that’s spiced up with some cute black and white animal print. I find that this color combination never fails!Here’s a really soft nail set that’s short, square-shaped, and painted with a nice bright white. I like how the accent designs on this nail remain natural and soft as well.We’ve got another nail set that features a glitter accent nail. We’ve got these bright lavender nails that are mixed with this nice glitter that has some hints of purple. Adding glitter can really improve the texture of the entire look.Accent nails are best for designs that are mostly similar to each other. Here’s a nice example of a nicely placed accent nail. Since we’ve got a uniform swirl design, it may become too dull, so adding a nice deep black nail can really switch up the look.Depending on your nail set, you can choose to add one or more accent designs. This one has two, but it still fits nicely as they both carry the same floral design.Adding glitter is one of the more famous choices for an accent nail. I really love how these pretty glitter tips look alongside these pretty blended pink tips.Here’s a fun little accent nail idea that adds color and texture to your look. I really like how the diagonal thick glitter lines add so much dimension to the predominantly pink nail set.Here’s a pretty simple nail set that features some fully painted pink nails paired with a bit of star-like flowers.We’ve got a nail set that’s got quite a lot of texture on it. I like how these pink speckled nails were toned down a bit by adding a nice milky white nail with some muted green leaves.We’ve got some vertically blended multi-colored ombré nails which contain two colors on each nail. I really like how the accent nail was able to blend all these colors together.We’ve got this gorgeous color combination over here. I really like how these white nails with black speckles look beside bold blue nails.We’ve got two different designs on our accent nails here. I like how they used bright red to contrast the blue pastel nails.This is a nail set that was able to properly utilize the concept of an accent nail. I love how the peach nail remained cohesive with the entire look.We’ve got these short, bold red nails that are mixed with some pretty layered waves. The accent nail also added a thin strip of blue and silver glitter which adds more variety to the look.Here’s an interesting nail set. We’ve got some pink and red in the mix, but they seem to blend together well. The white accent with the multi-colored designs is what breaks this entire color block.If you’re trying to achieve a very clean and cohesive look, the trick is to create a nail set like this one. We’ve got yellow and purple nails with the accent nail incorporating the two colors together.If you’re in love with pink nails, you might want to give this set a try. We’ve got these gorgeous holographic accent nails that are topped with some pink roses and green leaves. It’s such an interesting design combination! The Chanel nail art just pushes the whole look a little further.Here’s the perfect nail set for Pride! If you want to show off your support, then these full black nails mixed with the rainbow flag are the perfect look for you.I find this nail set so interesting. I really love the bright feeling the lavender nails give off. The accent nail is quite interesting because it looks like an animal egg.Sometimes all you really need to add to your nail set is a simple painted nail. This set included a deeper blue set which adds the slightest bit of dimension.If you’re looking to incorporate a couple of colors into your set, then a nail set like this could do the trick! Simply add another color to the accent nail, and you’re good to go!With nail sets that incorporate a whole lot of different designs, the accent nail is usually one that contains a different color. I like how the artist used a different design per hand!When it comes to simple and classy nail sets, the most important details are the very tiny ones. I really like how they incorporated a full black nail and a simple black French tip which really changes the entire look of the nude set.This nail set is for those who prefer a prim and proper look. If you’ve got a simple French tip nail set, you can really go crazy with the accent designs.Here’s another very simple nail set that’s predominantly painted with a simple light pink shade. It has this added tropical aspect with a nice palm tree.We’ve got here a rounded set that’s painted with some matte pink polish and topped with some black speckles. I really like the accent nail, which also has a bunch of black detail, which makes it blend better with the nail set.If you’re trying to keep your plain nail set looking classy, then you can simply add a bit of glitter. The accent nail on this set simply added some chunks of gold glitter to the tips of the nails.I like the artistic choice of adding a full gold glitter nail to this minimalistic designed nail set that’s only got a dot on each nail for the design.Here’s a full pink nail set that really sticks to the pink theme. I like how the sparkles add a bit of brightness to the look.Here’s a really refreshing nail set that’s also very posh. I think that this shade of blue looks really clean and bright, and I love how classy these marble-looking accent nails are.We’ve got a pretty simple white nail set that’s mixed with an accent nail topped with a lot of different colors. Such an easy way to add color to your look!Here’s a pink nail set that’s a combination of fully painted nails and French tips. I like how the accent nail just added more definition to the geometric design.Here’s a full light yellow nail set that looks so light on the eyes. I like how they added a full white accent nail and added a white tip to one of the yellow nails.This nail set is pretty simple as it only works with different colors without any added designs. If you’re dealing with a straightforward set like this, adding more color can switch up the look.Here’s a really nice nail set that’s mostly painted with a nice deep gray with hints of blue. I find the speckled accent nail so classy, especially with the matte finish.Here’s a full blue nail set. I like the accent nail because it adds character to the look and makes the set more suited for you.Here’s another blue nail set with a surprising burst of color. On the accent nail, we’ve got these cheetah prints in different colors.Here’s a really beautiful elegant nail set. We’ve got these nude pink nails paired with nails topped with dried flowers and gold glitter.This is a very bright green nail set that looks so posh and chic! I really like how they kept it simple by making the accent nails into French tips instead.We’re ending this nail collection with a set that’s predominantly made out of these sparkly green nails. I love how they added a light blue nail which adds class and calm to the look.
I do hope this has given you some ideas for accent nail ideas. One single design can entirely change your nail set and sometimes it only takes a simple minimalist design to make a huge statement. Our inspiration photos come from user submissions and open sources and we’ll always give credit. All of the fantastic styles belong to their respective owners. If we’ve got a credit wrong or you’d rather we don’t feature you – just drop us an email.
Whether you try one of these accent nails or come up with something else, send us a photo! If we feature you, we’ll cover your manicure!
