31 Festive Christmas Nail Design Ideas

Discover 31 Christmas nail designs to get you feeling festive this year

Christmas is around the corner, and everyone’s getting ready for the festive season. A Christmas manicure can get you in the spirit and make you feel festive. The nail trends for this year have all been pretty minimal yet colourful, too, and although Christmas manicures are typically red, green, and as glittery as possible, a few designs mix the two.

In this post, there are 31 festive Christmas nail design ideas that are typical Christmas manicures with a twist of this year’s trends. Everything from classic red designs to minimal tip designs; something for everyone this festive season.

1. Mrs. Claus

This is such a delicate design, but just perfect for the festive season. Red is the ultimate Christmas colour, and the little design on the ring finger that looks like a Christmas has is super fun and a great way to get into the spirit. This is perfect if you don’t want too much going on and would rather have a simple design, as it’s still very classy and subtle.

2. Abstract Christmas

Abstract nail designs have been very popular this year, and this is a unique way to incorporate them into your Christmas nails. Even though this design looks quite simple, the designs are so intricate and detailed that the simplicity creates its own statement look.

3. Gingerbread & Candy Canes

If you don’t like the traditional Christmas colours for a nail design, then this one is for you. A pink manicure is a classic design, but the added feature of the gingerbread and candy cane nail art keeps the design on theme. This is a fun and creative design that will look super cute for the Christmas season.

4. Tinsel Tips

Again, this is a simple, understated design, but it is still perfect for this time of year. The nude base is a classic, chic look, and then the gold glitter tips make the design much more festive. This is the ultimate Christmas party manicure, so if you are looking for a nail design for that, then this is it. I also like this design because if you don’t want to get your nails done before New Year, then this design will look great for both occasions.

5. Glitter Tree

This nail design is elegant and sophisticated, the deep green is rich and the perfect colour for a festive set. The small tree design is cute and subtle; great if you aren’t a huge fan of nail art, the iridescent glitter is the perfect sparkle to celebrate the holidays.

6. Night Before Christmas

Having a black nail design for the holidays can seem quite dark, and that it doesn’t really fit the theme; however, this is a great way of adding it to your design. The mix between black and champagne glitter is a great balance and doesn’t make it look too dull. The white snowflake design also brightens up the black and makes it more festive.

7. Christmas Candy

This design is super fun and creative. The speckled nude base and classic red and white stripe nail art create a nice wintery Christmas design. The style of this manicure is unique, and something many have not seen before. This nail design is perfect for someone who wants a creative, exciting manicure to get them in the Christmas spirit.

8. Holiday Sparkle

Gold glitter nails are the ideal set for the Christmas season. It’s warm but stylish and fun, which is exactly what you need for this time of year. The white star nail art is a lovely touch, that adds a little more detail to the set and also makes it more unique than the standard glitter design. The almond shaped nail is such an elegant look, it’s a great way to balance out bolder designs as it makes them more classy.

9. Christmas Pudding

What’s Christmas without a Christmas pudding, even if it is just your nail design. Although this nail design is completely nail art, it’s still simple and not overboard. The deep brown is rich, and the shimmer in it makes it stand out more. The white tip detail with the small touches of green and red are a great feature.

10. Santa Baby

A red tip is classic every year for Christmas, and it is still a great design. There are so many ways you can do this design to suit you and what you like, but this design is perfect for Christmas. The red tips with the added detail of the bow nail art on the ring finger, make it stand out more while still keeping the classiness with its simplicity.

11. Golden Star

This design is ideal for someone that doesn’t like a coloured manicure but still want it to be festive. The nude base is classy and clean, and then the gold nail art is a very sophisticated way of having a Christmas design. It’s very simple and subtle, but the stars, candy cane and gingerbread designs are what makes it perfect for Christmas.

12. Tis the Season

Green is a festive colour, but not many people think of green for nail designs. This deep green tone is a very elegant colour; the pop of gold and the tiny heart nail art enhances the design. The gold glitter feature is great for Christmas, and what’s great about this design is that you can have this design before and after Christmas as it is not too much of a theme-based design.

13. Shining Star

Silver glitter nails always look chic and are a great festive option. The glitter with the white star detailing creates a nice contrast, making it more eye-catching. What’s good about this design is that you can have it before and after Christmas, as it’s festive but not as themed as other designs.

14. Festival Frills

Tip designs have been very popular this year, so it’ll be nice to try them out this festive season. Red, white and green are all perfect colours for a Christmas manicure, and abstract designs are a nice trend to do. Even though the colours are on theme, having a none themed design is a nice way of not overdoing it but still having a hint of Christmas.

15. Winter’s Night

Nude nails are such a staple design; they are chic and delicate, and they look lovely with a design like this. The snowflake design is such a simple yet effective design; not all Christmas nails need to have complicated nail art. The glitter ombre is a nice detail that adds a festive feel to the set.

16. Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer

This is such a cute, fun design; it’s a good in-between of being playful and subtle. The red tips are very popular this time of year, so adding an accent nail is a great way to appreciate the trend while adding personality and making it unique to yourself. The reindeer nail art is a lovely detail; it’s a much more mature take on nail art and a nice way of incorporating the Christmas theme into your manicure.

17. Christmas Tree

Mixing two popular designs is easy to create a trendy and nice-looking manicure. Tip designs are a straightforward way of adding detail to your nails, and choosing the marble effect for your tips is a stylish look that’ll definitely get a lot of attention. The gold features are a nice touch to make it a little more festive. The glitter gold outline and gold star are very Christmasy and just add the finishing touches to the look.

18. Bauble Sparkle

Glitter ombre tips are a stunning and unique take on tip designs; they’re simple yet look elegant. Glitter is always a winner during the festive season, and this is a nice, subtle way of incorporating it into a design. The touch of gold chrome detailing is subtle, yet it adds so much detail to the set and gives it a nice, trendy feature. The hanging gems have such a distinctive look to them; it’s a great way of creating a Christmas themed set without being too over the top.

19. Christmas Florals

Floral nail designs are always a lovely design to choose, so why not incorporate them into your Christmas manicure. This design has such a gentle, feminine feel to it; the deep red is such an elegant look paired with a subtle touch of the floral design is a beautiful pair. This is the perfect manicure if you’re looking for a classy design that looks festive but isn’t over the top.

20. Christmas Wreath

Not all Christmas nail designs need to be bright colours and full of design; sometimes, a simple nude base with a bit of nail art is just what you need. Nude nails are a classic that looks clean and fresh; they’re perfect for many occasions. The accent nail art is a lovely design, full of detail, but it isn’t overpowering because it’s only on two nails. In addition to that, because it’s a simple design, it’s a manicure throughout the festive season.

21. Green Fir Tree

White tips are always a great, classy look; however, they can be slightly too simple if you’re looking for a Christmas set of nails. The Christmas tree nail art is small but such an intricate piece; it elevates the manicure and gives it a cute, fun vibe. The placement of the nail art makes the white tip look part of it, too, which is a cool feature of this design.

22. Glitter Sky

Gold glitter is such a Christmas colour; it’s fun and festive and creates such nice looks. The mix of full nails and tips is a nice modern way of having glitter nails, and it’s a simple way of keeping them classy and not overpowering. The white snowflake design is a nice detail that makes the manicure perfect for Christmas, but you could also have it throughout the festive season as it has a winter feel.

23. Red Tips

Red is an elegant colour, and there’s no better time to have it than at Christmas. Tip designs always have a stunning look to them, and this rich red tip is beautiful. Even though it’s a simple design, the white snowflakes are a great detail that adds a winter/festive season theme. This is perfect if you want a minimal design with a touch of the festive theme added to it.

24. Fairy Lights

Nude nails are a classy and sophisticated look that looks good all year round; it’s also a colour that looks good on everyone. This fairy light nail art is such a cool, unique design; the black line art is a good contrast against the nude, making the design more eye-catching. The multi-coloured rhinestones are a fun detail that’s great for a Christmas design; this is perfect for anyone looking for a playful, distinctive design this year.

25. Starry Night

Dark blue nails are stunning; they have such an elegant and luxurious feel and are perfect for evening looks. The gold glitter detail compliments this design well and makes it stand out. The simple gold nail art is a lovely touch that brings the whole design together. Having a different design on each nail is a great way of making the set look unique and eye-catching.

26. Christmas Garland

A milky white base is a lovely alternative if you like a nude base but want something slightly different; it has the clean look of a nude base, but this has a more delicate look to it. The Christmas wreath nail art is a beautiful design; the details are so intricate and dainty that it makes the set look more classy. The classic Christmas colours work perfectly for this design; this is definitely one to try out this year.

27. Golden Tree

This set is perfect if you’re looking for a simple, minimalistic design. The short square nail with a nude base has a clean, chic look; it’s great if you want something suitable for all occasions, even for work. The gold chrome tree nail art is an elegant way of incorporating the Christmas theme. It’s enough to get you in the spirit but still very classy and stylish.

28. Candy Cane Hearts

Red is the ultimate Christmas colour; there’s nothing better than a red nail design for the festive season. This glitter red against the nude base pops and makes the whole design stand out; it’s a great way of having red nails while creating a unique design. The candy cane heart art is such a cute, girly detail; it’s the perfect amount of nail art to make the set stand out but still be minimal.

29. Festive Cranberries

This design is great if you want something simple yet traditional. The gold tips and barely there base are such a trendy look. It’s a design that many people have tried, but it’s perfect for Christ mast. The accent nails have a traditional Christmas feel while being vibrant Christmas colours. Sometimes, less is more because this set stands out without being too detailed.

30. Santa’s Helper

Designs like this are fun and a great way to personality to your set. The tip detail is ideal for having nail art but keeping them classy and suitable for day-to-day. The elf hat design is cute, playful, and a light-hearted design to go for. This is perfect if you want to have fun with your manicures and get in the full Christmas swing.

31. Sherry Red

Deep burgundy has been the colour of winter so far, so this is the perfect way to make your Christmas nails trendy. The polish has a luxurious, rich feel to it, while the glitter border adds a fun, party element; which is great for this time of year. Not all Christmas nails need to have nail art, sometimes simple designs like this are the way to go.