Here at Glowsly, we love the festive fall season, and trying new creative fall nails is our favorite way of celebrating it. There’s so much inspiration between the autumnal color palette, the textures of coats and blazers, the creativity behind knitted sweaters, and the ability to layer our favorite outfits. As we look to our fall nail designs, it’s no surprise that we look to these influences.
To inspire your fall mani, we have hand-picked 71 fall nail ideas, from the minimalist and modern to ones featuring crispy leaves and rich fall nail colors. These cute fall nails from professional nail artists are everything you’d want. There’s something cool for a playful, fun design for a night out on the town, and others for a classic, sophisticated look for the office. Regardless of which cute fall nails you’ll try this time of year, celebrate the harvest season on the tips of your fingers.
These subtle and cute fall nails are perfect for the gloomy season. With a combination of nude, light blue, heather gray, and subtle orange polish colors, these black- and white-outlined falling leaves look as if they are being blown by the North Wind.
Who says fall is just for leaves? This fall nail art combines bright colors with earthy elements. Try adding flower nail designs and plants like ferns with simple shapes for an avant-garde fall look.
Pumpkin orange, sage green, winter blue, and white make for a lovely understated color palette perfect for the hand-sketched look of the black details. Try imitating the curl of a pumpkin stem or the curve of a fallen leaf for a subtle yet standout fall nail design.
These fall nails are a sophisticated yet playful ombre, perfect for everyday fall wear. The melting colors remind us of leaves, pumpkin-shaped candy corn, and bright autumnal sunsets.
If you love orange and pink together, this is one of the best fall nail designs for you. The organic lines created with the nail polish remind us of the natural slope of leaf-strewn hills and cloud-covered sunsets.
The autumn season is the perfect time to bring out matte nail polish. It gives a lovely texture that works amazing with cable knit sweaters, tweed blazers, and, of course, fall nail designs. This fall nail idea featuring sage green and burnt orange colors will pop against brown leather accessories.
These oval nails are a perfect combination of simplicity and festive fun. These florals are amazing against a solid-colored sweater for just the right amount of detail.
For those who love a more gothic twist with their fall nail art, these matte golden yellow and black nails perfectly combine a fall sunset with the silhouettes and shadows of pomegranates. It’s a subtle nod to the mythology of Hades and Persephone, where the god of Death takes Spring to be his bride, and it makes a smart and classic statement.
Want something truly cute? No one would be able to resist your nails! This cute fall nail idea decorated with an illustrated hedgehog and fox brings some of our favorite autumnal animals to the forefront.
While it may be getting cooler, neutrals and nudes are hot during the fall. Combine the color palette with a modern geometric spin, and you have some top-notch fall nail designs.
Some of us wish celebrating Halloween can last longer than the day – or month of October. This matte black and orange fall nail idea is an elegant way to embrace your spooky side the rest of this fall.
These pumpkin-inspired fall nails are the way to go for the rest of autumn. The tortoiseshell-influenced fall nail designs are perfectly preppy in a fun, understated way.
In this fall nail idea, the nails are each unique from their stripes to their detailed leaves to their solid colors. Be bold this autumn by giving each nail its own design.
These matte black nails with gold stars remind us of going back to school and earning our gold stars in the classroom. Embrace the chalkboard-look for a perfect style you’ll get an A+ on.
The autumn makes us think of great gales that rustle the leaves in the trees to make them sound as if they are whispering. Be inspired by the movement of nature this season and make leaves fly across your fall nail designs and into your fashion.
Gray is such a beautiful seasonal color. It pairs wonderfully with other muted colors – as seen here in the florals – as well as with brighter tones. This fall nail idea would be great for a work environment.
Want pumpkins but in a more understated way? These nails combine the gorgeous colors of orange and sage green with a more modern shape. The pumpkin curl-like black squiggles make for great fall nail designs.
The great concept of this fall nail idea is the use of red as a background to create an oval shape for the nude part of these palettes. The fallen red and yellow leaves make for a great fall nod.
Don’t shy away from adding some sparkle to your fall nail designs this season. The use of the red crystals is truly eye-catching and will instantly pop against the sunset gold.
The blustery wind is such a fall mood, and we can’t help but use it for inspiration for our fall nail designs. With change and movement occurring during the autumn, let the wind blow in muted colors across your nails.
‘90s lovers, these fall nails are perfect for you. The combination of solid golden yellow and white with triangle blocks of color and dots is a throwback to some of the ‘90s favorite patterns.
Grunge and glamour is a combo that needs to happen more often. It’s elegant with an edge with these dark gray puddles and metallic gold leaves.
Want something simple that packs a punch? These cute fall nails hit the nail on the head. With a lovely red shade and gorgeously sketched white and black autumnal motifs, your fall nail designs are going to stand out this season.
Watercolor might be something we see more often in the summer, but the fall is the perfect time to use it! These fall nails are subtle yet look amazing as the colors work off one another, and the diamond shapes truly highlight them.
The fall is a crazy busy time of year between back-to-back holidays and back-to-school start-ups. While you can be busy, your fall nail designs don’t have to be. Go with a simple color palette, make it fun, and add a cute detail or two.
Mix up this autumn with this fall nail idea: add some vibrant fruit inspo to the tips of your fingers. Oranges and lemons are the perfect colors for the season, and mixing it up with some fun, colorful stripes will put a twist in your day.
Stripes don’t only have to be on your clothes this season. These cute fall nail designs have normal stripes and those made of polka dots paired with big color.
As we fell back an hour this season, we have been seeing a lot more of the night sky. Why not copy it on your fall nail designs? This fall nail idea combines the drama of the night with the wind in the trees.
The fall can be dramatic with its crazy change of colors and its blustery winds. Why not copy the feeling on your fingers? Go with a longer nail shape to help push the boundaries while going with a simple orange-accented fall nail idea.
If you love a subtle nail design, you’re going to love this one. Combine some of your favorite colors in some avant-garde shapes, and you’ll make people’s heads turn.
Be inspired by your travels this fall and incorporate them into your fall nail designs. With animals like shrimp and cows and places to visit like lighthouses, you’ll have a fall nail art perfect for your passport photo.
People want to have fun with their nails even if they have to keep them looking professional for work. These fun fall nail designs combine the two perfectly. After coating your nail with a nude coat, add some cute simplistic leaves in some of your favorite seasonal colors.
Go for a more modern fall nail idea by playing with stripes in different directions. These warm colors make for a mesmerizing look with this fun fall nail design.
Circles are the shape for fall from round pumpkins to the setting sun. Take that inspiration and put it on your fall nails with a variety of warm autumnal colors.
Squiggles and waves are the perfect way to visualize the blowing breeze of autumn. Try this fall nail idea for a fun twist, including the half-naked, half-painted look.
When it comes to minimalist fall nail designs with a twist, consider trying this nail art and take a sketch and paint it across multiple nail plates. It’s creative, unique, yet simple and spontaneous.
As you get ready to go to an orchard and pick some delicious apples, paint some onto your nails. This fun fall nail idea combines not only apple colors such as the solid red but also some cute apple designs.
As the leaves change colors and the weather grows colder, many go for hikes in the mountains. These nature-inspired fall nails with bug motifs are a fun treat when you wear your comfy hiking clothes.
The bird of paradise plant is one that blossoms in the colder months. Embrace the excitement of this beautiful plant by bringing it into your cute fall nail designs.
With reds, yellows, and greens, it’s easy to see how our fall nail designs can be inspired by the fall harvest. So many fruits and vegetables become readily available. Take some of that inspiration and be creative with it on your nails.
There is plenty to celebrate in the fall between the holidays – the changing environment, pumpkins everywhere, and the sweet goodies we get to indulge in. Bless your fall nail designs with some balloon imagery for some celebration fun.
These cute fall nail designs are sophisticated with the half-painted nail style. Switch the colors around to purple, yellow, or red for your own personal style this autumn.
Birds’ feathers have some of the most amazing prints. Check out the game that is outside your window or take inspiration from birds like pheasants for some awesome fall nail designs. Peacocks are out. Make way for the pheasant.
Just like how different patterns can be pulled together with a simple color palette, fall nail designs can be done the same way. These fall nails pull from different favorites, including Garfield and a modern plaid, but it’s the use of orange, black, nude, and white colors that makes this varied pattern work.
Wheat is one of those crops you can see grow across the hills as you leave the city and enter the country. It’s not just a perfect sight for a fall road trip – it can also inspire this speckled fall nail idea.
Ladybugs are one of those creatures we can’t help but love. This fall, switch the red color palette for a dark orange and spot those fall nails up for a cute look.
Take your best friends everywhere you go – on your fall nail designs. Autumn is the time to be thankful for each other, so why not show it on your nails? Your besties will thank you for your creativity.
We love the outdoors in the fall. Its cool weather is truly inviting, and animals thrive in it. These fall nails appreciate your creepy crawly friends as they flutter along your fingers.
Embrace mushrooms this fall with their red caps with white specks! These super cute motifs are perfect to pair with pumpkins.
Autumn is the time for warm plaids and fleecy flannels. Take that classic pattern and put it on your nails in muted colors. Don’t forget the cute cat detail!
We love a good purple nail here at Glowsly. Take a couple of shades, and instead of making them flow from one into another in an ombre style, try some geometric patterns for a cool, confident fall nail idea.
Play around with this fun fall nail design! Pair up some warm matte colors with standout squiggles for a joyous combination that will put a bounce in your step.
Almond-shaped nails are perfect for the fall season. Combine a floral print in some of your favorite matte colors for a classy, preppy vibe.
Rebel this fall from flowers and leaves with your fall nail designs! This avant-garde look will make people want to look at your nails and wonder how you made it look so effortless.
Thanksgiving is all about the food. Dress up your nails with one of your favorite veggies or fruits like these radishes. This fall nail idea is different, unique, and totally appropriate for the harvest holiday.
Pumpkin spice latte lovers, this one’s for you! We know you love your coffee, so bring some neutral browns, whites, and golds into the mix for your fall nail designs. It’ll go great against your coffee cup.
Gold and navy might not be the first autumnal color combination that will be thought of. But when the golden leaves on the trees and the deep navy of the night come together, it makes for beautiful inspiration for cute fall nail designs. Play around with these colors in matte and shape up some fall leaves for an inspiring fall nail idea.
Bright colors shouldn’t be just for spring and summer. Use them during the fall too! This preppy stripe and solid combo brings the lovely bright fall colors to the forefront.
Geodes come in all different shapes and sizes. When they’re cracked open, they can show a variety of lovely colors. These fall nails are no different. With the black edging and the myriad of colors in the center, this creative take on the geode is fantastic.
Tortoiseshell is a hot fall design combo that is as classic as it is cool. We see it in sunglasses to details on the purses we love. Try combining different browns and blacks to imitate the material and play with a French manicure look with it.
Dusk and dawn are beautiful times to see the silhouettes of plants. Combine a few favorite flat colors and draw some of your favorite plants for a cute fall nail idea.
Crocuses are enchanting flowers that appear from spring into fall. This sketch-like fall nail idea on them really blooms against the light yellow while the bright green pops.
This cheetah print is so much fun – especially with just the stripe of it. This fall print has been popular for years and adds just enough excitement without being too wild.
Have a nail stand out from the solid rest with a bold pattern of flowers! To give some depth to your fall nail designs, let the flowers be painterly and have some roundness in their coloring.
These creamsicle orange nails with a white ombre are perfect to wear beyond Thanksgiving. The standout nail that features a river-like effect both switches up the pattern and adds some depth to the design.
Houndstooth is such a classic pattern, as seen on coats and blazers. Bring this preppy pattern to the forefront by adding it to your fall nail designs – that way, you always have a fun pattern on you when you want to keep your outfit simple.
Keep your fall nail designs flying against the keyboard with some help from our favorite fall flavor. Mocha is a flavorful drink, and its colors can be truly inspirational for when you need a zing of focus.
Be inspired by the tropical dragon fruit, a lovely plant that is big on color and flavor. Add some sweetness to your fall nail designs with a drawing of it that will remind you to be bold this fall.
Teal is a bright and bold green that is a wonderful fall color. Add it to your leaf details or to a full nail palette. No matter how you add it, the color will make your fall nail designs total stand out.
White is a striking color when the fall tones come out to play. Go against the colorful trends with a white nail with a creative edge and some florals.
Try for a watercolor effect this fall as you experiment with creative fall nail designs! It will add a nice, rounded coloring to your flowers and details.
Photos via Instagram