22 Stylish Short Nail Designs You Can Do At Home

Short nails might be low-key, but the glow-up potential? Huge. They’re cute, practical and you can text, type and live your life without ruining your mani. If you’ve been sleeping on short nail designs, it’s time to catch up. Whether you love keeping it simple or switching things up, here are fun short nail art designs to inspire you.

Chic and minimal nail designs

• Classic French tips — French tips are simple, clean and never go out of style. Use a striping brush to get those tips snatched and symmetrical. 
• Micro stars — Delicate little star details on nude or pastel nails add just the right amount of sparkle without feeling over the top. 
• Matte neutrals — Nothing says soft glam like a matte manicure. Neutral shades like soft beige, creamy latte tones, light greys or milky pinks work with any outfit and occasion.
• Tiny gold details — Tiny gold foil or metallic stickers are subtle and shimmery, turning your manicure into instant jewellery.
• Blush pink nails — Blush pink is the perfect shade when you want something soft and feminine.

Seasonal looks we’re loving

• Spring pastel tips — Soft pastel French tips in shades like lilac, mint, baby pink or yellow bring that sweet spring energy.
• Summer sunset gradient — This summer short nail idea features blended sunset shades like pink, orange and purple. Dab the colours on with a makeup sponge for a dreamy fade.
• Valentine’s Day hearts — Soft pinks, striking reds and tiny heart details turn your nails into the ultimate heart's day look.
• Snowflake accents — Tiny snowflake decals on pastel blue or silver nails give major winter princess vibes. 
• Halloween cuties — Pumpkins, bats and little ghost decals make your short nails ready for spooky season.
• Christmas candy stripes — Red and white candy cane stripes bring an instant festive energy to short nails.
• Autumn nails — Warm, earthy shades like burnt orange, terracotta and chocolate brown give your nails a cosy autumn look. Alternate colours on each nail for an easy seasonal design.

Colourful and cute short nail designs

• Colour block cuties — Chunky blocks of colour bring attention to your nails’ stunning design and give the illusion of longer tips.
• Neon drips — Imagine bright neon polish dripping from the cuticle down the nail for an unforgettable look.
• Funky checkerboard — This easy nail art for short nails features little squares in a checkerboard pattern. You can go classic black and white for retro vibes, or switch it up with fun colours.
• Rainbow dots — Think tiny, colourful dots scattered across your nails that look like rainbow confetti.
• wo-tone nails — Split each nail in half with two contrasting colours for a bold appearance. Use striping tape down the centre of your nail for clean, straight lines.

Short acrylic nail ideas to obsess over

• Baby almond acrylics — Short almond acrylics are for the girlies who want that snatched, refined shape, while the short length keeps them practical for everyday life.
• Glitter tips — Glitter tips on short acrylics bring instant party-girl vibes. They’re sparkly, glamorous and make your mani more unique.
• Ombré fade — A soft ombré fade from nude to colour makes short acrylics look flawless and expensive.
• Marble magic — Soft, swirling patterns of colour flow across your short acrylics, mimicking the natural veining of marble stone. 
• Jelly nails — Jelly nails use sheer, tinted polish that appears see-through and glossy, like coloured glass on your fingertips.

Slay nail art designs for short nails

Creating DIY short nail designs has never been easier (or more fun!) with NSI Australia. We have all the nail art supplies you need to create show-stopping manicures at home or in the salon. Choose from acrylic sets and nail primers to removers, UV LED lamps, nail kits for beginners and nail polish for short nails. Shop now and achieve your dream manicures like a pro!