31 classy nail designs.

o often, people assume that nail art must be inherently bold. On the contrary, we’re here to shed a little light on elevated nail designs that are subtle enough for conservative work environments and sophisticated enough for black-tie affairs. The color palettes are largely more neutral and the designs more simple, but let us be clear: These nail art ideas are anything but boring.

Keep reading to discover dozens of subtle-yet-elevated nail art ideas. Be sure to screenshot the ones you want to recreate so that you have an inspiration image on hand for your manicurist (or yourself).

01of 31Pale Pink Marble

@LOLO.NAILEDIT

You can embrace one of the season’s prettiest nail trends while still embracing an office-friendly nail look. Case in point: These pretty pale pink marble nails. Here’s hoping they’ll give you the power of rose quartz while you wear them.

02of 31Peachy Nude

@GLOSSHOUSE

An elevated nail look can be as simple as picking a gorgeous subtle hue. Take one look at these peachy nails, and you’ll know what we mean.

03of 31Stacked Jewels

@LOLO.NAILEDIT

Gemstones go a long way when it comes to creating elegant nail looks. This one would be perfect for a bride (or anyone who loves a little bling).

04of 31Abstract Champagne

@GLOSSHOUSE

This manicure might be abstract, but thanks to the subtle, glimmering nail shade, it offers a sophisticated, artsy vibe. Best of all, since it’s abstract, it’s easy to recreate. Dip a toothpick or dotting tool into rose gold nail polish and twirl it along each nail. Finish with topcoat.

05of 31Traced in White

@AMYYTRAN

Achieving an elevated nail look doesn’t require covering all of your nails in full coats of color. Here, you can see how stunning white outlines and well-placed gems and dots can enhance your look in a minimalist way.

06of 31Short Acrylics

@BEAUTYOF3_

Milky pink ombré nails? Talk about the most gorgeous subtle acrylics.

07of 31Glitter Ombré

@LOLO.NAILEDIT

Pale purple glitter ombré? Yes, please!

08of 31Rounded French Tips

@AMYYTRAN

Point blank: You can never go wrong with a classic French manicure.

09of 31Gold Glitter Chevron

@LOLO.NAILEDIT

Gold glitter chevron over dark berry creates an eye-catching contrast that’s sophisticated and fun.

10of 31Moody French Mani

@AMYYTRAN

If you love a French mani’s look but want to get creative with the colors, opting for a fall-and-winter-friendly palette maintains an elevated vibe.

11of 31Black French Tips

@THE_GELBOTTLE_INC

Another option is to transform the classic French manicure into a black-tipped beauty. It’s a particularly fabulous option for black-tie affairs.

12of 31Sparkly Mauve

@AMYYTRAN

Glittery pink nails can look sophisticated, too. Just opt for a mauve hue and trace the bottom with a solid metallic silver to balance the whimsical hue.

13of 31Subtle Acrylics

@NAILSSBYMK

Acrylic nails don’t have to be incredibly long. These square-tipped nails prove it. They also show just how alluring an asymmetric take on French tips can look.

14of 31Milky Brown Diagonal Tips

@IRAMSHELTON

Minimalist brown-dipped tips? Absolutely. (P.S. Nail striping tape will make recreating this nail look a cinch.)

15of 31Khaki and Gold

@PAINTBOXNAILS

Khaki and gold can make for quite the pairing. Plus, negative space gives the manicure a clean grow-out.

16of 31Nude Hearts

@AMYYTRAN

Even seasonal nails can look sophisticated with the right design elements. Just look at these heart nails. With nude backgrounds and ultra-fine white lining, they look positively demure.

17of 31Geometric Negative Space

@AMYYTRAN

Looking for a sophisticated manicure worthy of a black-tie affair? Look no further than these geometric stunners.

18of 31Gold Foil Speckles

@AMYYTRAN

Diagonal mauve tips with gold flakes throughout? It’s one abstract design that looks subtle and undoubtedly elevated.

19of 31Velvet Nails

@LOLO.NAILEDIT

Velvet nails are a great option for elevated nails, as the polish alone creates an sophisticated end look.

20of 31Mauve Diagonals

@AMYYTRAN

Of course, if you prefer to keep it as simple as possible, opting to keep gold flakes out of the picture makes for a pretty manicure, too.

21of 31Cloud-Like Tips

@AMYYTRAN

Whether you see hearts or clouds, these playful gold and white nails offer a fun yet sophisticated vibe.

22of 31Berry Fade

@THE_GELBOTTLE_INC

Want to get in on the rainbow nail trend without actually wearing a bold rainbow? This pink-to-berry ombré grasps the trend while looking office-friendly.

23of 31Minimalist Art Deco

@BASECOATSTORIES

Prefer to make more of a statement with your nails? These subtle art deco nails will make you swoon.

24of 31Neutral Acrylics

Acrylic nails are often automatically viewed as bold. However, if you opt for a neutral polish color, you can embrace the idea of subtle acrylics.

25of 31Tortoiseshell Tips

@BYSADIEDAISY

Tortoiseshell tips are the perfect option for the person who wants to get in on the latest nail trends without rocking a fully bold manicure.

26of 31Chocolate Drip

@BYSADIEDAISY

This water-marbled brown ombre manicure is giving us major milk chocolate-caramel vibes. It’s a sweet look.

27of 31Lilac Stunners

@PAINTBOXNAILS

Carefully placed gold foil can go a long way. One look at these proves that they’re magically elegant.

28of 31Glitter Halfsies

@IRAMSHELTON

Opting for only half a nail’s worth of glitter makes for a fun-yet-elegant nail look. And good news: It’s easy to recreate. Start with a base coat, then apply a strip of nail tape down the middle of each nail, and paint glitter polish on the side of the tape. Remove the tape once fully dry and finish with a topcoat.

29of 31Nude Fade

@IRAMSHELTON

This is probably the subtlest rainbow mani we’ve ever seen. We love the mix of neutral tones.

30of 31Tiny Evil Eyes

@IRAMSHELTON

Teeny evil eyes make for almost undetectable nail art. In other words, très elevated.

31of 31Nude Abstract

@NAILSBYCANISHIEA

Nude and white always pair beautifully for a simple (but stunning) look. This one, in particular, is easy to DIY. All you need is a nude base with white squiggles and dots on top.