Even You Can Master These Simple Valentine Nail Designs By February 14 (2024)

With all the effort required on Valentine’s Day, it’s okay to cut a few corners on some things. Instead of attempting a complex mani, adorn your claws with these simple Valentine nail designs.

Because let’s be real, figuring out which are the leg holes in a set of lingerie will be time consuming enough.

This easy nail art will make your February easier, while still keeping it stylish. Leave the hard work to your partner, as they try to prove that they’re worth their weight in chocolate. That is, the good kind that’s filled with delicious caramel. Not the mystery kind that oozes out some sort of inedible fig jam.

17 Simple Valentine Nail Designs

1. Easy Swirly Nails

These nails look more complicated than they really are. All you need are your two favorite Valentine’s Day colors: one for a base layer, and the other to use for your best impression of Picasso. It looks better when it’s imperfect!

But sure, you could be precise if you want to. Or you could use the extra time to locate your strapless bra.

2. Simple Blue Valentine’s Day Nails

When you’re pressed for time, keep the nail art to one nail and move on with your life. The blue nail polish makes this mani a little more subtle than the obvious bright red. Perfect for those of us whose V-Day plans involve bull riding.

3. Holographic Heart Nails

This manicure doesn’t require a lot of effort, because the bold holographic polish is carrying the team by providing a “wow” factor. Which is exactly what you’ll hear after the romantic night you have planned. You’ve really upped your shrimp scampi game!

4. Hugs and Kisses Valentine Nails

It just so happens that X and O are two of the easiest letters to draw, and they epitomize Valentine’s Day. If only “I” meant something romantic, we’d really be in business.

5. Simple Mismatched Valentine Nails

This manicure takes all the simple things and puts them together in one design: a metallic accent nail, polka dots, and hearts. And then take one off before you leave the house. Isn’t that how this works?

6. Glittery Valentine’s Day Nails

“Glitter, glitter is no fun, unless you share with everyone,” – our other nails every time we try to do the whole “accent” nail thing. With this simple Valentine nail design, there’s some for all! They can thank us by waiting to chip until after dinner.

7. Short Valentine Nails

Nail biters deserve to have cute nails, too. While you’re anxiously waiting for a table to open up at the place you were supposed to book a reservation for weeks ago, distract yourself by staring at these beauts. Okay fine, you can chew on them too.

8. Minimalist Heart Nails

These itty-bitty hearts don’t require much work. Paint them onto a solid background with a small brush, or use nail stickers to make the design even easier. And stickier. Maybe wait a few more minutes to pet your cat.

9. Simple Valentine’s Shapes

Some of the easiest designs to make are lines and polka dots, especially if you have a steady hand and a ruler. If you don’t have a ruler, just hold your breath until you’re done. It always works for us!

Recreate this look by laying down a base coat of whatever flirty color you like, and then add the shapes. Bonus points if it’s an anatomically correct heart.

10. Blinged Out Pink Nails

We know what you’re thinking: this looks hard. And, you can’t wait to eat your leftovers from last night’s dinner.

But for this simple nail design, all you have to do is paint around the edges with a fine line in your favorite Valentine’s Day color, and then bling out one nail. And then devour that mac and cheese.

11. Simple French Tip Manicure

French manicures will always be a classic. This sweet mani combines the simple design with some tiny hearts. Use whatever colors you want to amp up the V-Day feel or make it more subtle. Or remind you to renew your passport. Whichever color will do that.

12. Subtle Bejeweled Valentine Nails

This manicure combines some of the designs we’ve already talked about, featuring 3D elements and teeny-tiny hearts. We’re learning that with a little glue and some stickers, the world is our oyster. Before you actually eat that oyster, can we bedazzle it?

13. Gothic Valentine Nails

Celebrating Valentine’s Day…begrudgingly? Stay on brand with this simple nail design that puts black hearts front and center — along with a little bit of heartbreak. Wednesday Addams, we really think we’d be a good match. Can you just answer our DMs? Please?

14. Sprinkled Valentine’s Day Mani

Some of the best V-Day confections are cupcakes. And as luck would have it, it’s super easy to design cupcake nails!

Just lay down a white base coat for the “frosting” and use a confetti nail polish to create “sprinkles.” Then, add a red heart to make it festive. Or, just slather some real icing down and save it for later. We won’t tell. But we do want the thumb.

15. Stamped Valentine’s Day Nails

We love the artsy look of these “stamped” hearts. Still not easy enough for you? Then just use the stamps from all your past love letters! We’re sure it’ll look like the same thing.

16. Dotted Heart Nails

If you want to impress your friends with your nail art skills, this one is a winner. Use a toothpick and varying shades of a color to poke a heart onto a nail. And then post a video of the process on TikTok, reach a moderate degree of success, and sober up by realizing how many dogs are more famous than you.

17. Simple Holographic Heart Nails

Almond-shaped nails lend themselves to heart tips. Start with a funky base and do the heart outline to make whatever fun shimmery shade you chose pop. And bam! Now you’re invisible. Isn’t that what holographic means?