30 Best Fall Nail Colors and Manicure Ideas

It’s officially time to book your fall manicure.

From viral celebrity manicures to color trends, there’s endless inspiration when it comes to seasonal nail looks. Most gravitate toward rich, cozy shades like mauve, chocolate brown, midnight blue or emerald green for the fall, but the sky’s the limit.

“I think it really depends on what the day and the mood is,” celebrity nail artist Elle Gerstein tells PEOPLE of creating fall nail designs. “Even if you have a ton of inspiration pictures it always comes down to a gametime decision. It could be anything from fabric to what the sky looks like to a pretty picture that evokes the mood.”

To help you find your perfect seasonal nail look, here are 30 of the best nail color and manicure ideas for fall, as seen on our favorite celebrities and nail artists.

Olive Green

This muted, earthy shade of green is a fall staple for a reason. Selena Gomez’s go-to nail artist Tom Bachik created this olive manicure for the star in 2022, and the inspiration hasn’t stopped since.

Mixed Metals

Why pick between silver and gold when you can have both? Celebrity nail artist Betina Goldstein created this stunning mixed metal micro French manicure in 2022.

Midnight Blue

This shade is perfect for anyone who loves a vampy nail look but doesn’t want to commit to black nails. Gerstein loves blue-black hues like Chanel Le Vernis in Fugueuse that are flattering on every skin tone.

Cognac

According to Gerstein, this “beautiful burnt orange” is seriously trending for fall. She recently gave Blake Lively a bejeweled cognac manicure for the 2023 Michael Kors NYFW show, a look that was inspired by the designer’s quintessential leather handbag.

Chocolate Brown

Celebrity nail artist Julie Kandalec tells PEOPLE that these chocolatey shades are the “grown-up aunt to the sheer nudes of summer.” She recommends Essie polish in No To-Do for the rich brown manicure of your dreams.

Black Marble

This smoky marble look courtesy of Gerstein channels Halloween vibes in the coolest way possible.

Golden Glazed Fire

Tom Bachik gave Selena Gomez this fiery and fierce red chrome manicure for her appearance at the 2023 MTV VMAs.

Micro French

Yes, short nails can enjoy French manicures, too. This micro French look is a favorite of Kandalec and has been seen on plenty of celebrities. In March 2022, celebrity nail artist Thuy Nguyen created a chic and simple black micro French manicure for actor Thuso Mbedu.

Taupe

You can’t go wrong with this cozy shade. This square-shaped manicure on Selena Gomez pairs perfectly with her fuzzy sweater.

Black-and-White Checkered

Simple yet fun, this checkered manicure makes for a playful accessory to any autumn outfit.

Marigold

“Marigold is making really happy right now,” says Gerstein. “It’s an unexpected shade that seems hard to wear, but if you have the style, you can pull it off and it will look like an accessory to your wardrobe.”

The nail artist recommends Orly Act of Folly, a mossy marigold shade that’s part of the polish brand’s fall 2023 collection.

Chocolate Glazed Donut

Hailey Bieber set the internet ablaze with her viral glazed donut manicures, and in the fall of 2022, the model and her nail artist Zola Ganzorigt took the trend up a notch with this dreamy chocolate glazed donut manicure.

Pink Rainbow

You can never get enough warm tones in the fall — pink included. This rainbow manicure by celebrity nail artist Alicia Torello incorporates a range of beautiful pink shades from salmon to dusty rose.

Blue Chrome French

The chrome trend doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon, so why not embrace it? This square-shaped blue chrome French manicure is equal parts fun and chic for the season.

Minimal Lines

Fall nail art doesn’t have to be complicated. In May 2022, Awkwafina wore this simple short manicure with black and white squiggly lines, courtesy of nail artist Thuy Nguyen.

Cherry Red

Red nails never go out of style. Julie Kandalec used Dior Vernis in 999 Rouge to give Anya Taylor-Joy this bright and bold manicure that served as an elegant companion to her Tiffany diamonds.

American Manicure

If a traditional French manicure seems too bright for autumn, opt for its chic, toned-down sister: the American manicure. The style features an almond-shaped nail and a muted cream shade for a more subtle, blended look.

Animal Print

Zebras, cheetahs and cows, oh my. This animal print manicure by celebrity nail artist Alicia Torello will help you embrace your wild side.

Caramel

Nothing says fall quite like this rich caramel shade. Jennifer Lopez’s nail artist Tom Bachik created what he called a “dolce de leche” manicure for the star in 2022.

Neutral Ombre French

Can’t choose a neutral? Wear them all with this chic French manicure featuring a fall-inspired palette of warm tones.

Plum

Kourtney Kardashian’s nail artist Kim Truong calls this shade “vampy violet," and it’s sure to put you in a fall mood.

3D Chains

Add some edge to your seasonal manicure with metallic details. This May 2022 look by Thuy Nguyen features a warm, brick red shade accented with 3D chains along the cuticle.

Nude Russian Manicure

Nude manicures are stunning all year long, and Gerstein says that Russian manicures are the way to go for the most elegant and long-lasting look. The technique involved meticulous cuticle work, an electrical file and a custom nude shade created to suit your skin tone.

“This is a high quality manicure that requires low maintenance,” says Gerstein. “These nails take a long time, but last forever. The quality doesn’t comprise with quantity. It’s a structured Russian manicure loved by my clients Natasha Bedingfield, Kelly Ripa and Jennifer Lopez.”

Two-Tone

Celebrity nail artist Alicia Torello captured the essence of fall in this stunning two-tone taupe and forest green manicure.

Midnight Fall French

These moody fall hues come together for a playful seasonal manicure. Using midnight blue, warm terracotta and chocolate brown, celebrity nail artist Tom Bachik created this look for Selena Gomez in the fall of 2022.

Color Block

Bring your favorite autumn color palette to life with a geometric manicure like this one by Alicia Torello.

Tortoiseshell

A tortoiseshell manicure incorporates some of the best fall shades like chocolate brown, burnt orange and marigold for a truly timeless look.

ncG1vNJzZmiolaS9rbGNnKamZ5aWua15zZqgpWWkp7KvsNJmmqikn6fAbrnAp6CcraKaeqqwxJqqZm9pbH9zhZE%3D