It’s no secret that a having a fresh mani can instantly make you feel better. But it turns out that the specific color and design of your nail art can impact your emotional state too. Studies have shown that different colors have different impacts on our mood. According to experts, having certain colors in certain spaces of your house can affect the way that you feel in the space. They found that yellow spaces are considered optimistic and uplifting, and pink is thought to be fun and energetic.
It stands to reason, then, that the hue and designs that you put on your nails can impact your mood, too. So whether you’re in need of a pick-me-up, or just trying to maintain your carefree summer disposition, check out these 16 nail art designs that are guaranteed to boost your mood.
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Photo: @oliveandjune
Who doesn’t love a good pastel rainbow vibe?
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Photo: @aliciatnails
These peach-toned cherry nails scream summer aesthetic.
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Photo: @stephstonenails
This dreamy mani makes us want to lie in the grass and watch clouds.
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Photo: @oliveandjune
Re-create this look by swiping on a light pink shade, and adding some Olive and June daisy decals.
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Photo: @aliciatnails
We love the way this chic, minimal design combines bright baby blue ad metallic gold.
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Photo: @chillhouse
Chillhouse described this unique mani best, captioning its photo “groovy, baby.”
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Photo: @aliciatnails
We can’t get enough of these vibrant, multicolored tips.
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Photo: @paintboxnails
Pink glitter? Don’t mind if we do.
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Photo: @chillhouse
The bright coral dots bring some fun to this otherwise boring light pink mani.
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Photo: @aliciatnails
These quirky eyelash designs will have you smiling every time you look down and notice them.
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PinterestPhoto: @sundays_studio
“There’s something very special about this design, it’s really striking and powerful, and makes me feel very happy and confident when I have it on my nails. It’s a bit out of the ordinary too, so I feel a little bit adventurous when I have it,” says Amy Ling Lin, owner of Sundays Nail Studio.
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Photo: @stephstonenails
These metallic cross-hatched nails definitely stand out.
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PinterestSHOPThe Moon Goddess Market Adorable Vintage Kitty Cats and Flower Nail Decals Waterslide $4
Paint on an opaque white, and then let these vintage cat decals take center stage.
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SHOPPersonail Fries Before Guys Fast Food Nail Polish Wraps $14
Spice up your mani with pizza, hot dog, and fry decals.
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PinterestSHOPSo Gloss Palm Beach Nail Wraps $8
Teleport to your favorite tropical paradise with these palm leaf nail wraps.
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PinterestSHOPPersonail Paddle Pop Rainbow Nail Polish Wraps $14
Achieving a flawless rainbow mani has never been easier.
Before you go, shop our editors’ favorite nail polishes.
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SHOPEssie Gel Couture $1218 / 26
SHOPJinsoon Nail Lacquer $1819 / 26
SHOPSmith & Cult Nailed Lacquer $1820 / 26
SHOPTenoverten Nail Polish in LA $1821 / 26
SHOPChanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour $2822 / 26
PinterestSHOPEssie Nail Polish in Go Overboard $923 / 26
SHOPOPI Nail Polish in Dulce de Leche $1124 / 26
SHOPRevlon Colorstay Gel Envy Longwear Nail Enamel in Winning Streak $825 / 26
PinterestSHOPPacifica 7 Free Nail Polish $926 / 26
SHOPFlora 1761 Nail Laquer in Lilly of the Valley $16
Next Up: 20 Shockingly Easy Nail Designs You Can Totally Do at Home