20+ Festive Holiday Nails to Get You in The Spirit in 2025

Confession time: the minute the weather gets a little crisp, my mind *immediately* jumps to holiday nails. This is my absolute favorite time of year as a nail artist! It’s all about warmth, sparkle, and a little bit of magic. Whether you’re feeling cozy for Thanksgiving, classic for Christmas, or super glam for New Year’s, your nails are the perfect accessory to get you in the festive spirit. I’ve rounded up my absolute favorite looks that I can’t wait to share with you!

Festive Holiday Nail Ideas for 2025

1. Warm Autumnal Plaid

I love a plaid nail for Thanksgiving! It’s the nail art equivalent of a cozy flannel. I use a matte top coat over shades of burnt orange, deep brown, and a little cream. A tiny gold stripe ties it all together. It’s festive without being *too* on-the-nose.

2. Cozy Cable Knit

This is one of my most-requested holiday nails! Using a 3D gel or building up polish, I create the cabled texture of a cozy sweater. It’s so unique and tactile. I love doing this in a soft white, beige, or even a dusty rose. A matte top coat is essential to sell the “sweater” effect.

3. Classic Cherry Red Crème

You simply cannot go wrong with a classic, high-gloss red during the holidays. It’s the little black dress of manicures. The key is finding a true, blue-toned red that flatters your skin tone and making sure the application is flawless. It’s confident, it’s festive, and it’s timeless.

4. Emerald Green Velvet

If red isn’t your thing, a deep, luxurious emerald green is my top pick. I’m obsessed with the “velvet” nail (or cat-eye) effect in this color. It gives the polish a multi-dimensional, liquid-like shimmer that looks just like crushed velvet. It’s so rich and perfect for Christmas.

5. Minimalist Gold Leaf

This is my pick for a classy Thanksgiving or New Year’s look. It’s so elegant and understated. I start with a clean, sheer nude base and just add a few flakes of gold leaf, pressing them flat. It’s like minimalist jewelry for your nails. It catches the light beautifully without being over-the-top.

6. Delicate Snowflake Accents

A classic for a reason! I love doing a single, detailed snowflake on an accent nail. My favorite combo is a frosty, matte, icy-blue base with a crisp white snowflake. A tiny rhinestone or a speck of silver glitter in the center just makes it perfect. It’s winter magic!

7. Candy Cane Stripes

You just can’t do holiday nails without a nod to the classic candy cane! I like to keep this modern by using a shimmery, metallic red instead of a flat crème. It makes the stripes pop. A super high-gloss top coat is a must to make them look just like the real thing!

8. Full-On Silver Glitter

When New Year’s Eve calls, you answer with *all* the glitter. I’m not talking a subtle shimmer; I’m talking a full-coverage, high-impact, disco-ball-on-your-nails silver glitter. This look is a party in itself and catches the light from every angle. It’s pure, unapologetic glam.

9. Champagne Gold Ombré

This is my favorite “in-between” holiday nail. It works for Christmas, it works for New Year’s… it just works! A sheer, neutral base with a beautiful ombré of fine champagne-gold glitter fading down from the tip. It’s glamorous but still soft and elegant. It’s also great for “growing out” a manicure, as the base is sheer.

10. Midnight Blue with Stars

This is such a dreamy, sophisticated look for NYE or just the winter solstice. I use a deep, inky, midnight blue base (a matte top coat looks amazing here) and then hand-paint tiny, delicate stars and constellations in metallic silver and gold. It’s like a magical winter night sky on your fingertips.

11. Black & Gold Art Deco

Hello, New Year’s Eve! Nothing says “party” like a “Great Gatsby” vibe. I start with a high-gloss black base (so chic) and then use a super-fine brush to draw on sharp, geometric Art Deco lines in a brilliant, opaque gold. It’s sophisticated, glamorous, and perfect for ringing in the new year.

12. “Ugly Sweater” Inspired

This one is just pure fun! I love recreating the “ugly sweater” (or more like, “cute-but-busy” sweater) look. I use a fine brush to paint little Fair Isle patterns, tiny reindeer, or zigzag lines in classic red, green, and white. A matte top coat really sells the “knit” vibe. They’re such a conversation starter!

13. Subtle Holly Berry Accents

If you don’t want a full-on design, this is perfect. On a clean, simple base (like a milky white, sheer nude, or even a classic red), I hand-paint one tiny, minimalist sprig of holly. Just two little green leaves and three red dots. It’s an adorable, subtle nod to Christmas that is still very chic.

14. Icy Blue Chrome

This is your “Ice Queen” look, and it’s stunning. The “glazed donut” or chrome trend is still going strong, but for winter, I love using an icy, pale blue chrome powder. It gives this futuristic, frozen, mirror-like shine that is just mesmerizing. It’s perfect for the entire winter, from Christmas straight through February.

15. “Sugar Glitter” Texture

I love a nail you can *feel*. The “sugar glitter” technique is where I apply fine glitter over a wet polish and *don’t* add a top coat. It gives this amazing, sandy, sugar-like texture that sparkles like crazy. A white-on-white “sugar” nail looks exactly like freshly fallen, sparkling snow. It’s magical.

16. Burnt Orange Crème

This is my top pick for a chic, minimalist Thanksgiving. A simple, high-gloss, burnt orange or terracotta crème is all you need. It’s the color of autumn leaves and pumpkin pie. It’s warm, sophisticated, and looks incredible on every skin tone. Sometimes, the perfect color is all the “art” you need.

17. Glitter French Tips

This is how you take a classic and make it festive. It’s a modern French manicure, but instead of the white tip, I use a high-impact, full-coverage glitter. A gold glitter tip is my favorite for both Christmas and NYE. It’s classy, but with a party-ready twist!

18. Winter Forest Green

Move over, emerald. If you want a darker, more “evergreen” vibe, a deep, dark, forest green is it. This shade is so dark it’s *almost* black, but in the light, you see that rich, pine-tree green. It’s sophisticated, a little bit edgy, and perfect for the entire winter season.

19. “Pop!” Champagne Bubbles

This is such a fun and abstract look for New Year’s Eve! On a sheer nude or clear base, I use a dotting tool to create “bubbles” in silver, gold, and white glitter, cascading up from the cuticle. It looks just like a glass of bubbly! It’s playful, festive, and so unique.

20. Disco Ball Chrome

Forget subtle. This is the ultimate New Year’s Eve statement. This isn’t just a silver polish; it’s a high-shine, mirror-finish silver chrome that looks *exactly* like a disco ball. It’s ridiculously reflective, catches every speck of light, and is guaranteed to be the center of attention. Go big or go home!

Wrapping Up the Festivities

And there you have it – 20 ways to get your hands holiday-ready! I honestly don’t know how I’ll choose this year. From the cozy, matte “Cable Knit” for a winter night in, to the ultra-glam “Disco Ball Chrome” for New Year’s Eve, there’s just so much fun to be had. My clients are already asking for that rich “Emerald Green Velvet” and the classic-with-a-twist “Glitter French Tips.”

This season, I’m seeing a huge trend towards “textured” nails. Think of the 3D “Cable Knit” effect, the sandy feel of the “Sugar Glitter,” or the liquid-shimmer “Velvet” nails. It’s all about adding dimension. Even a classic like a French manicure gets a festive update with a glittery gold tip. It’s less about complex, hand-drawn scenes and more about rich colors and luxurious finishes.

I hope this list inspired you to try something new and festive! The holidays are all about finding little ways to add joy and sparkle to your life, and what’s a better way to start than with your manicure? Let me know which one you’re going to try first! And if you want more ideas like this delivered straight to your inbox, don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletter!