This post is about the best pastel nails. These nail designs are cute enough to wear year-round, but they’re especially perfect for spring and summer!

Why do cakes make everything so much prettier? Honestly, do anything in pastel colors and it will become 10 times cuter and you will want to look at it longer! At this point it is a scientific fact. Something like that shade of pink that went viral for having a calming effect on people.

Anyway… Since it’s pastel season, it has me thinking a lot about how to incorporate colors into my life. We all love a good pastel sweater or t-shirt, but what about pastel nails? The colors create such stunning nail designs that it’s even a little shocking how much they can do (in terms of similar designs and effects)!

Since spring and summer are right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to get pastel nails done (but I honestly feel like they’re just as stunning any other time of year, too!). We hope the nail ideas in this post inspire you because they are all super cute!

1. Purple Ombre Pastel Nails

Purple is literally one of the highest tier pastel shades. So why not embrace it and make a stunning color gradient as your nail design?

2. Pastel Rainbow Ombré Nails

I am convinced that gradient nails only work when they are pastel colors, because nothing looks prettier than a combination of nude polish or white polish with pretty gradient pastels…

3. French Negative Space Cake Tips

The French tips alone are awesome! And if these nails were filled with these colors they would be stunning, but man, there is something very special and unique about negative space design!

4. Pastel French Tips Reverse

I don’t know if these should have been called Negative Space Pastel Frenchies because that’s what they are! Anyway, aren’t they so cute?

5. Pastel Pink Ombré Nails

I think we’re all obsessed with cute ombre ones. And there’s something about nude nail polish and pink ombre that’s just stunning!

6. Purple Abstract Nail Design

These abstract nail designs are always stunning! And it’s just a bunch of swirling colors (it blows my mind!)…

7. Rainbow Leopard Print Pastel Nails

These pastel rainbow leopard print nails are literally the cutest! The best part about these nails is how unique they are, I mean rainbow leopard print. Awesome!

8. Daisies and Pastel French Tip Nails

Spring captured in a manicure. If you’re looking for a nice spring (maybe even summer) manicure, this is the perfect design!

9. Pastel Green and White Nails with Swirls

Swirl nails are always a good choice because they take normal, plain, boring nails and make them fun and exciting…

10. Pastel Lilac Short French Tips

Lilac is the best of all purples, you can’t convince me otherwise… There is something relaxing about a pretty lilac. I love the fact that not all the nails in this design are french tips, it makes the design different and fresh.

11. Pastel Yellow Daisy Nails

Daisy nail designs are always so cute (and even better when paired with a pretty pastel yellow)! And they are especially perfect for seasons like spring and summer!

12. Color Block Design Nails

Honestly, I’ve never understood why they call it color blocking. All I know is that it’s a really pretty effect when done correctly or with the right colors…

13. Nails of peace, love and happiness

These nails give off the whole vibe of peace, love and happiness. Who’s going to say no to such cold nails (but also a little bit no)?

14. Pastel Yellow Geometric Nails

These nails with a discreet geometric design and alternating yellow are beautiful. Honestly obsessed with simple but unique design…

15. Purple Pastel Ombre French Tips

Did I not mention how obsessed I was with this shade of purple a few nail designs ago? Obviously, I’m just as obsessed with this nail set.

16. Sage Green Pastel Nails

Does sage green count as a pastel color? But who cares, because sage green is an amazing color and sometimes you need a simple nail design (there’s beauty in that too!).

17. Daisy Nails with French Tips

There is something very pretty about the daisy design on nails. And this particular design (the white on the nude polish) is so pretty!

18. Cloudy Nail Design

Nothing like a vibrant blue sky to put a smile on your face, right? So why not suppress that feeling in the form of a cute nail design? This is the kind of nail design that will make you smile every time you look at it…

19. Pastel French Tips with Flowers

For those obsessed with cakes! Honestly, these are the perfect nails for the spring season, but you can rock them any other time too (they’re that stunning!).

20. Rainbow Pastel Nails

I love this new nail design with French tips and inverted French tips at the same time. It’s a super cute design, especially in pastel colors.

21. Alternating pastel yellow French tips and daisy nails

Little daisies on nails will always be so cute, if you alternate them with stunning yellow French tips you’ll have a solid nail set.

22. Spiral Rainbow Pastel Nails

Spiral nails are perfect on their own, but adding pastel colors to them takes them to the next level, right?

23. Pastel Prism Nails

This nail design is definitely out of the ordinary! Think about it, a prismatic design but with pastel nail polishes…

24. Pastel Green Alternative French Tip Nails

Is there a specific name for this shade of pastel green? I’m sure there is, but I can’t remember right now… Anyway, I love the nail designs that alternate between french tip and fully painted nails, it makes the look very interesting!

25. Bright Lavender Nails

I mean, a lavender ombre French tip moment is pretty cute as is, but add some glitter flakes and you’ll take it to the next level! (If glitter flakes are your thing, of course).

26. Pearly Pastel Frenchies

These pearly nails have become super trendy and let’s face it, they are undeniably pretty, but they are definitely something interesting to stick on your nails.

27. Pastel Pink Negative Space Nails

I already mentioned how awesome negative space nails are. And these pink contoured French tips are no different. Maybe they’re even more impressive because they’re pink.

28. Pastel Gradient Nails

These are probably the most classic pastel nails ever! I mean there is nothing as simple as this. That’s why it’s a classic! Simple and cute…

29. Pastel Cow Print Nails

One of my favorite nail trends is cow print! It’s a trend that seems to have come out of nowhere and then swept us all away. I’m definitely not complaining, it’s a cute print, weird but cute…

30. Ballet Slipper French Tips

This is such a cute twist on traditional French tip nails. The cute details on the little ballet slippers show how easy it is to take a classic design and put your own spin on it to make it new!

31. Pastel Heart Nails

This is a nail design that is too adorable! But spring/summer is a time of sunshine, laughter and all things good, so these nails are definitely season-appropriate…

32. Sunny Pastel Yellow Daisy Nails

Is it possible for a nail design to remind you of happiness? These are nails that are so bright and sunny that they are bound to put a smile on your face!

33. Pastel French

Who else is thinking about bowling right now? I don’t know why these nails remind me of bowling (a pastel version anyway)…

34. Pastel Rainbow Ombré Nails

Literally obsessed with these nails. The way they are so subtle but also have so much color is beautiful. The perfect nails for spring/summer!

35. Bold Pastel Bolo Nails

Is there such a thing as a daring cake? If so, these nails definitely are it! They are bright, bold and pretty, but still fit the aesthetic!