17 Sweater Nail Designs Trending for Winter—From Cable Knit to Cashmere

woman with red and tan sweater nail design — @lolo.nailedit

Some people lust after summer, waiting all year long to lounge poolside with a glass of rosé. Others prefer spring, peeling off those extra layers of clothing as the flowers begin to bloom. As for us? We're partial to winter: cozying up by the fire, smoothing on decadent moisturizers, and burrowing in our favorite cold-weather cardigans. After all, they call it sweater weather for a reason.

This year, we're going in on all things warm and cushy—because those brutal mid-afternoon sunsets are a bit of a downer, even for the most devoted wintertime warriors. Pile on the puffers and rock your warmest balaclava because we're headed to the nail salon, where we're paying homage to our favorite cold-weather knits in a decidedly different way.

If you didn't know, sweater nails are, in fact, a thing. But you don't have to worry about itchy material, dry-clean only cashmere, or pilling fabric on your fingers. We're talking sweater-inspired manicures, with chunky knit-like detailing, plaid designs, and subtle (or not-so-subtle) seasonal cheer.

Feeling cozy? Scroll on for 18 takes on sweater nails that will keep you warm all winter long.

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Classic Plaid

Red multicolor plaid sweater manicure — @chalkboardnails

Plaid is a classic way to ease into the sweater mani trend, with plenty of room for creativity. Go for timeless hues, like this red base with pops of green, blue, and yellow.

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Christmas Sweater Style

Pink, purple, and white manicure with snowflakes, a reindeer, and sweater nail designs — @anetaujwary

On the other hand, you can ring in the season by going all out with a holiday-inspired look. Extra points for the multiple sweater iterations.

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Textured Multicolored

Multicolored manicure with sweater texture on top — @digitzbydev

Adding a textured element on top is a great way to mimic the knitted pattern on your fave sweater. Switch things up by painting each nail a different color.

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Paint It Pink

When in doubt, go pink. This cozy, fun-filled plaid is sure to make a statement alongside your favorite winter outfits.

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Sewn With Love

Red sweater-inspired manicure with hearts and shimmer accent nails — @anetaujwary

Add a little something extra to your Valentine's Day manicure with cozy sweater details.

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Keep It Simple

Plaid manicure with neutral base and red and blue stripes — @lolo.nailedit

If you prefer your manicures neutral (or neutral-adjacent), opt for a nude base with a few simple lines for a plaid-like design.

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Add a Marbled Print For a Worn-In Look

Turquoise sweater nails with textured finish — @thenailboxxchi

Adding a subtle marbled element beneath the 3D sweater design makes for a totally cozy, worn-in look.

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Go Heavy on the Detail

Green manicure with multicolor neutral plaid check accent nails — @betina_goldstein

Make those plaid statement fingers really stand out by layering on thin lines. The result makes for a mani that's both cozy and so cool.

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...Or Add a Subtle Sweater Detail

Red manicure with sparkly accent nails and subtle accent sweater nails — @digitzbydev

For a more muted take on the trend, add one or two accent sweater nails to a classic monochromatic manicure. For a bit more flair, add a little sparkle and shine.

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Take Inspo from the Grinch

Green holiday nails with 3D sweater texture accent, sparkles, and red accent nail — @anetaujwary

This festive green manicure made our hearts grow three sizes. We love the intricate 3D detailing here, which makes the whole look feel like your grandma's favorite holiday sweater—in the most nostalgic way.

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Sweater Tips

Coffin nails with neutral base and pink sweater print tips — @digitzbydev

Take a page from the classic French manicure and add some sweater detailing to your tips for an unexpected take on the sweater nail design trend.

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Wear Your Winter Whites

Threaded white sweater design nails — @swaknails

There's so many layers here: the argyle knit print, the unraveling sweater threads at the base of the nail, the perfect matte winter white—you get the idea.

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Match Your Fave Gray Sweater

Gray manicure with sweater detailing — @anetaujwary

We all have one perfect gray sweater, so why not match your nails to your knit with a white and gray manicure? Add in some 3D sweater detailing for bonus points.

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Maximalist Minimalist

Plaid nails in neon pink, purple, and orange — @bhambnails

The thin white lines and nearly translucent base say to keep it simple, but the bright hues say go big, baby. Do the most while doing the least, all while wearing your favorite sweater.

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