We all have those moments when inspiration hits, like when you're walking down the street and see a cool mural, a funky window display, or a pattern on a shirt. But how can you translate this inspiration into a cohesive nail design?

This week I’ve been inspired by Palm Springs. I’m from Southern California and out here, Palm Springs is not just a place but a style. With minimalism, desert architecture, and pops of color, what’s not to love?

I follow a visually intriguing Instagram account called @modernism_week. It’s full of photos of homes, scenery, art, and lifestyle. There is a photo of a house on there that I pulled my inspiration from that is all white with an orange door. It’s simple, there are patterns and elements, and there’s that pop of color that I love.

When I do an inspired design, I like to map out my art. I’ve found these helpful nail art templates on blackcatnails.com. The reason I map them out is so I can see all of my ideas laid out and together. I can see what goes and what should be left out. It also helps me to not forget what I want to do on the next nail.

When I am choosing what to include in my design I try to pull any elements of the inspiration that stand out or that are definitive of that idea. In this case: palm trees, geometric/square shapes, round shapes mimicking the detail of the door, and the white breezeblocks. If you feel like you are a little bit all over the place, sometimes the color scheme pulls everything together.

To keep my design from getting too busy, I like to mix nails that are simpler alongside nails that are more detailed and intricate. This lets the detailed nails really be the star of the show while still having some complementary nails to fill out and fully execute the overall idea. Here's another example that shows the process from concept to finished art.

Inspired designs are something that can take a little practice to pull off. Let yourself be creative and it will pay off with some one-of-a-kind, personalized looks!

Photos: Courtesy of the author

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