One of the biggest appeals of Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the ability to decorate your island with all sorts of designs and themed areas. With this newest, most robust version of Animal Crossing yet, there's an insanely vast lineup of furnishings, accouterments, and decorative flair. Because of this, and the ability to place items just about anywhere on your island — designing and decorating is more enjoyable than ever.
At the same time, with so many options at one's disposal, it can be a bit overwhelming and somewhat tough to muster interesting design ideas. But the most awesome ideas are here, as well as content highlighting some of the coolest designs and custom rooms made by various Animal Crossing players to act as a centerpiece for certain entries.
Updated June 23, 2021 by Stephen LaGioia: In many ways, this delightful sim feels as organic as the trees and various growth scattered about its virtual islands. Not that this addictive romp needed it, but Nintendo has continued to breathe new life into New Horizons with various timed events, additions, and updates, which has coaxed players to keep returning to their dream islands.
The expansive, open-ended nature of this customizable game has also contributed to its longevity and evergreen nature. Players continue to churn out visually appealing islands along with creative themed areas and rooms. As such, it seemed fitting to make a return trip to this list and refresh it once again.
18 Campground
It's true that players begin their island escapades in the humble abode of a fairly cramped tent. Still, some may feel the desire to return to the simple life after industrializing and decking out their homes and islands, at least for a bit.
Players may wish to bask further in nature and partake in some peaceful lounging with a campground. There is an array of items catered to this woodsy outdoor theme, including camping cots, camp stoves, and bonfires. And of course, natural elements such as trees, log stools, and flowers go nicely with this, adding some scenery and bringing more of that Pocket Camp vibe.
17 Science Laboratory
Players can channel their inner mad scientist by filling out one of their rooms with a laboratory theme and equipment. Though New Horizons is a bit lacking in items with this theme compared to Pocket Camp, players can still get creative with a number of items, as illustrated by Akrpg.com.
The area can be decorated with visual elements like a writing poster, whiteboard, rocket lamp, and skeleton. Tables can then be filled with the visually stimulating Lab-Experiments set.
16 Bar/Cafe
After a long day of exploring, decorating, and resource-gathering, one might want to kick back at an island bar or café for some downtime and socializing.
A number of diner-themed items offer the vibe of a retro bar or café — including a counter table, diner sofa, and mini table. Opt for box corner sofas, double sofas, and antique mini tables for a more traditional look.
Wall-mounted TVs, starry garlands, floorlights, and DJ turntables can add a fun, festive element to the scene. This can further be complemented by drink and snack machines, revolving spice racks, restive top sets, and fruit baskets; especially fitting for cafes.
15 Car Park
Twitter user RevanRek came up with this brilliant design of a car park on their Animal Crossing island, with them cleverly using the car bed furnishings as actual cars for their parking lot. These modern types of design ideas can really give your island a metropolitan city vibe.
The details in this design really make it shine, such as trash cans, trash bags, and traffic cones, as well as some random littering of leaves. The neon "We're Open" sign gives a retro throwback feel, which could be paired nicely with a retro-themed café.
14 Flower Garden/Forest
While it can take some time and patience, planting in Animal Crossing can be a truly rewarding experience. Seeing your trees bear new fruit or an array of vibrant flowers blossoming is delightful after having to wait a few days.
One lengthy, but rather fun task is to plot out a large area of land that can be used for planting trees bearing foreign fruit as well as flowers. Over time, this can evolve into a massive money-making endeavor — and a visually pleasing one to boot. The various villagers will also get a kick out of it.
There are plenty of nice-looking fences you can use to set up the perimeter for a garden. It can be laid out with rows of different colored roses, daisies, and the like. You can further spruce it up by adding some paved roads (assuming terraforming is unlocked) and place a garden table with plants and gardening tools.
13 Concert Area
Another great idea that players could implement on their island is a brand new concert area. While series icon K.K. Slider may have his own dedicated spot outside the town hall, if there are any other animal villagers that want to perform, then they need their own space.
This awesome design by Twitter user MochaHoneyBunny looks great and is perfect for those wanting to perform and those wanting to watch and revel in the music. The lights really add to the nightlife vibe of this area.
12 Market Plaza
New Horizons grants a basic premade plaza where Resident Services can be found. Still, this can be taken a step further by designing your own, more elaborate market square and island "hangout."
You can begin by filling in a plot of land with roads of cobblestone or another aesthetically pleasing tile. From there, you can sprinkle in some outdoor tables in chairs, and some food and coffee-related items. Consider laying down a tourist telescope for island visitors.
You can further decorate this with a few fruit trees and stalls to make this area resemble an open-air restaurant. Fruit tables also make a good fit for this sort of place. If you've got enough space, add a fountain to provide more scenery and atmosphere.
11 Forced Perspective Areas
Creative Animal Crossing players have been experimenting with the idea of forced perspective on their islands, creating small, miniature scenes that look as though they are very far away.
This particular scene was created by Twitter user Gaohmee, who has gone for a space theme for their island. These stunning little areas really add some depth and detail to islands and are sure to be a favorite destination for anyone who visits. With the vast catalog of items available in the game, there are so many possibilities of what forced perspective areas players could create.
10 Industrial Wasteland
One neat design that mix up the typically colorful, nature-themed environments of New Horizons is an industrial area and/or toxic wasteland. And hey - you might as well have something to do with those empty cans and tires you inadvertently catch while fishing.
Using these typically disposable items, you can craft things like tire toys, tire stacks, and even garbage bags. Clay furnaces, handcarts, and green oil drums resembling toxic barrels can also be sprinkled about to further drive this theme home. Players who opt for an indoor version can have some fun with this, as a garbage-themed floor can be placed to complete the getup.
9 Music Room
Though New Horizons has an ample selection of nice tunes, why not add some musical flair of your own?
Instruments can be particularly amusing as they're among the few items that players can interact with. And with so many instruments and music-related objects in the game, a music room can be an entertaining hub that players and island visitors can use for impromptu jamming.
Things like guitars, amps, tambourines, and gongs can be added, while items such as music stands, stereos, and radios can be used to decorate and complement the room.
8 Sculpture Garden
With the introduction of Redd and the art gallery wing of the museum, players were given a lot more items that they could utilize to make their islands unique. Twitter user aleumdaunmochi used the sculptures, as well as some of the zodiac items, to create this gorgeous sculpture garden.
This beautiful design idea really adds an elegant flair to any island and the soft, muted color scheme with matching flowers makes the area really stand out and look absolutely gorgeous.
7 Hedge Maze
Following the recent May Day Hedge maze event, one can't help but ponder the potential for custom-made mazes to navigate through. A series of corridors can be placed outside using a hedge or fence. You can even take this to the next level by adding some obstacles like gaps or trees that can be worked through like a puzzle.
This can be utilized as a fun little activity for friends to partake in upon visiting your island.
6 Study/Home Office
Though island life can be fun and relaxing, having a place to study — or simply read in peace — can also be important. New Horizons has plenty of items and furnishings that book worms should find suitable.
Consider decorating a room with things like writing desks, books, document stacks, fax machines, and homework sets. For more decorative elements, items like a world map, globe, cuckoo clock, and bottled ship can add to the motif. Perhaps add a fancy rug as well to really "tie the room together."
5 Beachfront Hangout/Waterpark
Since players are residing on a remote island, there will be no shortage of vast, serenading beaches to bask in. As such, it makes sense to spruce up at least some of this area with accouterments.
First and foremost, coconut trees are a good option. They're both visually appealing and practically useful, as players can sell the fruit at high prices. But this tropical growth can be complemented with much more beach and water-related decor.
Cots, bonfires, umbrellas, and tiki torches can be placed near the waterfront to present the vibe of a beach resort or campsite. Cassette players, sandboxes, and volleyballs can be sprinkled about to give the appearance of a fun beach hangout for those who enjoy sunbathing. A pool and lifeguard chair can be tacked on to add a waterpark motif as well.
4 Fitness Center
Though your avatar will have plenty of physical activities to partake in with crafting, mining, and chopping trees, why not add a fitness center to go along with it?
There are plenty of items related to fitness, which can make for some visually neat decor. Many of these are on the pricier side but are worth shelling out for. Items include climbing walls, pull-up bar stands, punching bags, and tire stacks.
3 Character Specific Area
With so many unique Animal Crossing villagers, players are showing their love for their favorites by dedicating certain areas to them. For example, the dessert-like Merengue has rather fittingly been given her own bakery by Twitter user mayqueencass, complete with personalized signage.
So many villagers could potentially have their own themed areas inspired by their looks, such as Frita the sheep, who is reminiscent of a burger and chips, having a fast-food restaurant. It's time to get designing for your favorite animal.
2 Carnival/Playground
Along with beaches, you can also fill in areas farther inland with entertaining accouterments. These can serve as a colorful carnival or playground which can liven up the island.
Tricycles, popcorn machines, playground gyms, golf bags, elephant slides, footballs, and springy ride-on machines can all be used to make this come to life. Cotton-candy stalls, soccer goals, and teacup rides can be added to further spruce this up.
Many of these are obtained through Nook Miles and a number of them aren't cheap — so get saving!
1 Arcade
Given the theme of this publication, it's perhaps fitting that this list should conclude with an arcade room as the top entry. The obvious items to include here would be the Nintendo Switch, an "arcade fighting game," as well as an arcade seat to go with it.
Yet, players can get more creative in fleshing out their gaming room paradise with things like dartboards, snack/vending machines, and even a Transformer-Esque "robot hero."