A huge part of playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons involves decorating and customizing the player's entire island from cliff to beach and every inch in between. There are a ton of different items that can be purchased with Bells or Nook Miles and crafted with DIY recipes to achieve this, but one of the most versatile items in the game is the Simple Panel. There is a variety of them that have different colored borders and insides that can be customized with any design, letting players use them in a ton of different areas around their island.
From menus to flight schedules, the Simple Panel can be customized to fit just about any need that a player might have on their island, simply by visiting the Able Sisters' shop in order to download a custom design to use on it.
Updated September 10th, 2020 by Hayley Mullen: The dedication of Animal Crossing fans is truly admirable, bringing new designs to players simply for the joy of creativity and sharing. We've found more amazing designs for the Simple Panel that are sure to look good in any house or on any island, guaranteed. If you're someone with free pattern slots and looking for inspiration, look no further than this updated list.
15 A Menu For A Ramen Stand
One of the most popular uses for the Simple Panel is to use it for a menu. This Animal Crossing fan decided to make a menu for their island's ramen stand and it looks just perfect sitting up against their customized Stall. The menu has pictures of ramen noodles with some lines of text, designed to look like it's showing off the details of the item and the price.
Check out the creator's other designs with their creator code to see their ramen Stall design to complete the look.
14 Stained Glass Walls/Windows
The Simple Panel is excellent for patterns imitating both walls and glass, so why not take that a step further and have walls of gorgeous stained glass? Artist Lea from Daheim (creator code MA-1716-9204-0491) has made some of the most realistic stained glass we've seen yet in Animal Crossing, from the playful colors to the way the light seems to reflect off the glass.
This is wonderful for creating a regal, holy, or even old-fashioned atmosphere, such as a church space or a Victorian-era mansion.
13 The Dodo Airlines Schedule
The entrance area of the island is an area that a lot of people struggle with when it comes to designing. It's definitely not easy to decide what to do there, but because it's the first part of the island that a visitor sees, it's one that shouldn't be overlooked.
This design for the Simple Panel is a flight schedule that can be placed in a waiting area-esque part of the island, near the airport. Paired with the seats and vending machines that can be purchased with Nook Miles, this makes for the perfect entrance area.
12 The Able Sisters' Shop
Designing the area around the shops is definitely something that a lot of players put a ton of focus on. Whether they tuck them away in a forest or give a super developed, urban landscape around Nook's Cranny and the Able Sisters' shop, it's important to make sure that it looks just perfect.
This design is one that can be placed outside of the Able Sisters in order to welcome shoppers. It has a dress and a pair of glasses to represent the clothes and accessories sold there.
11 An Ice Cream Stand
For people that want their island to be completely decked out in all things pastel and cute, an ice cream stand is a perfect addition for an area of the island.
All those warm days on a deserted island are sure to make anyone hungry for something sweet and cold. This custom design is made to look like an ice cream menu with some super tasty treats on it.
10 Drive-In Movie Screen
Going to the movies is always a good time, and now it's more possible than ever, thanks to the Simple Panel. This pattern imitates the ending credits of a movie, perfect for the repeating pattern of the Simple Panel, and can be found at creator code MA-0099-5662-8625. It has great utility, with players using it for intimate movie marathons or a professional theater setup on their island.
Combined with items such as the Throwback racecar bed and Popcorn machine, players can create that classic drive-in movie experience right on their island, even if no one on the island actually drives a car. It's all about the aesthetic, after all.
9 Fairy Light Walls
For a chic and atmospheric café to the big high school dance, this bright idea has some serious mileage. The imitation of both blue-painted wooden walls and string lights (or fairy lights) instantly creates an aesthetic similar to items only available indoors, such as the Starry garland or the Bunny Day glowy garland.
This lovely pattern was made by Hailey from Lansdale, whose creator code is MA-9989-1477-7146. Many players have created patterns along the same line as Hailey's, but none so uniquely charming (and none such a sweet shade of blue).
8 A Sushi Stand Menu
Many players have taken the items in the game and used them to create a Japanese inspired island. Whether it's a more natural island or one that's designed to look like a Tokyo suburb, no Japanese-inspired island is complete without a sushi restaurant.
This menu is decorated with all the classic sushi rolls and looks absolutely perfect against the brown Simple Panel, but could also look great if customized onto other colors.
7 A Succulent Stand
While menus for restaurants and cafes are great, they are definitely not what everyone is looking for when they're trying to find something to customize their Simple Panel with.
For people that are going for a more natural, plant-themed island, this design is the perfect one to add to the island's decor. This design is made to look like a little shop selling succulents.
6 Bar/Restaurant Shelves
Players wanting to design a realistic bar or restaurant on their island may enjoy this ingenious use of the Simple Panel: creating the illusion of fully-stocked shelves. This intricate design comes from player Meishali, and all of the above designs can be found at their creator code, MA-8448-4977-9907.
This particular pattern could also be used for the shelves of an apothecary or a garden/nursery. The beauty of sharing creations really is seeing how others put them to use, often in ways the original artist may have never imagined.
5 City Skyscrapers
Everyone has their own idea for what they want their island to look like. For some people, the ideal design is an urban cityscape. This can be tough considering there are only ten villagers plus the player's house, meaning that the city that the player develops on the island can look a little uninhabited.
Luckily, with this design for the Simple Panel, the player can give the illusion that there are skyscrapers lining the skyline of their island.
4 Museum Visitor Information
Designing the entrance to the museum is something that many players spend a lot of time on. Many users add extra fossils, models of fish and bugs, and spend a ton of time terraforming the entire area to perfection.
This creator made a series of designs that are perfect for placing outside the museum's entrance. Players can put up the one with fish and bugs or the one with fossils and fish, or even place both as this player did on their island. Check out the player's creator code to download both.
3 A Rosy Trellis
Simple Panels are a nice way to add faux walls to the game. Since players can't actually put wallpapers outside, the Simple Panel can be a way to separate off an area of the island and make it look like there is a wall behind an area that they have sectioned off.
This player created a variety of different designs made to look like different colors of rose-covered trellises, perfect for anywhere that needs some flowers and color. Check out their creator code to pick the perfect color for any area of the island.
2 Astronomy Information
If Blathers gets detailed informational boards for his museum, then why shouldn't fan favorite Celeste get her own? These wonderful info-panels come from player Emmy, whose creator code is MA-8550-2967-5530.
Emmy has designed several patterns that showcase Celeste's love and knowledge of stars and Astronomy, designs that are perfectly paired with Telescopes, Nova Lights, and other Star Fragment-based items. With a dedicated star-gazing area set up on their island, Celeste fans will feel like their wishes have all come true.
1 A Floral Cafe Menu
Putting a cafe on the island is one of the first ideas that many players come up with. Considering Blathers and his coffee shop weren't part of the game at launch and there are so many kitchen items available in the game, it makes sense that many people add a cafe to their island.
This design is a floral cafe menu that is decorated with flowers, cups of coffee, and made to look like it's listing everything the cafe sells. Check out the creator code to find the matching Stall design to complete the cafe.