There are a host of creative design possibilities available for players of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, but some can become very costly very quickly, especially given all the furniture items available in Nook's Cranny. Fortunately, there are also plenty of opportunities for those who might be on a Bell budget. Here are some design ideas for players looking for cheap ways to get creative in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
New Horizons arguably has more potential than just about any other game in the series when it comes to town customization. Right from the start of the game, players are allowed to choose the overall layout of their island, which can then be customized further on into the game as they create new rivers, inlets, and mountains across the face of the island. They can then collect design inspiration from other players thanks to the game's active online presence.
Further possibilities may be opening up in the future, as earlier this year a leak was revealed that seems to hint towards a potential island expansion coming to New Horizons. This could allow for even more room for customization, but thus far nothing has been officially announced regarding the rumors. A wide range of new content will be revealed this October, however, according to September's Nintendo Direct. It remains to be seen what new and inexpensive design ideas will be added in the coming months.
Create Custom Animal Crossing Designs
Even finding new clothing options in Animal Crossing: New Horizons doesn't have to be an expensive venture. Players can unlock the ability to create custom fabrics to utilize both in their outfits and certain DIY designs through the Able Sisters' tailor shop. These designs can be uploaded and imported from other online players as well, which effectively creates a large library of nearly endless possibilities.
One way to use these custom designs is on signs and stands outside, creating unique buildings or shop facades without actually having to dish out Bells to customize an area. Animal Crossing player abie22 utilizes such a method to create an outdoor cafe, adding in custom pathways to provide the appearance of a cute plaza all without using many Bells or even taking up much space on the island.
Collect New Horizons DIY Recipes
Animal Crossing: New Horizons includes several gameplay mechanics that are a first for the series, among which are DIY recipes, craftable furniture items that make use of the island's natural resources such as shells, rocks, and wood. Players can collect these without spending any Bells, even traveling to other items with the use of Nook miles in case their home island runs out of supplies. There are dozens of recipes to collect and build, many of which can be further customized with unique colors and even custom fabrics to make for a more unique display.
Both indoor and outdoor furniture items are available to craft, from the popular ironwood kitchen set to outside hammocks and lounge chairs for the beach. It's also possible to trade most of the game's DIY recipes with friends and other Animal Crossing fans in New Horizons' online community, allowing for a more expansive collection without having to spend many - if any - Bells at all. New Horizons player awlames on Reddit utilizes the bamboo DIY recipes in particular to create a serene grove, all without breaking the Bell bank.
Use New Horizons' Island Terraforming For Extra Effects
Island terraforming is another new feature introduced with the release of New Horizons, allowing players to create waterfalls, mountains, lakes, and more with just the use of their own two hands. Terraforming is unlocked once the early stages of the game have been completed and players have reached a 3-star island. Although more expansive options, including different paths, can be unlocked and purchased gradually, there's plenty to do without spending many Bells.
Reddit user syzygy14 shows off an impressive display of terraforming techniques, crafting multi-leveled waterfalls accented with DIY items such as giant mushrooms, log furniture, and signposts. It's an effective way to demonstrate that there are plenty of customization opportunities in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, even for players without many Bells to spend on large-scale projects.