Nook's Cranny is one of the staples of the Animal Crossing series, selling player's furniture and goods since the game's first installment. It's a place players see every day they play, to see what new furniture and wallpaper is available. But wouldn't it be nice to add more personality to the store?
Whether to add more color to the player's daily routine or impress visiting friends, decorating the area around Nook's Cranny is something players ought to consider as a new DIY project. This guide will offer some starting ideas and themes to help make the Nook's Cranny more dynamic.
Nook’s Cranny Style Ideas in Animal Crossing
Every copy of Nook’s Cranny isn’t personalized and will be the same for every player. That’s because the interior cannot be changed, so players can’t customize the store itself. However, with New Horizon’s plethora of design options, the exterior around the store can be personalized as the player see’s fit. One important way is through the placement of the store itself. Nook’s Cranny has always been in a random location, or on Main Street in New Leaf, but New Horizons lets players place it anywhere they want; so long as there’s room. To move it, players must speak with Tom Nook at the resident’s Service center and pay him the 20,000 bell fee. Then, the player has free reign on where the store will go. Of course, what theme players have in mind for their store should be chosen first.
Don’t want to move your Nook’s Cranny and like it just where it is, amidst your residential area? Then consider a convenience store-style! Find items that fit the setting, like water fountains and soda machines, and place them alongside the store. These can both be purchased with Nook Miles in the Resident Service’s terminal, along with many other items, so peruse their selection before coming to a decision. If the player wants to add an aura of realism, put a trash can and lamppost nearby to make it blend in like any convenience store. A telephone booth and bench could even give the store a more urban feel, so try to mix and match these ideas to see what combinations fit best.
If a more stylish look is preferred, try giving the store some fancy downtown vibes. Placing Nook’s Cranny near the Residential Services and Able Sister’s will help give it more big-city flavor with all the surrounding commercial buildings. Use the stone and brick pathing to complete this feel, to make visitors feel like they’ve stepped into a major city. Follow up with a fountain in front of the store and some hedges, and Nook’s Cranny wouldn’t look out of place in a capital city. Most sets of furniture would look nice, but especially the Natural Garden and Ironwood Table. Further, an arrangement of tables and chairs can make for a pleasant restaurant, adding to the urban look or even making it a part of the store like an Ikea.
What better time to make a boardwalk themed Nook’s Cranny than the summer? With the new crafting recipes brought with the July update, players can deck their store out with beach-side fun! Because the entrance of the Nook’s Cranny will always face the player, the optimal location for a boardwalk would be along the southern end of the island. That way, the entrance will line up with the boardwalk. To make this boardwalk, place a wooden path or desirable custom path underneath for that pier-like feel. A popcorn machine and booths with fruit will help set the scene, along with a palm tree or two. Place a surfboard, which is seasonally sold at the Nook’s Cranny, on the beach to make it look all the more like summer!
Players that want something completely different ought to remake their Nook’s Cranny into a Western general store. The sand path type can give the illusion that the store is in the middle of the West, and a fence around that space, like the country fence, will give it a closed-off area. A lot of space may be needed to pull this off, so make sure to set the parameters before placing down the shop’s location. Many easy to access crafting recipes, like the hay bed and barrel, will help sell the Western look. Placing some campfire cookware and a simple DIY workbench makes the locale appear more outdoorsy, so keep an eye out for similar items to make a cowboy feel at home near your Nook’s Cranny.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is available for Nintendo Switch.