By leah jones
It has been five years since Animal Crossing: New Horizons was released on the Nintendo Switch and its fanbase is still stronger than ever.
Though some people have complaints with the game (or think it is missing important aspects), the newest installment of the Animal Crossing series keeps drawing players to revisit it.
Rumors have been spreading for years now about the game’s successor. The Switch 2 getting its official release date has only made this more so. However, no official announcement has been made about a new Animal Crossing game.
On the bright side, it is confirmed that players who plan to purchase a Switch 2 can transfer their New Horizons island from their Nintendo Switch to the new console. This is thanks to its backwards compatibility.
If you have (once again) reset your island and do not know where to start, or you have never fully decorated an island since starting the game, here are some ideas to inspire you.
Pick a specific theme to keep your island cohesive (e.g. cottage-core, an urban city, a rustic/rundown look, a haunted theme). This will help you narrow down which items to use and not feel so overwhelmed.
Adding more rivers and lakes to your island is an easy way to make it more serene and natural. It also helps with the lag you may experience when walking around.
Decorate the areas outside of villager homes and outside the town buildings for a feeling of authenticity on your island. For example, put clotheslines outside of Able Sisters or a parking lot by Nook's cranny.
If you are trying to grow hybrid flowers or crops, move all of them to one area and create a garden/farm. You can decorate it with other items like the silo, scarecrow, wheelbarrow and more.
Create fun themed areas around your island like an outdoor school, restaurant or spa. These ideas can be very simple to make with the right items like bookshelves and desks. Add some paths and fencing to enclose it for the finishing touches.
Decorate the beaches and rocks on your island to make it look more complete. The pirate items you get from Gulivarrr or fishing items are great for these areas. Lounge chairs and campfires are also perfect for the beaches.
Start simple when terraforming by adding a couple of hills with waterfalls flowing into the river or extending the upper levels of your island to make it appear larger. Do this before placing furniture.
Use natural items like trees, flowers and hedges to fill in empty/open spaces. You can also make small sitting areas or recreational areas that you villagers can interact with in these free spaces.