Advice on town growth!

[Moebius]

So...I've been playing my current town for about a YEAR now and I feel like my town looks like I've only begun a week ago TT_TT. I've gone through some cycles of expanding then scrapping my progress. My barren wasteland of a town needs some life. I think maybe putting some paths might give some organization but that's about all I've got! So belltree, where did you begin your towns process? I need the inspiration!

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[SlipStitch626]

At first I placed pwp in random places but now I make plans with certain areas or pwp. For example I put bamboo around a pond and put a log bench and mushrooms nearby then made a border with bushes and flowers. I also made a bus stop and picnic blanket on either side of my camping pwp and used bushes, mushrooms, and other holdables to decorate the area. That's basically it but if you want more ideas feel free to visit the dream address in my signature.

 

[Moebius]

At first I placed pwp in random places but now I make plans with certain areas or pwp. For example I put bamboo around a pond and put a log bench and mushrooms nearby then made a border with bushes and flowers. I also made a bus stop and picnic blanket on either side of my camping pwp and used bushes, mushrooms, and other holdables to decorate the area. That's basically it but if you want more ideas feel free to visit the dream address in my signature.

That helps a lot! Starting on one specific area at a time seems like a great idea. I'll be visiting your dream address for sure~

 

[Mayor Yosuke]

I started out with wanting the island on my map to be covered in bamboo. This has since changed. I picked my house location, found a path to Re-tail, and put paths where my current animals' houses were located. Then as things changed, and I got more ideas, the town changed, but I never lost my "main streets" as it were. Really, it's like a town in real life. I have elements in my town that were there from the beginning, but I change things from time to time, never really losing my town's history.

 

[Invisible again]

I never really planned much with my town, until recently when my boyfriend decided to make a nice town. I made paths out of flowers and am working on lining bushes to create a "nature-walk" kinda feel to my town. I'm redoing some of my PWPs into the ones I wanted and am moving some to different areas. I'm also experimenting with symmetry, especially with entryways to people's homes and little areas around town. c:

I know some people like to make themes for towns and homes. A lot of people like to make scenic views with their PWPs, too. Also for good inspiration, visit dream towns to see what others have done.

 

[Licorice]

My town started with planting cedar trees. I chopped down every regular tree and planted cedar and fruit trees. I do not have a path but I have a forest town so you can tell where you're supposed to walk. I think I succeeded in making my town organized without use of patterns. I have a nice looking dirt path that is starting through a decent portion of my town that was by accident. Idk if I'll pursue that or not.

 

[LinkToTheWorld]

I didn't plan my town at all when I first started. I placed everything randomly, but I didn't have any paths down at that time so it was difficult to picture where everything goes. I find it really helps to section off certain parts of your town. And you could always rub them out after a while if you want natural looking paths
My town looks pretty full now, I've got my limit of PWPs spread all over the place. Then where there is gaps I've added bamboo, fields of flowers, a small orchard and a clover and mushroom garden
It's not perfect by any means but it looks like a proper town now.
Also, planting lots of bushes has helps make it look better, they're a pain to do but I've put them along most paths and around villager houses - along with placing flowers round villager houses that colour coordinate with the villager. Just sets it off
Best of luck with your town!

 

[Miii]

I started out by picking pwps I liked and placing them in good spots. Next I started landscaping around pwps and villagers' houses. My town has TONS of hybrids, which I think can really make a town look put together. I also have a few organized fruit orchards and a few path designs in my town. I covered my entire town square with two pretty path designs, along with the stone area in front of Retail.

I would say, just pick an area to start working on, and keep trying things until you feel like it looks great. If you need hybrids, bush starts, or saplings, try buying some from people on the forum (I bought somewhere around 300 hybrids from people here). It'll take a while to get everything organized and decorated the way you want it, but it's SO worth it when it's done. I love how my town has come together in the past two years. My town went through a LOT of phases to get where it is now, but I think I'm finally satisfied with the landscaping.

 

[Moebius]

I started out with wanting the island on my map to be covered in bamboo. This has since changed. I picked my house location, found a path to Re-tail, and put paths where my current animals' houses were located. Then as things changed, and I got more ideas, the town changed, but I never lost my "main streets" as it were. Really, it's like a town in real life. I have elements in my town that were there from the beginning, but I change things from time to time, never really losing my town's history.

Keeping some original elements from the beginning sounds so nice and authentic, the growth of your town goes on around something that was there from the start! So neat~!

- - - Post Merge - - -

I never really planned much with my town, until recently when my boyfriend decided to make a nice town. I made paths out of flowers and am working on lining bushes to create a "nature-walk" kinda feel to my town. I'm redoing some of my PWPs into the ones I wanted and am moving some to different areas. I'm also experimenting with symmetry, especially with entryways to people's homes and little areas around town. c:

I know some people like to make themes for towns and homes. A lot of people like to make scenic views with their PWPs, too. Also for good inspiration, visit dream towns to see what others have done.

Gotta be extra careful while walking through a path of flowers >_<! I think bushes also add lots of life to a path as well! And I like to admire dream towns, just to get some inspo. I want to make a town that's as unique as the next!

 

[radioloves]

I moved in and out different villagers, planted trees, breed for hybrids, expanded the entire house and museum second floor rooms, upgrading the stores in mainstreet/trying to unlock everything, spent sometime shopping, donated items to the musem, earning bells by visiting the tropical island every now and then, placing public works projects, also placed paths and talked to villagers losts : D but I dunno, I just went with the flow for my town xD

 

[Moebius]

My town started with planting cedar trees. I chopped down every regular tree and planted cedar and fruit trees. I do not have a path but I have a forest town so you can tell where you're supposed to walk. I think I succeeded in making my town organized without use of patterns. I have a nice looking dirt path that is starting through a decent portion of my town that was by accident. Idk if I'll pursue that or not.

I admire the effort with forest towns, lot's of waiting for those trees to grow.. I'd like to minimize my use of patterns,maybe only for specific pwps and possibly pathing. Dirt paths are also tricky and I feel like that might take the most work.. Good luck if you pursue it! It's a fantastic feature for any town.

- - - Post Merge - - -

I didn't plan my town at all when I first started. I placed everything randomly, but I didn't have any paths down at that time so it was difficult to picture where everything goes. I find it really helps to section off certain parts of your town. And you could always rub them out after a while if you want natural looking paths
My town looks pretty full now, I've got my limit of PWPs spread all over the place. Then where there is gaps I've added bamboo, fields of flowers, a small orchard and a clover and mushroom garden
It's not perfect by any means but it looks like a proper town now.
Also, planting lots of bushes has helps make it look better, they're a pain to do but I've put them along most paths and around villager houses - along with placing flowers round villager houses that colour coordinate with the villager. Just sets it off
Best of luck with your town!

Thanks for the wish of luck! Your town sounds so vibrant! I feel like my townies would appreciate it if I spruced up the outside of their homes. A while back I actually did the flower coordinating with the villagers and I think It's a nice personal touch.

- - - Post Merge - - -

I started out by picking pwps I liked and placing them in good spots. Next I started landscaping around pwps and villagers' houses. My town has TONS of hybrids, which I think can really make a town look put together. I also have a few organized fruit orchards and a few path designs in my town. I covered my entire town square with two pretty path designs, along with the stone area in front of Retail.

I would say, just pick an area to start working on, and keep trying things until you feel like it looks great. If you need hybrids, bush starts, or saplings, try buying some from people on the forum (I bought somewhere around 300 hybrids from people here). It'll take a while to get everything organized and decorated the way you want it, but it's SO worth it when it's done. I love how my town has come together in the past two years. My town went through a LOT of phases to get where it is now, but I think I'm finally satisfied with the landscaping.

I think I'll definitely surround my town square with some sort of path, it'll add some color! I have to remove some bad decision placements of PWP's, which will be a pain but a step forward in progress! And thanks for the tip, surely trading for hybrids is more convenient than waiting decades, lol. Seems like you put in much work to get your town where it is now!

- - - Post Merge - - -

I moved in and out different villagers, planted trees, breed for hybrids, expanded the entire house and museum second floor rooms, upgrading the stores in mainstreet/trying to unlock everything, spent sometime shopping, donated items to the musem, earning bells by visiting the tropical island every now and then, placing public works projects, also placed paths and talked to villagers losts : D but I dunno, I just went with the flow for my town xD

As of now I'm just going with the flow of my town, I'm just too scatter-brained to settle on any one design that's organized.. Aside from having a town that's in shambles, my biggest fear is losing my favorite villagers so I basically stalk them.

 

[Vintage Viola]

Well, when I started decorating my town I laid down my walking paths first. Then I began to set up pwps around my town, cut down and rearranged my trees, and bred my hybrids. Then I began decorating certain spots at a time, like I decorated around Re-tail, town hall, the train station, and the town plaza for example. Finally, I slowly pulled everything together with river paths, bushes, bamboo, and the-like until I eventually got to the finished product.

When you pick little areas to work on at a time, it's easier and feels less tedious. Plus, it's easier to edit and change this way if you ask me. If you treat it like a process and you're patient with it, I'm sure you'll be happy with the end result.

 

[leftTBT]

I take a picture of my town, and then open up a drawing program (you could use paint or something), and mark out where I want villager houses, PWPs, paths, etc. XD I might have a problem.

 

[Sdj4148]

I didn't plan my town out all at once. I cleared out most of my town and started laying paths to essential places. (Retail, town square, train station, etc.) I chose a theme for my otwn and just ran with it. Now that I think about it, I honestly don't know what I did to get my town so far. Gosh I need to pull my life together...

 

[Moebius]

Well, when I started decorating my town I laid down my walking paths first. Then I began to set up pwps around my town, cut down and rearranged my trees, and bred my hybrids. Then I began decorating certain spots at a time, like I decorated around Re-tail, town hall, the train station, and the town plaza for example. Finally, I slowly pulled everything together with river paths, bushes, bamboo, and the-like until I eventually got to the finished product.

When you pick little areas to work on at a time, it's easier and feels less tedious. Plus, it's easier to edit and change this way if you ask me. If you treat it like a process and you're patient with it, I'm sure you'll be happy with the end result.

The way you described your process sound so pleasant! So far most people have mentioned how they began one area at a time, that definitely makes things easier to work with. Thankfully there's no rush with AC so I've got plenty time to progress. And hopefully I'll be confident enough to have a dream address soon!

- - - Post Merge - - -

I take a picture of my town, and then open up a drawing program (you could use paint or something), and mark out where I want villager houses, PWPs, paths, etc. XD I might have a problem.

Although this method of planning can be useful, wouldn't it be nice if there was program to plan towns TT~TT..

- - - Post Merge - - -

I didn't plan my town out all at once. I cleared out most of my town and started laying paths to essential places. (Retail, town square, train station, etc.) I chose a theme for my otwn and just ran with it. Now that I think about it, I honestly don't know what I did to get my town so far. Gosh I need to pull my life together...

It just came naturally to you! My brain seems to require a whole plan/layout for this type of thing..

 

[winterpromise31]

My town is newer so I haven't done much yet. I've played in four other Animal Crossing towns and they were all undeveloped. I have big plans for this town! So far I've concentrated on where I want to put my PWPs. I just installed the cafe! I planted a couple bushes in front of Re-Tail and like how it looks so far. I've visited other gorgeous towns and can't wait to see how mine develops.

 

[Lucie]

Honestly, for me, laying down paths really helped in the development of my town because when I laid down paths I knew where to put my favorite PWPs so they wouldn't get in the way and then from that I started to landscape a bunch (flowers, bushes, trees, bamboo). Landscaping is super fun after figuring out PWP placement.

 

[Moebius]

My town is newer so I haven't done much yet. I've played in four other Animal Crossing towns and they were all undeveloped. I have big plans for this town! So far I've concentrated on where I want to put my PWPs. I just installed the cafe! I planted a couple bushes in front of Re-Tail and like how it looks so far. I've visited other gorgeous towns and can't wait to see how mine develops.

Aww, It sounds like you're moving forward nicely, don't give up! Some day we'll get there.. Good luck with everything!

- - - Post Merge - - -

Honestly, for me, laying down paths really helped in the development of my town because when I laid down paths I knew where to put my favorite PWPs so they wouldn't get in the way and then from that I started to landscape a bunch (flowers, bushes, trees, bamboo). Landscaping is super fun after figuring out PWP placement.

Yeah I have tons of fun landscaping and looking at dozens of paths to decide which looks best! It's a lot of work but it all pays off for a beautiful town.