Renovating Villager Houses

[fuzzynumber9]

So I searched through the sticky and didn't see this covered...
I know everyone seems worried about keeping villagers in their original houses, but I want the opposite... I am currently working on a theme town that the villagers all play a part in and some of them would really benefit the theme if they could have different furniture and wallpaper/carpet than what they came to me with. What is the best way to go about this? Send it to them in the mail? Give them things I want them to have when they ask for furniture suggestions? I have tried both and seen mixed results and was hoping there might be a more foolproof way to go about getting them to swap items out.

Additionally, is there a way to get them to give you items they currently have? Or is that pure luck/friendship level?

thanks so much for any input/advice on this!

 

[GlitterNailPolish]

I had a whole vision for Erik's house. I sent him furniture through the mail. He put some of it in his house. The couch I want him to have, he keeps putting it in retail, so I buy it back and give it to him again. It can be a hassle to decorate their house, lol.
And as for getting them to give you items. I read to wait until they're in their house, and when they ask for furniture, if they like it, they'll swap it out and give you what they replaced. That didn't work for me. I really wanted Benjamin's sloppy furniture. So I gave him a TV when he asked for something. He immediately put it in his house, but kept his sloppy tv. He gave me a shirt.
I think more than anything it's luck.