struggles with island design

[EtchaSketch]

Is it just me or is exterior design IMPOSSIBLE... I just spent weeks on an area of my island (the first area i've put thought into) and i absolutely hate it. Anybody else have this issue like, 24/7??

 

[Xara]

i feel you. this is why i’ve put off island designing for months as i’m never satisfied with anything c’:

 

[Tinkeringbell]

I don't hate it, but I do find it difficult. I have a few places I really like, like Alfonso's backyard. There's also still a lot of empty space left because I simply don't know what to do with it yet. Part of that is just covered in flowers and trees to make it look like something is happening.

I often put out stuff only to think 'meh', but I leave it until I come up with something better. Because sometimes it takes a few weeks of playing to realize that I could like something more if I add, remove or move a single item. (Not always, and I do end up redo-ing entire parts... but I give it some time first).

Right now, the days are getting shorter and I'm putting lamps everywhere between my hedges/bushes and it's really looking nice (I play mostly in the evenings). When summer comes I may very well end up replacing them all with hedges/bushes or something else entirely again! Just keep trying, I guess is what I'm trying to say?

 

[hugs]

omg, my island is like 30% done... i find it easier decorating indoors than outdoors. terraforming is a nightmare for me, i basically wing it when i create something decent-looking (in my eyes)

 

[Fye]

while the terraforming mechanics make it very tedious (why can't we bulk-make or break cliffs grrr) I actually enjoyed planning out my island. I pretty much divided my island into different areas (residential area, downtown, forest, park, etc) and then within the areas I planned them nearly square-by-square. I like order and numbers so most of my areas are simple shapes with paths connecting them and I think that's why I didn't mind terraforming that much. But decorating each area is a nightmare for me because furniture and flowers need to be spread about to make an area look natural and I just can't quite crack that. I'll think my downtown area looks fine then look at another user's town while on a trade and realize theirs feels so much more alive, while mine just kind of looks like buildings cleanly lined up in a row '~'
this got too long so TL;DR to the people who prefer decorating rooms and smaller spaces, please teach me your ways so that my island can look more alive

 

[deana]

I like to take screenshots of my map so that if I do something and then don't like it later, I can put it back the way it was. This has come in handy a few times. I also find the exterior decorating a bit of a struggle so I tend to avoid it most of the time until I get a random burst of inspiration. But even then sometimes my inspiration turns out to be a flop so the screenshots save me.

 

[Pyoopi]

I mean, you're dealing with a bigger space than interior which is just a square or rectangle. My brain is already programmed to draft and design; so this is more of a relaxed version for me. I can say the process is definitely takes trial and error. You're just constantly tweaking and replaying (or playtesting) the same area over and over.

It's a process for sure. Personally, I would just say don't rush it and don't feel like you have to fix it right away. I would just let it stay there for a few weeks and let your character run past it to see if your feelings change. If it doesn't then you just go back to the drawing board.

 

[AssassinVicz]

Same.

I think my island is 20% done but there’s areas that look like utter crap.

I think a lot of mine has to do with furniture limitations, since I’m waiting for the mushroom stuff to roll in. (Since my town is woodland fairy, so basic) and trying to get Celeste recipes / stars for additionally things. Its a lot of back and forth, especially if you don’t have the items you need.

I feel like I have to be in the right mood to even consider decorating, since it’ll look bad as then I’d never come back to it.

 

[niko@kamogawa]

I seen too many threads about people expressing dissatisfaction with their own island design.

There's one thing that I find common. It's a battle against your inner self. After all, the greatest critic is you. It also doesn't help that some are comparing their island to others. This is the greatest pitfall that you won't ever climb back from it.

My suggestion is to take breaks every now and then. Ask for feedback. Stop looking at others. If you want to take an inspiration from someone else, do it in moderation. Start small such as designing one area. Don't overthink. Simple is the best way to go.

 

[buny]

i think it takes a lot of trial and error, i had to redo some areas a couple times. But I enjoy the process, i really love putting things down and creating an area, and even though my island is just around 50% done, i'm not rushing it and i love the finished areas. I think it's good to avoid looking obsessively at others' islands and progress and comparing it to yours (i was guilty of that in New Leaf). When you just focus on your own thing, it becomes a lot more enjoyable and it's easier to satisfy yourself too

 

[Lavamaize]

I have also put off designing my island until I get all my dream villagers. Right now I only have two left, so it's not that far away. I have designed a few parts of my island though, and I think I may keep those parts that way.

 

[moonlights]

yea. or i'm finally satisfied with something and tear it down the next week bc i thought i had a better idea, just for it to look x10 worse

 

[Dracule]

I have this problem a lot. Sometimes I feel like nothing looks good no matter how I decorate it, and other times I think I need to FILL space just cus it’s empty. x_x

I decided awhile back to just work super slowly with a general color pallet in mind, so it hasn‘t been too bad now, but I still struggle with certain parts (like my campsite, which is a huge elevated section.) It’s just about working and reworking, sadly. :u

 

[Bluebellie]

It’s a struggle. I see people saying it took them 6 hours to design a spot....and it takes me weeks or months xD

I keep tearing down and re building thing. I just rebuild my museum yesterday, I think I’ll tear it down in a couple of minutes when I get back to playing.

 

[Marshal.Mallow]

Is it just me or is exterior design IMPOSSIBLE... I just spent weeks on an area of my island (the first area i've put thought into) and i absolutely hate it. Anybody else have this issue like, 24/7??

If anyone ever needs help let me know! I work with a team of 4 other designers and artists and we just opened up our own website to take design orders. I would be happy to host a few free island consultations
(We do NOT charge IRL money)

 

[Bilaz]

I have absolutely 0 ideas for the exterior and anything I try looks awful, have had this problem since City Folk

 

[EmmaFrost]

Totally agree. The island seems...large. And I just don't know how to fill it all up with stuff. I watch so many island tours on Youtube to try to get inspiration but it's overwhelming. Those islands featured in Youtube videos are always impeccable and super impressive. There are so many items that people have that I've never even encountered in game yet. And in the beginning months, I bought WAY too many hybrids on the forums and my entire second floor of the island is littered with them. SO MANY HYBRIDS.

 

[Your Local Wild Child]

I feel like my stuff would be much better if I had 30% more land on my island. I’ve been having a fairly decent run of terraforming, though.

 

[meggiewes]

I see a lot of threads like this and I think people are overthinking it a lot. In my opinion, it is best to start out simple and then gradually expand to decorate. I started with designing just how big villager yards would be. That's it. Just the placement of the house and how I was going to put fences around them. That led to wanting to put a path down that went to the museum. Which then made me design the museum courtyards.

Basically, one small thing led to another and then another. I really struggled until I did that.

 

[Mairen]

I really like how we have the freedom to design more of our towns in this game. I remember wanting to be able to decorate more in New Leaf, so what this game provides is wonderful. The game still looks beautiful whether you have decorations all over your town or leave it more natural too, so I feel zero stress with this, I just have fun! As long as you aren't trying to win any island design contests, and are just building a place that you find nice, everything should be just fine