I like giving villagers clothing to wear over furniture because I like to keep their house looking the way they want it. I like that they all have their own decorating style, and would rather add to their closet because they only have 1 "original" outfit.
I like to give them clothing and the occasional bug or fish. I don't mind if they get rid of smaller furniture to accommodate a little pet on their table or dresser.
I have experienced pain with both method. I gave Wolfgang a goatee and he displays it on the floor, just a mannequin head, until today. Really ruins his interior. Then I gave O'hare a garden lantern. He saw it in my inventory and asked for it. I gave it to him, thinking it was a small item only, no harm to his interior. Boy oh boy was I mistaken! I went to his tropical house and the garden lantern looks so out of place it's a sore to my eyes
I would rather give them clothing since like you said we do have some control by going to harv's Island, but if I had furniture that I think matches then I will give them furniture instead.
i’ve managed to learn how to give them furniture, because so far they mostly display it on places i want. maybe i just got lucky, or that i only give furniture that are already same series as what they have. i tend to give more clothes so they’ll change their outfits from time to time. because furniture, it will still depend as some of them i already like their house as it is.
Clothing, I like picking out clothing that I think would look cute on them. Plus, I really love seeing one of my villagers walking around in something I gave them.
I prefer to give them clothes because I don't always visit their homes! Also, the way they move gifted furniture around in their homes is a bit goofy sometimes haha
I don't gift my villagers a lot of stuff because they never put it in a place that makes sense. I've been trying to change a home and it's an uphill battle, it's a long term goal I suppose... I did recently learn more about the way these things work though, and apparently some villager homes simply do not have spots where clothing can be displayed. Knowing that really helps.
Maybe I should make a list of villagers who can 'safely' be gifted clothes...
clothes for sure.
but i bring them to harvs island first to see what looks good on them before i regret giving them a outfit to wear.
i've been there before...not gonna happen again lol
