Create designs in Animal Crossing

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Personalise your island with these handy tips for downloading, making and sharing custom designs

You might spend your time fishing or catching bugs in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, but custom designs can transform your island retreat into an architectural masterpiece!

Whether you’re looking for decking, paths, new wallpaper, clothes, or designs for the much-coveted Simple Panels to switch up the entire look of your peaceful paradise, there are many ways to fill your custom design slots. From the Custom Designs Portal to make the most of QR codes, here’s a breakdown of how to download, make, and share custom designs in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

THE CUSTOM DESIGNS PORTAL

Visiting the Able Sisters store is by far the simplest way to download new custom designs in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Once you’ve unlocked the store in the game, head to the bright pink touch-screen at the back right of the shop, and you can connect to the internet and interact with the Custom Designs Portal.

It’s here where all your dreams of intricate paths, fancy decking, and artsy wallpaper can come true, but you’ll need to know either the design ID or the creator ID of the items that you’re looking for. A nine-digit number prefaced by MO is the design ID, while MA is the creator code, and you’ll then be able to see everything they’ve created. You can even flick between regular custom designs and Pro versions that have been crafted with a specific clothing item in mind, say. You’ll also need a paid Nintendo Switch Online subscription to share your designs and download new ones.

The best places to find creator codes are Reddit, Instagram and even Twitter, where you can search #acnhdesigns or #acnhpattern. Note that some more complex designs such as decking or even paths will require more of your limited design slots – so download wisely!