Best patterns to use this summer, recreated in Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Few things make a house feel like a home more than your own, personalised touch, and yes, that includes your new island retreat in Animal Crossing: New Horizon.

But if it feels as though your perfect designs never pop up in Nook's Cranny – let alone ones that would make your home the envy of on-trend islanders everywhere – we have good news. We've rounded up the hottest summer prints and patterns and showcased them in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, just for you.

While admittedly, it's a bit fiddly to import custom patterns to start with, it's oh-so-worth the trouble, we promise. Once you have the Nintendo Switch Online app installed on your smart device, load up Animal Crossing: New Horizons as usual, but don't hit A to start it just yet. Instead, select the minus (–) option and open the Settings menu. Hit NookLink Settings when prompted by our old pal Tom, and from now on your smartphone will automagically exchange information with your game. Clever, eh?

From here on in, you'll be able to import your favourite patterns directly into the game either by a pattern code at the kiosk in the Able Sisters or a simple click on a QR code. Just don't forget to save your changes!

1. Go wild with animal print

Some things just never go out of style, and it seems abstract animal print is hotter than ever this year. While admittedly its best used sparingly – we wouldn't necessarily advocate clashing patterns like this in your own home, be it virtual or otherwise! – but a stunning statement wall can be every bit as effective as custom personalisations to your lamps, linen, and cushions, as we've done with these animal fur and hide designs.

Just be mindful of your Animal Crossing neighbours, of course; tweaking your decor with tiger stripes might sound good in theory, until you remember you have two tigers living on the island with you…

Create the look yourself:

2. Make time for your Five a Day with these fruity favourites

Fruit-print pieces are all the rage compared to this time last year, so why not bring a little of that fresh, fruity fabulousness into your Animal Crossing home? There are loads of gorgeous designs ripe for the picking – seriously, one google search, and you'll be spoiled for choice! – but it's this Fruit Gingham design that's got our mouths watering most, as gingham also happens to be a hot summer staple this year, too. 

Highlighting all the fruits we can grow across our islands, this wallpaper showcases cute fruit motifs against the sunny backdrop of sky-blue gingham. It's the perfect addition to your kitchen or spare room, especially as you can also use it to customise cushions and table clothes to really bring a theme together.

Create the look yourself:

3. Tie-dye to die for

The summer of love is back, and it's bringing its tie-dye goodness with it. At its boldest, tie-dye makes a vibrant statement with its intense colours and ethereal swirls and patterns, but you can bring tie-dye into your home decor without it drowning out everything else. 

If you want the look without the overwhelming colours, select a pattern that uses more serene shades, such as this rainbow print that draws in light, pastel shades of pink, blue, yellow, and indigo. A small bit goes a long way, of course, but don't be afraid to accessorise and mix and match. 

Create the look yourself:

4. Spot (make) the difference with polka dots

The folks at Animal Crossing have always been passionate for polka, and we're delighted to confirm that the love affair continues with New Horizons. Not only does the game sport its own range of striking spots in its ranges of wallpaper and flooring, but the community has come up trumps again with a wide range of striking spotty styles.

This means you can go completely dotty with your designs, whether you're sticking to a monochromatic colour scheme, or using all the colours of the rainbow. We especially like this multicoloured pattern that comes as a full block, or just as a delicate polka dot trim.

Create the look yourself:

5. Vintage florals with The Cath Kidston Collection

Sometimes it's best to leave these kinds of things to the professionals, isn't it? That's why we love this cute range from iconic designer, Cath Kidston. Offering a selection of three timeless prints, the Cath Kidston Animal Crossing collection – which features Button Rose, Strawberry Gingham, and Wheels and Wings Cadet – is sure to bring a welcomed touch of class to any islanders' home. 

The former two are particularly well suited for the summertime, but we particularly love the summery Button Rose pattern on lampshades and bed linen. Showcase them against a simple, plain backdrop, and we're pretty sure you'll have the chicest home on the island.

Create the look yourself: