This is going to sound strange coming from someone who’s been obsessed with the intense design process of Final Fantasy XIV for years. But as much as I love Dreamlight Valley and its decorating possibilities, those possibilities can be incredibly overwhelming.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a brilliant idea for a new build in a biome I haven’t known what to do with, just to open up Furniture mode and end up down a rabbit hole of what furnishings to use.
Or how many times I’ve started a build just to walk away from it because it wasn’t turning out right.
And suddenly, I remember everything else I wanted to do that isn’t game-related because now decorating doesn’t seem so appealing anymore.
Because Dreamlight Valley has both large collections of items and massive biomes to fill, it can be pretty intimidating. So today, I wanted to share what I’ve found works for me to keep decorating on the fun, manageable side!
What you'll learn
Start your designs with one manageable area.
Because the biomes in Dreamlight Valley are so large, it can be tempting to try and work on the entire area in one go. But trust me, that won’t help in the long run.
On average, my biomes in just the base game tend to have around 300 to 400 items in them, and that is a lot to think about all at once.
Focusing on a small area in the biome you want to decorate means that at first, you’re working with a fraction of those items, and that’s much easier to sort out.
I also find it’s much easier to use one smaller area to figure out the overall feeling I want a build to have, so I don’t get to the end and feel like I need to shake the Etch-a-Sketch.
Choose one or two focal points for your designs.
Your focal point can be as specific as one building or as broad as a multi-building alleyway. It can be a natural spot in your biome, like a pond, or a new furnishing you found at Scrooge’s.
It doesn’t really matter what it is or the scale of it—this is going to be what gets you started.
If you’re not totally sure where you want your focal point to go at first, don’t worry. Just plunk it down in your biome for now, and you can find a natural spot for it as you go!
Plan and lay out your pathing for your biome.
Whenever I’m designing, the first thing I like to do once I have an idea is figure out how that idea can exist with the way I play the game. I always want to feel like I’m moving naturally, I can find what I’m looking for, and I’m not going to get lost running from point A to point B.
Planning pathing happens in a few steps:
- Establish your entry and exit points
- Figure out which points will be the most common
- Run between them a few times to see what the best way for you will be
This will also help you figure out the best places for things like Goofy’s stall and your wells, at least in biomes where you can control them! They’ll work well at any natural stopping points in your designs.
Work in layers to add your decorations.
Much like a construction project, design tends to happen in layers. You’ve got your foundational structure, your core elements, and your accents. And in Dreamlight Valley, you’ve got a few extras to think about, too.
Here’s my process:
- Start with laying paths along the routes you figured out (you can always adjust these later)
- Add any houses, shops, and large furniture you want
- Add your landscaping and fencing
- Make it cozier with clutter and accents
To keep it manageable like we talked about, I like to do this in three or four parts per biome, and I’ll keep one copy of everything I’d like to incorporate in one part of the biome to use as a palette while I work. It usually ends up with a little more work in the adjusting-later phase, but that’s easier to handle when you’re not overwhelmed!
As a little bonus, too, I like to take some shortcuts with some of these steps. If you’ve got the Storybook Vale or Wishblossom Ranch expansions, your Trees section in Landscaping will include tree clusters.
They’re massive, but they’re a great way to take up extra space, keep your item counts down, and combat any anxiety about making your foliage look natural.
Pro tip: This will be especially useful if you play Dreamlight Valley on the Switch or another console, where you don’t have the option to increase your item limits.
Design for a feeling.
At its core, design and decorating are a communication form. They’re about creating a certain feeling for the people who experience it. That’s always something I try to keep in mind when I’m building anything, even in real life.
Ask yourself:
- How do I want to feel when I’m here?
- What do I want this to say to people who visit?
The answers you come up with will determine how you decorate, how much you clutter, and even your choices of furnishings.
For example, every build I do in Dreamlight Valley is meant to feel cozy, practical, and lived-in. I want people who see it to feel a sense of relaxation, like what I’ve built is hugging their eyes and lifting the weight from their minds.
And to help me do that, I rely a lot on comforting decorations. Soft lights, candles, warm colours, plenty of places to sit and enjoy the day, and lots and lots of plant life.
Where to start if you’re feeling stuck
Still feeling unsure where to start with decorating in Dreamlight Valley?
I’ll have more examples for you soon, but here are a few ideas to try out. Even if you don’t keep them, they can help you practice and learn your design style:
- A front or back yard for your favourite villager (or your least favourite!)
- An outdoor cafe
- A market area for your stalls
- A secret reading nook in your favourite biome
And no matter what you decide to practice with, here’s a quick step-by-step method for building:
- Pick a biome.
- Clear out a 10×10 space. You can use any path to mark it for yourself!
- Choose one focal item.
- Add pathing around it.
- Add three to five accent pieces.
- Finish with greenery and florals.
- And stop!
This will help you get the creative juices flowing without constantly feeling like you have to rework what you did into perfection. Because remember, perfection isn’t the goal—the goal is to enjoy what you’re doing!
So there you have it—everything I’ve learned so far about decorating in Dreamlight Valley and not letting it become the dragon that stops me from doing anything creative. Whether you’re laying out your plaza, decorating neighbours’ yards, or tackling a new biome, I hope it helps you bring your visions to life too.
YOUR TURN
