Expanding Your Dream Home: A Deep Dive into Animal Crossing House Upgrades

So, you’re ready to transform that humble tent into a sprawling mansion in Animal Crossing: New Horizons? Excellent choice! The number of times you expand your house is a grand total of seven times. From a simple tent, you’ll progress through six expansions, and then get an additional storage upgrade after you pay off all of your loans. Let’s delve into the delightful details of turning your island dwelling into the envy of every villager.

The Journey from Tent to Mansion

The upgrade process in Animal Crossing is a core part of the game’s appeal, offering both a visual representation of your progress and practical benefits through increased space and customization options. Each upgrade requires paying off a loan from the ever-industrious, sometimes-shady, Tom Nook. Don’t worry though, he’s got your best interests at heart… mostly. Let’s break down each step:

• Tent: Your starting point! Cozy, but cramped.
• House: Your first proper home! A single room, but a major step up.
• Left Room: Adds a new room to the left of the main room. More space to decorate!
• Right Room: A room to the right! Your house is starting to take shape.
• Back Room: Expanding backwards now! More room for activities!
• Second Floor: Adds a whole new floor above your main living space. Sky’s the limit (or at least, the ceiling is).
• Basement: Dig down deep and add a basement! Perfect for storage or a spooky dungeon…if that’s your thing.
• Storage Expansions: After paying off your final loan, Tom Nook allows you to pay to expand your storage four more times.

What’s the Cost? The Bells You’ll Need

Upgrading your home takes time, patience, and a whole lot of Bells. Each expansion comes with a loan you’ll need to pay back to Tom Nook. The total cost to fully expand your house is a significant investment, but well worth it for the space and aesthetic upgrade.

The total cost for upgrading your house from start to finish in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a whopping 5.696 million Bells!

Why Upgrade? The Perks of a Larger Home

Beyond the sheer satisfaction of seeing your home evolve, upgrading offers several tangible benefits:

• Increased Storage: Essential for hoarding all those shells, fish, and furniture items!
• More Decorating Space: Unleash your inner interior designer and create stunning themed rooms.
• Improved Feng Shui (Sort Of): While not as directly impactful as in previous games, a well-decorated home still contributes to your island’s overall appeal and villager happiness.
• Prestige: Let’s be honest, a massive, fully upgraded house is a status symbol on any island.
• Completing the Game: One of the achievements is about a fully expanded house!

Customization is Key

Each expansion provides a blank canvas for your creativity. Experiment with different furniture sets, wallpaper, flooring, and lighting to create unique and personalized spaces. Don’t be afraid to tear down walls and rearrange furniture until you achieve your dream home aesthetic.

FAQs: Your Burning House Upgrade Questions Answered

1. How many bells is the last house upgrade?

The final loan for your last room expansion (the basement) costs 2,498,000 Bells. After you pay this off, you can pay for storage expansions.

2. What is the maximum home storage in Animal Crossing: New Horizons?

The maximum home storage in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is 5,000 items.

3. Does it take 24 hours to build a house in Animal Crossing?

Yes. After requesting an upgrade from Tom Nook, the construction will be completed the following day.

4. How often can you move your house in Animal Crossing?

You can move your house as many times as you like, provided you have the 50,000 Bells fee and speak with Tom Nook to initiate the process.

5. Is there an easier way to move houses in Animal Crossing?

Talk to Tom Nook, choose “Let’s talk infrastructure,” and ask for layout changes. Each move costs 50,000 Bells.

6. Can I move a neighbor’s house in Animal Crossing?

Yes, you can move villager houses. Speak to Tom Nook, select “Let’s talk infrastructure”, then “want layout changes”, and choose the villager’s house you want to move. This also costs 50,000 Bells per building.

7. How do you get a villager to come to your house in Animal Crossing?

Villagers will sometimes knock on your door and ask to visit if you are inside. You can also encounter a villager with a thought bubble who may ask if they can visit your home.

8. Do I have to wait a day for my house Animal Crossing?

Yes, any construction on your island including house expansions takes a full day to complete.

9. What to do when storage is full Animal Crossing?

Sell unwanted items to Nook’s Cranny, craft with materials to reduce storage, or gift items to villagers. Consider expanding your home storage with Tom Nook to accommodate more items.

10. How do you get ultimate pocket stuffing?

The Ultimate Pocket Stuffing is obtained from the Nook Stop in Resident Services for 8,000 Nook Miles. It expands your pocket inventory to the maximum of 40 slots.

11. Does Bell Boom affect house upgrades?

No, the Bell Boom ordinance only affects the selling price of items at Nook’s Cranny. It does not affect the cost of home expansions or public works projects.

12. How many times will Nook’s Cranny upgrade?

Nook’s Cranny only has one upgrade. After a certain amount of time and transactions, Timmy and Tommy will upgrade to a larger store with an expanded inventory.

13. What does it mean when a villager visits your house?

Villagers who visit your house may give you gifts, play minigames with you, or simply chat. It’s a good opportunity to build relationships and earn rewards.

14. How long do villagers visit your house?

Villagers typically stay for about 5 minutes, and longer if the house has multiple rooms.

15. Should I let my neighbors leave Animal Crossing?

That’s up to you! If you’re attached to a villager, try to interact with them and convince them to stay. If you’re ready for someone new, you can let them move on to new adventures.

The Broader Picture: Games and Learning

The intricate systems and progression mechanics within Animal Crossing, including the home upgrade process, offer valuable insights into game design principles that can be applied in educational settings. The Games Learning Society promotes the research and understanding of how games can be used to enhance learning experiences. You can explore their work and resources at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Final Thoughts

Expanding your house in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a rewarding journey that offers both practical benefits and creative opportunities. Embrace the process, enjoy the customization options, and build the island home of your dreams!