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Mastering Animal Crossing: Create Designer Brick Patterns

Cynthia Jul 13, 2026

If you're a fan of Animal Crossing, you'll know that the game offers endless possibilities for customization and creativity. One of the ways you can express your unique style is by creating brick patterns on the ground, walls, and even the roof of your in-game home. But if you're new to the game or haven't quite figured out how to create these patterns yet, don't worry! In this guide, we'll walk you through the process of making brick patterns in Animal Crossing.

a cross stitch pattern with squares and dots on the bottom, in shades of brown
a cross stitch pattern with squares and dots on the bottom, in shades of brown

Before we dive into the specific steps, let's first talk about the basics. In Animal Crossing, bricks are one of the many items you can craft using materials found in the game. Once you've crafted bricks, you can then use them to create various patterns on the ground or as part of your home's construction. But creating bricks is one thing; placing them in a pattern is another. That's where this guide comes in.

an image of a website with food items on the page and other information about it
an image of a website with food items on the page and other information about it

Gathering the Materials

First things first: you need to gather the necessary materials to create bricks. In Animal Crossing, bricks are made from clay, which you can find near bodies of water. Clays can be raw or in the form of clumps, so keep an eye out for them as you walk around the island.

r/ACQR - Brick Path I made~ I tried to match the Brick at Resident Services Center the best I could, I still couldn't nail the colours but overall I'm really happy. Sorry for the potato-phone pictures. My Creator code is; MA-0589-2639-0516
r/ACQR - Brick Path I made~ I tried to match the Brick at Resident Services Center the best I could, I still couldn't nail the colours but overall I'm really happy. Sorry for the potato-phone pictures. My Creator code is; MA-0589-2639-0516

Once you've collected enough clay, you can head back to your home and use the crafting station to turn them into bricks. A single brick requires two pieces of clay, so make sure you have enough to create the pattern you want.

Creating Your Brick Pattern

a screenshot of an animal crossing game with the caption that reads, i don't know if someone made this yet but i got inspired to make out of brick paths
a screenshot of an animal crossing game with the caption that reads, i don't know if someone made this yet but i got inspired to make out of brick paths

Now that you have your bricks, it's time to plan your pattern. In Animal Crossing, you can create patterns by changing the layout of bricks on the ground. The game provides a 3x3 grid for you to work with, which can be a bit limiting at first, but with a little creativity, you can create some impressive designs.

Understanding the Grid

The 3x3 grid in Animal Crossing follows a simple rule: each tile can either be a brick or empty space. You can place a brick on a tile by filling it in with a brick item, and you can leave a tile empty by leaving it as is or filling it in with a different item, like sand or grass.

ACNH
ACNH

To change the layout of bricks, you'll need to interact with the grid. You can do this by selecting the 'Design' option when you're near the crafting station or any 3x3 grid. Once you're in design mode, you can drag and drop bricks onto the tiles to create your pattern.

Creating Simple Patterns

If you're new to creating brick patterns, start with simple designs. A common beginner's pattern is the 'Checkerboard' pattern, which involves alternating between bricks and empty spaces in a 2x2 pattern. To create this pattern, fill in every other tile in a 2x2 grid with bricks.

the instructions for how to paint a brick wall in different colors and sizes, including pink
the instructions for how to paint a brick wall in different colors and sizes, including pink

Another simple pattern is the 'Striped' pattern. This involves placing bricks in a single row or column, either horizontally or vertically, across the 3x3 grid. Experiment with different orientations to create unique stripes across the ground.

Placing Your Pattern

the instructions for how to create a brick path in minecraft, including step - by - step instructions
the instructions for how to create a brick path in minecraft, including step - by - step instructions
ACNH In-Game Brick Border - All Color Variations
ACNH In-Game Brick Border - All Color Variations
Top 85 Custom Brick Path Designs For Animal Crossing New Horizons!
Top 85 Custom Brick Path Designs For Animal Crossing New Horizons!
the map for brick road by kuri brown and gray is shown in this image
the map for brick road by kuri brown and gray is shown in this image
ACNH In-Game Brick Border - Left - DIY
ACNH In-Game Brick Border - Left - DIY
the instructions for how to make brown brick
the instructions for how to make brown brick
ACNH Herringbone Road Tile - DIY
ACNH Herringbone Road Tile - DIY
ACNH In-Game Brick Border - Bottom Right - DIY
ACNH In-Game Brick Border - Bottom Right - DIY

Once you've designed your pattern, it's time to place it in your island. Animal Crossing allows you to place your pattern in various locations, including the ground, the walls of your home, and even the roof. However, keep in mind that certain locations may require different permissions or may not be available until you've reached a certain stage in the game.

Ground Patterns

Ground patterns are the most straightforward to place. Simply select your designed pattern and use it in place of the default ground tiles. You can do this by using the shovel item to 'Plant' the pattern onto the ground. Remember, you can only place ground patterns in areas where the default ground can be changed.

One thing to note about ground patterns is that they can be affected by weather and time of day. For example, rain can wash away certain patterns, so you may need to reapply them after it rains. Similarly, some patterns may only be visible at certain times of the day, so make sure to test your patterns at different times to see how they look.

Home Patterns

Placing brick patterns on the walls and roof of your home is a bit more complex than placing ground patterns. First, you'll need to unlock the ability to customize your home's exterior by talking to Tom Nook and upgrading your home. Once you've unlocked this ability, you can use your designed pattern as wallpaper or roofing material. To do this, select your pattern and then use it to 'Wallpaper' or 'Roof' your home. Remember, not all wall and roof patterns will look good together, so make sure to experiment with different combinations until you find one you like.

Dino Patterns

If you're playing New Horizons, you'll also have the option to place patterns on the backs of fossils. To do this, you'll first need to donate the fossil to your museum and then select it as a 'Pattern' instead of a 'Fossil' when you're digging for it. Placing patterns on fossils can create some unique and interesting designs, so definitely give it a try if you're looking for something a bit different.

Creating brick patterns in Animal Crossing is a fun and rewarding way to express your creativity. Whether you're a fan of simple, clean designs or complex, intricate patterns, there's always something new to discover and create. So, grab your shovel, gather your clay, and start designing! Who knows what amazing patterns you'll come up with?