Although the world of Stardew Valley is a relaxing one, it's no doubt that its dedicated fanbase has taken in-game farm design to new heights. While meant to help its audience achieve a sense of relaxation and fun, some new players can't help but feel pressured to clean up their plots a bit to try and be lavish as some of the farms these incredible fans have created.
Preference is everything in the end — what works and makes each player happy is a great build. Still, there are some great pointers that any Stardew Valley fan can get behind in the event they decide to seek out some tips. Whether they're aiming for a cozy build or an extravagant one, here are a few simple (yet effective) tips that can help any player make their beloved farm layout amazing.
Updated August 24th, 2021 by Christine Mendoza: As Stardew Valley continues to be a go-to comfort game for many fans, its popularity is still going strong. As developer ConcernedApe devotes his time to always giving back to his supporters in the form of free patches, the tips and tricks to optimize a playthrough remain ever-changing and growing. For extra convenience, the most important points have been highlighted and two new tips have been added to the ever-growing collection. These suggestions are especially valuable for newcomers to Stardew Valley who are still coming to grips with the game.
10 Learn Each Item's Area Of Effect
The area of effect (or AOE) is the range in which a certain object's effect can reach and it is crucial to setting up not only the most aesthetic farm layout but the most efficient one as well. In the beginning stages of the game, it is important to keep all crops watered and cared for on a day-to-day basis as for a while, they will be the only real source of income. Neglected crops won't grow and can even be eaten by crows by the morning time.
Watering and tending to crops can be a tedious process, yet nonetheless must be done every day. Instead of manually watering each and every crop with a watering can, the player can opt to craft sprinklers. Each level of sprinkler costs different materials in order to craft and have different areas of effect. Learning exactly how far crops can be planted around the sprinkler can help optimize a workday; knowing which crops need to manually be watered and which are already taken care of by the sprinklers.
The same principle goes for the usage of scarecrows; while they do their job and scare animals away from eating the crops, they still have a limited area of effect. It's best to keep these numbers in mind to help keep all crops healthy and safe from night critters.
9 Embrace Biodiversity
Although it can be tempting to get rid of any pesky patches of grass to keep a cleaner-looking farm layout and to optimize crop and furniture space, try not to rid the land of all of its greenery! Any livestock animals that are housed on the farmland require their own upkeep in the form of food. Livestock need hay and although it is a good idea to invest in a silo to store all hay that is cut from the land, it's much more cost-effective to build a large fenced area around the livestock housing to allow animals to roam free during the day.
Allowing the grass to grow only within these areas will save a lot of time and money in the long run. This way, the grass inside the fenced area will grow continuously, allowing the animals to have lots of food to graze on during the day, without depleting the hay stored in the silo. Not only does this give the farm a much better look in terms of biodiversity, but it is also cheaper than constantly purchasing grass/hay as cutting grass only yields a 50% chance that the 1 hay is added into the silo's inventory.
8 Use Online Farm Layout Planners
Don't be afraid to look for resources outside of the game to help plan out the perfect farm layout. There are plenty of helpful sites out there when it comes to helping players map out their ideal layout. This way, players don't have to go through the long process of trial and error in-game.
There are only so many hours in a day in the wonderful world of Stardew Valley. Sometimes it can be difficult to fix up the entire field while also making time for selling crops and tending animals. Using a third-party application to plan out a layout can save not only time but also precious resources and money.
7 Don't Be Afraid To Make The Move
Moving buildings and other various bigger objects can be a great option when trying to make space. Sometimes it can be easy to simply go with the flow and build around the already given locations of some of the items and buildings that are unlocked throughout the game. However, as of the newest update, things such as the greenhouse and even the shipping bin can be relocated to any part of the farm plot.
Don't let an item ruin a layout plan; instead, take the extra step to move whatever object is in the way. Taking the extra time and effort will feel most satisfying in the end when the layout finally comes together, with no obstacles ruining its aesthetic.
6 Use Fences Or Paths To Organize Areas
Seeing each bunch of crops sectioned out in their own respective areas can make the overall layout of a farm look clean and efficient. Not only is this aesthetically pleasing, but it also helps when it comes to harvesting, as the crops of the same kind (and same quality) will stack with each other. On top of that, it also helps when replanting the seeds once the first batch has been harvested.
Keeping all crops in their own categories/sections around the farm will help with both style and substance. Players can use fences or even paths as a means of making clean lines of separation.
5 Don't Be Afraid To Craft Multiples Of Items
Sometimes the fear of ruining an aesthetic can keep players from achieving maximum efficiency on their farm. Once a new machine (such as the loom or cheese press) has finally been crafted, it can be easy to think it's a "one and done" situation. However, making room for duplicate machines can pay off in terms of aesthetic and efficiency.
Crafting multiple machines can create a more organized look and daily work routine. Only crafting one of each machine can lead to lower profits while waiting for each resource to transform, before selling them for their maximum value. Ensuring that all items farmed from animals can be processed at the beginning of a day is crucial. It will also help with the layout's overall look and functionality in the long run.
4 Don't Focus Solely On Crops
Another great addition in the newest 1.5 update is the ability to place certain pieces of furniture outside. Placing furniture outside will make the overall feel of the farm more realistic and "lived-in". It will help with making the layout feel less "cold" and barren with crops, sprinklers, and scarecrows going on for days.
Try livening up the farm area with realistic resting areas or flowery decorations. This can go a long way in helping the atmosphere of the layout feel fresh and a little less plain.
3 Place Artisan Equipment Near Their Respective Resources
Having a good farm layout isn't just about how aesthetically pleasing the overall look is. It's also about how well the farm functions as a profitable business. Players may find it preferable to have one designated area for all their machines that transform any animal resources (ie. milk, eggs) into a more valuable item.
However, in a game where time is everything, dealing with tight inventory/pocket space can dampen efficiency. Placing all machines nearby their respective barn house can drastically save time dropping off extra items at the shipping bin to create more inventory space.
2 Big Picture Vs. All About The Details
Every player is different. Thus, it's natural for everyone's "perfect" farm layout to be unique from one another. Some players build their layout around the idea of a "bigger picture", a layout that involves an aesthetic view from a wide, zoomed-out perspective that includes beautiful patterns and intricate designs.
Meanwhile, other players are all about the intricate details. Make sure to know which style of layout is the ultimate goal. Focusing on both simultaneously without knowing which one to prioritize can make achieving the "perfect" layout difficult. Remember that the zoom feature can be toggled to help keep focused on which layout style to keep in mind as the ultimate end goal.
1 Build Around Your Final Design From The Beginning
For those beginning their journey, it's a good idea to avoid being lazy and growing crops wherever is convenient for the time being, thus leaving the heavy lifting for later on. Even without a clear vision, it's best to keep things as organized as possible from the beginning. Don't allow crops to get unruly or equipment to be set up wherever seems okay for the time being.
Working around a simple starting build will always be easier and more satisfying in the end, rather than going through the trouble of breaking everything once other resources are unlocked later. Time is incredibly valuable in the world of Stardew Valley. Losing an entire day just to break down a previous build and set it up all over again is not only a waste of time but a waste of precious energy as well.