7. The Riverside Dock and Boathouse
If your dappled forest has a river nearby, do not waste it. I built a wooden dock that stretches out over the water, with a little boathouse at the end, and it completely changed how the village feels.
There is a fishing spot, a couple of boats tied up, and a bench where you can just sit and watch the water. It is quiet, it is pretty, and it gives the whole village a reason to exist right here, on this bend in the river.