An important part of The Sims 4, along with playing with the families and keeping them happy (or miserable), is giving the Sims a home where they can live. The easiest option is to choose existing houses and apartments and just move the new family into such a home. However, if the player enjoys building and decorating houses and wants to have fun making a personalized house for each family, they can start from scratch.

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Building a new house in The Sims 4 can take a lot of time and effort, especially if the player wants to make it look spectacular. Luckily, there are ways to make certain the end result looks like a place that Sims would actually want to live in.

Updated on April 14, 2024, by Taylor Pittman: Build Mode offers The Sims 4 players a place to let their imaginations run wild. Whether they are building a house, a public venue, or apartments, the sky is the limit when it comes to architecture. Anything can be built, from a beautiful castle to a bustling park using objects, terrain, and structures. Players can also purchase DLC such as Kits and Expansion packs or download mods and custom content to customize their builds further. It's also possible to renovate builds that other players built if they need inspiration or new ideas. The freedom can be overwhelming when first getting started, but players can use some notable techniques to make homes feel more realistic or unique. Here are some tips and tricks for building amazing houses in The Sims 4.

22 Start With The Exterior

Create a Strong Foundation With Curb Appeal

The exterior is a great starting point for a new build. Players can create their building's shape and vibe without worrying about filling the space until they're ready to move to that point. Wall placement, landscaping, windows, and terrain are all a part of the exterior.

Exteriors are often the best way to make a building look realistic, and players can include decorative items, such as parking spots and signs, for authenticity. There are build challenges within the Sims community called "Shell challenges" that only use the exterior and walls of a building as inspiration.

21 Paint The Terrain

Terrain Includes All Areas Not Enclosed by Walls

The house is only one part of creating a beautiful residential lot; players can edit the lot itself to make things really come together. An underrated terrain tool is the paint feature. Terrain paints can be applied to any outside area that is semi-flat.

Terrain paint designs include things like dirt, stone, and grass. Unlike flooring, terrain paint is free, so players can layer it in as much as they want. The size and opacity of their brush can be adjusted to get the desired tone and shape. Using it to make dirt or stone paths is a great way to get a more natural look.

20 Include DEBUG Items

DEBUG Items Are Great For Storytelling

While good houses in The Sims 4 need the basics, such as kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms, adding clutter and decoration makes all the difference. PC players can download custom content to fill their homes with decoration, but a specific cheat allows everyone to get access to hundreds of free items known as DEBUG.

DEBUG items are used all over the maps as purely cosmetic building features. Sims won't be able to interact with them while placed, but they can get standard items of all kinds to complete homes. Enter bb.showHiddenObjects and bb.showLiveEditObjects into the cheat console to view DEBUG items.

19 Utilize Clutter Objects

Fill In Extra Space

Another good way to make a build feel realistic and include some storytelling details is to use clutter. The Sims 4 has several types of decorative items that can be categorized as clutter. Clutter creates the effect of buildings feeling lived in and adds objects for realism that may not have gameplay, such as hair dryers and paper towel rolls.

Clutter items cannot be interacted with in live mode and are only there as a visual enhancement. These include disorganized magazines, car keys, journals, canvases, headphones, and more. Clutter items are a great way to hint at a Sim's personality or hobbies through decoration.

18 Use Furniture Made By Sims

Sims Can Create Their Own Statement Pieces

Sims can use the Woodworking Table to make wooden furniture. This creates rugged, custom furniture pieces that Sims can place and use the same as they would items bought in Build/Buy Mode. Increasing the Handiness Skill will make them more successful when crafting furniture.

The Woodworking Table costs 1,800 Simoleons. Another way to add Sim's creations is to buy a Paint Easel and work on painting. Players can hang up any paintings they finish.

17 Spruce Up The Roof With Details

Roof Decorations include Chimneys, Statues, and Trims

Most players might not think about the roof of a house once it's done. After all, sometimes placing an acceptable-looking roof down in the first place is enough work and effort. That said, adding in a few decorative details can make a massive difference when the home is viewed in its full glory.

This works especially well with more traditional, gothic-style homes and castles. Why not add a few gargoyles on their rooftop for the next vampire family to guard their abode?

16 Add Ceiling Paint

Can Be Viewed in First Person Mode

One of the newest, though somewhat minor, features is the option to add ceiling paint. Most players will not really concern themselves with ceilings—after all, they're usually invisible when actually playing the game.

However, those who enjoy taking photos of their builds from the inside may find it irksome that the ceiling doesn't match the walls. Thankfully, the new ceiling paint tool found in the regular flooring section can help remedy that.

15 Divide Rooms With Fences Or Half Walls

Great For Semi-Open Concepts

Sectioning off a house can be done in other ways than just building more walls. In fact, favoring fences or even half-walls over more walls (or no walls at all) can help make a build feel a bit more dynamic and interesting from the inside.

Plus, the small space creates the illusion of having a corner for specific areas, like a kitchen or a living room. For bigger builds, it's a nice strategy to erase excess empty space, which can be a problem for some beginner builders who overestimate the amount of space their Sims require.

14 Use The Terrain Tool

Create Ponds, Mountains, Ditches, and More

The outside of the house is just as important as the inside, and taking advantage of everything the terrain tool can accomplish is a great way to make even boring lots look cool. Players can create massive pits, terrain mounds, and little pools of water.

There's a lot that can be done here regarding terrain, so only the sky is the limit—quite literally.

13 Use Platforms

Make a Social Pit or Custom Stairs

Introduced with the release of the Snowy Escape expansion pack, platforms can be a real game-changer when it comes to building and decorating indoors. While they fit particularly well with Japanese-style architecture, platforms can make just about any house more interesting and layered.

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Use platforms to create depth to separate small parts of big rooms. Combine that with half walls that come in a few different height variations, and players should be able to come up with a variety of different modern and classic builds.

12 Try Different Shapes

Avoid Flat Fronts and Basic Roof Shapes

Thanks to how immersive the Build Mode tools are in The Sims 4, the possibilities are nearly endless for players when it comes to the shapes of their homes. Roofs in particular come in all different sizes and shapes, as they can be manipulated to be completely round or sloped.

Players who find themselves stuck or without inspiration should play around with these settings to find something new and refreshing. Making the same house over and over again isn't realistic anyway, so try round porches, platforms, and roofs instead of the usual angled ones.

11 Hide Mistakes With Plants

Trees, Bushes, Flowers, and Grass

The Build Mode sandbox isn't perfect in The Sims 4, and placing roofs, in particular, can get tricky for beginner players. Thankfully, even the best builders struggle with this and have come up with some ingenious solutions to hiding awkward corners and edges: plants.

By using the moveobjects on cheat, players can place these plants down just about anywhere, including on the walls and roofs of houses. Rocks can also work great for this purpose, but plants usually make builds look more organic and believable, which is why they're a fantastic go-to solution.

10 Use Object Placement Cheats Generously

Move Objects Around Without Restrictions

Speaking of the moveobjects cheat, use it generously. This extremely simple cheat can easily solve most creative and design limitations in the game. It essentially allows players to place objects and decorations anywhere they want without being confined by other objects and walls.

Combine that with the ALT key, which lets players place objects outside the grid. This means players can place objects inside one another and even create brand-new objects if they feel adventurous enough. In building, this is fantastic for placing plants, rocks, windows, doors, and other important design items.

9 Scale Objects Up and Down

Object Sizes Make All the Differences

Players can use cheats in The Sims 4 in live and build modes. One simple but effective cheat is the ability to scale objects to make them larger or smaller. Changing their size will affect objects visually, and some may lose function. A good way to use it is on decorative items like rugs and paintings.

To scale objects up and down, players must click on an object and use the [ key to make it smaller and ] to make it bigger. Besides its function, there may be some visual glitches, but players can play around with various sizes to find something they like. The moveobjects can help with positioning.

8 Work On The Garden

Landscaping Can Be Decorative and Used in Gameplay

While the house is still the most important part, having lovely surroundings can help a lot with the overall impression. This works very well in houses, but not so much in apartments, though.

The Sims can use the outside space on their lot to create a beautiful garden, a maze, and a playground for their children—the possibilities are endless. No matter which option the player chooses, anything will look better than just an empty lot surrounding the house, with no trees or other greenery.

7 Create A Porch

Make The Front Feel Three-Dimensional

Another outside detail that can bring a lot of charm to the build is a porch. This will especially look great if the player is going for more rural, countryside gameplay, such as the one with the Cottage Living expansion.

Once the porch is there, not only will it give the visitors a place to stand when they're ringing the bell, but it will also allow the player to put some furnishing there if they choose. A grill, a bench, or maybe even a chess table are perfect deck furnishings.

6 Pick A Color Scheme

Themed Colors Create a Polished Look

Using a large variety of colors can work, but in practice, it's usually better to pick a color scheme and follow it. Each Sim has different priorities and a personality, so it's possible to add a little personal touch to their rooms and make it their own, even if the color scheme is the same for all of the house.

This will not only make the house look more stylish but will also make building and furnishing easier. If players have a look and a style in mind, it becomes easier to narrow down choices for decor.

5 Don't Just Use One Building

Separate Spaces for More Activities

To add a bit more realism to the game, players can construct more than just one building on a lot. Of course, the main house's a given, but it's fun to let creativity run wild and add a few smaller builds to the property.

For example, how about an art studio where the hard-working mom can just take some time to herself and relax? Try creating a garden shed where the family stores their tools, or a playhouse just for the children. Once again, there are plenty of possibilities, each of which will make the build look more interesting and spectacular.

4 Use The Attic And Basement

Extra Space With Endless Possibilities

• An attic or basement can be rented out with The Sims 4: For Rent

When focusing on building the nicest bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and others, it's easy to forget that there's a lot more variety in what the player can build. For example, the house will be all the more interesting if it has both an attic and a basement.

The basement can be closed or open (without a roof) and used to grow plants or store tools. The attic, meanwhile, can store items the Sims don't currently need. Alternatively, it can even double as an extra bedroom for family friends or serve as an art or music studio.

3 Water Is Great

Use Water to Decorate and Interact With Sims

Pools enjoy a certain infamy in The Sims, as the players have used them many times to drown their unfortunate Sims. However, adding a pool or another form of water — such as a fountain, a small pond, or even a lake — can bring a lot of charm to the lot.

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Pools are ideal for active Sims who enjoy swimming or just tanning in the sun, while ponds are great for those who would like to start fishing. And, of course, mermaids will appreciate having a lot of water on their lot, since they need it even more than human Sims do.