How are you all so good at building/designing lots? «12...Next Go

Raychel8

Whenever I try to build a lovely home for the Sims, they end up being the most awful builds I've ever seen

Edit: somehow the forum deleted half my message but ANYWAY

just wondering if any of you who love to build amazing builds are genuine home designers or have a career in designing buildings! Or if you just practiced so much throughout the Sims? Or maybe I'm just useless

Savage_Patch_Kidd

I used to search for blueprints online for specific builds I'm after. Haven't built much in TS4 because it would actually take me a couple of days but then I'd delete the lots if I end up unsatisfied. The gallery has saved me literally

Inna Minnit

Just keep building. I also watch building videos. TheSimSupply is a favorite. I also used to downliad houses that I liked from the gallery so I could get a good look at how they were done.

But practice. You will get better.

kerryemmiebeth

I always wonder the same thing! I have been playing since TS1 and I am still terrible at building. I can only ever seem to build-soulless square houses! I download all of my houses these days.

samemie

Same, I'm awful at it, have only recently started building at all but I've started watching some of lilsimsie's speed builds which give me plenty of ideas (although just hearing her talk makes me short of breath haha)

Elaina

I usually try to recreate something I've seen online. The site Houzz has a lot of good exterior pictures for me to get ideas. I also have watched a few YouTube videos on how other people make them. After that, it's just trial and error.

I would love to get more people interested in my builds. I don't do YouTube.. and I'm new to the forums. Not exactly sure how to advertise my gallery stuff. My ID is eemvee if anyone is interested in looking at my builds for ideas.

cherpar

You are not useless. It's all a matter of if you want to do it.

I actually think if you are looking to start building - this series has some good tools for beginners, like you make a kitchen but realise it would be better overlooking the garden - it's not lost you can pick the room up and move it.

I started building in ts 4 because I was looking for something specific that I couldn't find. I am no means an amazing builder but I am happy with my builds.

The suggestions in this thread are very good - I find the most useful looking at images of houses and trying to create something similar. Try easier ones first ( ie moderns that's use squares)

Also the ever lovely @rosemow has this thread over at creative corner on building tools - http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/796520/building-tips-and-tutorials-ruthless-kk-build-guide-link-too

Also the lovely breemiles keeps a thread for people to show off their builds - you can get inspired , lol! http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/793222/share-your-newest-the-sims-4-creations-here#latest

Inna Minnit

My biggest challenge still, is roofing. So much so, that it often drives the style of the build. I end up with a lot of modern or industrial. Part of that is because of furnishings or windows I want to use. Sometimes though, i can't get a traditionls roof to look good on some of my builds.

Elaina

Roofs can be tricky. I did an online search and there are quite a number of sites with picture and video tutorials on how to make roofs work.

Pallystyle

Just keep practicing.

As long as it is something practical and sim friendly that's what matters most. Some of the most awesomely elaborate builds are not always playable but just pretty to look at.

I like to look at books on house plans and decorating. Sometimes it can be inspiring.

BlkBarbiegal

Roofs are truly tricky indeed!

Raychel8

Elaina wrote: »

I usually try to recreate something I've seen online. The site Houzz has a lot of good exterior pictures for me to get ideas. I also have watched a few YouTube videos on how other people make them. After that, it's just trial and error.

I would love to get more people interested in my builds. I don't do YouTube.. and I'm new to the forums. Not exactly sure how to advertise my gallery stuff. My ID is eemvee if anyone is interested in looking at my builds for ideas.

Will definitely check out your builds!

cherpar wrote: »

You are not useless. It's all a matter of if you want to do it.

I actually think if you are looking to start building - this series has some good tools for beginners, like you make a kitchen but realise it would be better overlooking the garden - it's not lost you can pick the room up and move it.

I started building in ts 4 because I was looking for something specific that I couldn't find. I am no means an amazing builder but I am happy with my builds.

The suggestions in this thread are very good - I find the most useful looking at images of houses and trying to create something similar. Try easier ones first ( ie moderns that's use squares)

Also the ever lovely @rosemow has this thread over at creative corner on building tools - http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/796520/building-tips-and-tutorials-ruthless-kk-build-guide-link-too

Also the lovely breemiles keeps a thread for people to show off their builds - you can get inspired , lol! http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/793222/share-your-newest-the-sims-4-creations-here#latest

Thanks very much for this info! I am interested in improving my ability so this helps alot! Sometimes I just see builds in the gallery/YouTube etc and I'm like woah..

OEII1001

As everyone else said, if you want to improve at building then just keep building stuff. Often I will use pictures of real or fictitious structures for inspiration. Just keep at it. Your early attempts will look rather sad. Mine certainly did. They are stepping stones to something greater.

5782341b77vl

The biggest things to remember is -

-Do NOT compare yourself to other builders!
-Start with a build that is comfortable for you.
-What type of homes do you like (Ranch, Colonial, Modern, etc) or are you doing a bar, a restaurant, or shop that was converted into a home?
-If you're happy with your lot, you did it right!

My Sims live in 2bedroom/1bathroom single-wide Mobilehomes, because that's basically the best I can do. The only (decent) house on foundation I've made was an "L" shaped 3 story mansion. All attempts to make better (foundation) home resulted in soulless boxes with roofs. I think that's why I've gone back to Mobilehomes and stayed with them.

ModerateOsprey

My usual approach is to reverse engineer stuff, so my recommend is to grab some builds you like, get them into your game and then look at how they are put together. Modify and adapt them. I have learned much from this approach. Doing this can be a bit less intimidating for learning to build rather than staring at a green rectangle!

gummybear0724

Raychel8 wrote: »

Whenever I try to build a lovely home for the Sims, they end up being the most awful builds I've ever seen

Edit: somehow the forum deleted half my message but ANYWAY

just wondering if any of you who love to build amazing builds are genuine home designers or have a career in designing buildings! Or if you just practiced so much throughout the Sims? Or maybe I'm just useless

Well, I want to be an architect, so building is pretty much those online blueprint tools. It helps a lot I think, and I've actually drawn real floor plans accounting for wall thickness, windows, even measured objects. If building was more in depth, I'd try building it, but it's a tiny home, so the level of detail would be really difficult especially with the lofts. But it's therapeutic and part of my future job so I'm actually getting training.

rosemow

Hello
I am sure that your builds aren't " awful" at all!
These are some links to build guides that may help you :

This is a link to a helpful builders guide by Ruthless KK.
http://simsvip.com/2014/10/30/now-available-sims-4-building-guide/

Sims 4 Building Basics :
build mode guide for beautiful homes
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/tutorials/building/
Stairs and basements
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/tutorials/building/stairs-basements.php
Using building cheats
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/tutorials/building/cheats.php
Roofs
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/tutorials/building/roofs.php
Decorating (indoors)
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/tutorials/building/decorating-inside.php
Decorating (landscaping )
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/tutorials/building/decorating-landscaping.php
Split levels and lofts
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/tutorials/building/split-levels-lofts.php
Cabinets and Islands
http://www.carls-sims-4-guide.com/tutorials/building/counters-islands.php

SIMSVIP : OUT OF THE BOX : BUILDING FOR BEGINNERS IN THE SIMS 4
Out of the Box: Building for Beginners in The Sims 4 (Shape and Proportion)
http://simsvip.com/2015/08/03/out-of-the-box-building-for-beginners-in-the-sims-4-shape-and-proportion/

Out of the Box: Building for Beginners in The Sims 4 (Exterior Color and Texture )
http://simsvip.com/2015/08/09/out-of-the-box-building-for-beginners-in-the-sims-4-exterior-colors/#more-55640

Out of the Box: Building for Beginners in The Sims 4 (Wall Details)
http://simsvip.com/2015/08/26/out-of-the-box-building-for-beginners-in-the-sims-4-exterior-wall-details/

Out of the Box: Building for Beginners in The Sims 4 (Decks,Floors,Decor)
http://simsvip.com/2015/08/31/out-of-the-box-building-for-beginners-in-the-sims-4-decks-floors-and-decor/

Out of the Box: Building for Beginners in The Sims 4 ( Landscaping)
http://simsvip.com/2015/09/08/out-of-the-box-building-for-beginners-in-the-sims-4-landscaping/

Out of the Box: Building for Beginners in The Sims 4 (Trying Different Styles)
http://simsvip.com/2015/09/14/out-of-the-box-bu

So_Money

I'm decent if I'm working from a reference, otherwise every build tends to be a bit samey.

LegacySims2017

I have a software program - Professional Home Design Suite

I play with that and then try and match it in my Sims game.

Kim5496

I'm completely awful at it. I've tried numerous times to build amazing houses but either one of two things happens 1) I get super board or 2) it just comes out looking all weird. I usually get all the houses I use in my game from the community. Then I just edit the inside to customize it for what I need. I'm always so impressed with other people's skills and it really is a talent.

Dannydanbo

I have always loved architecture and browsing house plans. A lot of my ideas come form the internet. If you recreate a plan, remember that you may have to fudge it here or there. There is no need to build in every nook and cranny. Use the plan but keep it simple. Sims like big rooms and clear walking paths. And yes, roofs can be a pain in the gable end, but keep trying until YOU like it. You're the one you have to please.

Oldeseadogge

Thank you, rosemow! Our guardian angel as usual. For ideas, I agree with the suggestion to look at existing plans. A decent local library should have some books on house design, and some of those weekly classified ads things that come in the mail will have a plan in them. Dover Publications has a lot of books on the subject, and I've gotten several on ebay for about $5 a pop. Once you get familiar with how this works your own imagination will take over. The mechanics, as others have said, takes practice.

Movotti

I'm not a great builder, but I am pretty good at renovation. I take the houses the game comes with, and modify them one heck of a lot. I seem to get lost if I try to build from scratch.

Lizzychicago

Raychel8 wrote: »

Whenever I try to build a lovely home for the Sims, they end up being the most awful builds I've ever seen

Edit: somehow the forum deleted half my message but ANYWAY

just wondering if any of you who love to build amazing builds are genuine home designers or have a career in designing buildings! Or if you just practiced so much throughout the Sims? Or maybe I'm just useless

Not even a little bit am I a designer but it takes practice. You just gotta build. Watch youtube builders, take notes if you have to, it's not hard once you get the hang of it. When I started out, a lot of the time I'd put my furniture and stuff down and then build walls around it...made the building part a bit more interesting than just a box.

Lizzychicago

kerryemmiebeth wrote: »

I always wonder the same thing! I have been playing since TS1 and I am still terrible at building. I can only ever seem to build-soulless square houses! I download all of my houses these days.

Yeah try checking out The Sim Supply on youtube...he has tutorials and everything you'd need to help you build!

Lizzychicago

Elaina wrote: »

I usually try to recreate something I've seen online. The site Houzz has a lot of good exterior pictures for me to get ideas. I also have watched a few YouTube videos on how other people make them. After that, it's just trial and error.

I would love to get more people interested in my builds. I don't do YouTube.. and I'm new to the forums. Not exactly sure how to advertise my gallery stuff. My ID is eemvee if anyone is interested in looking at my builds for ideas.

Same here! I've been building for years and I think I'm pretty good at it but I feel if you don't have a youtube channel, nobody sees you. I think on the gallery I'm lizzychicago1967....