~Add ponds to your outer area if you have the room.
~Add bridges and gazebos for that added flair
~Don't place a bazillion rooms in the home, chances are that the player won't need that many.
~Don't over decorate the bedrooms if you plan on uploading the house. Keep the fairly general so the player can adapt the decor to the type of sim inside the room.
~Add a terrain paint walkway to the front door. I like using the stone and grass like ones towards the end of the list. Don't use flooring, use terrain paint because it looks more natural.
i am not sure if this has been said yet but feature walls especially in bedrooms look great. by having one of the 4 walls a pattern you can leave the other walls neutral and have the pattern the basis of the colour scheme. i think a feature wall behind a bed looks great with the addition of wall mounted lights.
I always try not to put windows and doors in the corners, it makes rooms seem more uncomfortable and tends to look awful on the outside. Also symmetrical floor plans tend to act like boxes, if they're not a box they can be okay, but you should never try to force symmetry, and typically if you can get an asymmetrical balance it'll look a ton better in the end.
Something else I always try to do is to add at least one special feature to every house whether it be a wrap around porch, pond with a bridge, a basement garage, a custom fountain, a fancy shaped pool, putting a house up on legs, adding a sun porch, making a custom gazebo, adding a zen garden, building a mote and castle walls, making a barn, a roof garden, a multi-level deck, or even putting in bunk beds. Pizzaz! Make sure it has a spark to it.
Another thing is finding and sticking to a theme. Whether it's a style of architecture (colonial, victorian, boroque, classical...) or just an ideal (cute, haunted, cheap) pick something and stick to it.
As far as design goes I know a little about colors.
reds, oranges, and yellows are warm.
blues, purples, and greens are cool.
typically my color themes are like ruthless_kk's but with the added staple of the two main colors being from one of those groups and the accent being from the other.
Also, color alone is not enough. Texture needs to be included as well. Adding a brick wall to an interior adds texture, so will a wainscoat (sp?) or even a basic floor or crown molding.
Additionally (and I know this is a bit weird sounding) I make sure every room has a purpose, especially outdoor rooms like decks and patios. It can look really cute, but if it doesn't have a purpose then you'll never use it.
^^; don't know how valid all of this is. just thought I'd add to the pool of thought.
Hmmm not sure if this is a proper tip, but: don't be shy to try unusual things! (like: ponds and gardens inside your house... a house doesn't necessarily have to be "realistic" to be nice and cool) (That reminds me, atriums are a great way to reduce the living space of houses which are too big with something nice and decorative.)
.... or even putting in bunk beds. Pizzaz! Make sure it has a spark to it....
there are bunk beds?!
Well, I'm not sure about the Sims 3, but I know there was a way to do them in the Sims 2. But you had to have a foundation right next to the bed so I never really liked it.
ehm... you could call it courtyard too I guess. You know... an "outside" area inside the house so to say... geez... difficult to explain such things in a foreign language if you lack the proper vocabulary... lol
EDIT: The Latin word atrium referred to the open central court, from which the enclosed rooms led off, in the type of large ancient Roman house known as a domus.
Not sure if THAT helps... lol
EDIT EDIT: geez... my latin teacher would have gone berzerk if he found out I wrote "atriums"... it's "atria"...
DON'T USE AUTO ROOF (sorry for shouting but i really mean it) It has less taste than a recently blinded hedgehog that didn't know what taste was when it could see.
*please note I am not prejudiced against hedgehogs in any way (i think they are cuter than my sim babies actually. It was a mere attempt at making a point in a funny way)
** my sim lawyers have noted my foolish ways and decided that as my comments were not prejudiced against gnomes or flamingos i am safe from all attempts to sue me for it so :P
Hedgehog babies are definately cuter than Sim babies:
(My brother sent me the photo - his work colleague found it in the garden - look at those gorgeous ears - awwww)
No tips to add - except for reinforcing the playtesting (as I have a nasty habit of putting the bath with shower attached entirely the wrong way around).
No hang on - ceilings - it took me a while to realise that if you turn autoroof off, then the flat-roof provides a ceiling, and you can go on to create the roof of your choice over the top.
Thanks for the tips!
I'm building a medieval town right now.
>>Bookmarked<<
I have a build wish for a future EP:
I want to build on the sub-grid. Why can't we?
[EDIT:] Misspelled medieval. LOL
I'm happy I could be of assistance!
I totally agree with the sub grid thing. I build off of house plans and they often have the plans built on half walls, and I have to change them. I think it might make furniture placement more complicated, as well as roof placement, but still.
Don't be afraid to use odd textures for items that they are not really meant to be used for.
For example, I've used some carpeting textures on some walls, to give the walls some texture, it looks really nice when using a good texture. I think I used a berber type of texture in a light charcoal color for wallpaper one time and it came out rather nice.
However, DO avoid using textures that are simple one color, and have no real texture look to them as carpeting as it looks like you've thrown a sheet on the floor or painted the floors, doesn't look all that good in my opinion.
DO use the roof height slider, the stock 50% setting looks horrid on most houses, knock it down to 0% to 25% for the best look.
When using a flat top roof, DON'T keep the stock texture as the roof texture, it looks like you've layed kitchen tiles on the roof. Create your own texture to give it more of an asphalt or cement look, making sure to use a texture that has depth to it, else it will also look like you've simply painted the flat roof.
* Choose the correct lot size for your house! Small houses on huge lots or huge houses on small lots doesn't work.
I useally first count the number of tiles I'll have to use for the house, add 4 tiles to each size, and then I have to minimum number of tiles needed for the house alone, add more tiles for a garden. The 4 tiles are the edge of the lot, I always try not to build on the outer 4 tiles so that you can do landscaping and planting on those and that your sims can go around their houses.
* Do some planting, but don't overdo it, unless it's a park!
* All other tips I can think off are already up the list.
EDIT:
* Always to your build in steps and be sure each step is completed and look ok!
1. lay out the foundation to decide where the house will go. I always use the first fence in the list to 'draw' the floorplan on the terrain. I can then move it when the place isn't right. You can't move the house when it's finished!
2. build the foundation and the walls for each floor until their ok. For this you'll have to know what will come in each room so that you size them correct.
3. build the roof so that the outside of the house looks good.
4. add all doors and windows to make the outside look good.
5. add all inside doors and stairs.
6. Do the exterior painting according to the style of the house.
7. Do the interior.
8. place all objects you want outside on the lot.
9. use the terrain paint to add texture.
10. Do some planting and landscaping.
Terrain Paint - I generally prefer to go a more realistic look. I use "blends" of paint.
-When coming out/off a more high traffic area I like to use "Dry Grass" to give the effect of use.
-Under trees/near shrubs I'll either use Dry Grass or even weeds (or Pine Needles/Bark if there is alot of large trees or a darker grass if only 1 or 2 trees).
-Water edges I use Pond and Dry Grass.
-Cliff edges I use Dry Grass and Light Dirt.
Etc.. etc..
But the main thing is that you "blend" them together, once you have your paints down, go over them lightly with say.. Autumn Grass or whatever grass type you have been using to "soften/desaturate" the additional paints you have used, so they don't stick out, I find it to be more subtle so some people dont actually notice it.. which is the point. It's like an art! :P
Feel free to summarize if you wish to add this tip, hehe..
Example:
It's not the best but I am still practicing and learning (yes, I did go a little over the top with the Dry Grass for this pic.)
Comments
K I'll add that one! :-)
~Add ponds to your outer area if you have the room.
~Add bridges and gazebos for that added flair
~Don't place a bazillion rooms in the home, chances are that the player won't need that many.
~Don't over decorate the bedrooms if you plan on uploading the house. Keep the fairly general so the player can adapt the decor to the type of sim inside the room.
~Add a terrain paint walkway to the front door. I like using the stone and grass like ones towards the end of the list. Don't use flooring, use terrain paint because it looks more natural.
Something else I always try to do is to add at least one special feature to every house whether it be a wrap around porch, pond with a bridge, a basement garage, a custom fountain, a fancy shaped pool, putting a house up on legs, adding a sun porch, making a custom gazebo, adding a zen garden, building a mote and castle walls, making a barn, a roof garden, a multi-level deck, or even putting in bunk beds. Pizzaz! Make sure it has a spark to it.
Another thing is finding and sticking to a theme. Whether it's a style of architecture (colonial, victorian, boroque, classical...) or just an ideal (cute, haunted, cheap) pick something and stick to it.
As far as design goes I know a little about colors.
reds, oranges, and yellows are warm.
blues, purples, and greens are cool.
typically my color themes are like ruthless_kk's but with the added staple of the two main colors being from one of those groups and the accent being from the other.
Also, color alone is not enough. Texture needs to be included as well. Adding a brick wall to an interior adds texture, so will a wainscoat (sp?) or even a basic floor or crown molding.
Additionally (and I know this is a bit weird sounding) I make sure every room has a purpose, especially outdoor rooms like decks and patios. It can look really cute, but if it doesn't have a purpose then you'll never use it.
^^; don't know how valid all of this is. just thought I'd add to the pool of thought.
...putting the trees so close to the house that the leaves look like they are coming through the walls.
Am I the only one that this bothers?
And btw, it annoys me too!
there are bunk beds?!
Well, I'm not sure about the Sims 3, but I know there was a way to do them in the Sims 2. But you had to have a foundation right next to the bed so I never really liked it.
If you don't mind me asking, what's an atrium? :oops:
EDIT: The Latin word atrium referred to the open central court, from which the enclosed rooms led off, in the type of large ancient Roman house known as a domus.
Not sure if THAT helps... lol
EDIT EDIT: geez... my latin teacher would have gone berzerk if he found out I wrote "atriums"... it's "atria"...
Hedgehog babies are definately cuter than Sim babies:
(My brother sent me the photo - his work colleague found it in the garden - look at those gorgeous ears - awwww)
No tips to add - except for reinforcing the playtesting (as I have a nasty habit of putting the bath with shower attached entirely the wrong way around).
No hang on - ceilings - it took me a while to realise that if you turn autoroof off, then the flat-roof provides a ceiling, and you can go on to create the roof of your choice over the top.
I'm building a medieval town right now.
>>Bookmarked<<
I have a build wish for a future EP:
I want to build on the sub-grid. Why can't we?
[EDIT:] Misspelled medieval. LOL
Omgosh! That is probably one of the cutest things I have ever seen! :shock: I just want to squeeze it! Wow! And I'll add the ceiling thing.
I'm happy I could be of assistance!
I totally agree with the sub grid thing. I build off of house plans and they often have the plans built on half walls, and I have to change them. I think it might make furniture placement more complicated, as well as roof placement, but still.
For example, I've used some carpeting textures on some walls, to give the walls some texture, it looks really nice when using a good texture. I think I used a berber type of texture in a light charcoal color for wallpaper one time and it came out rather nice.
However, DO avoid using textures that are simple one color, and have no real texture look to them as carpeting as it looks like you've thrown a sheet on the floor or painted the floors, doesn't look all that good in my opinion.
DO use the roof height slider, the stock 50% setting looks horrid on most houses, knock it down to 0% to 25% for the best look.
When using a flat top roof, DON'T keep the stock texture as the roof texture, it looks like you've layed kitchen tiles on the roof. Create your own texture to give it more of an asphalt or cement look, making sure to use a texture that has depth to it, else it will also look like you've simply painted the flat roof.
* Choose the correct lot size for your house! Small houses on huge lots or huge houses on small lots doesn't work.
I useally first count the number of tiles I'll have to use for the house, add 4 tiles to each size, and then I have to minimum number of tiles needed for the house alone, add more tiles for a garden. The 4 tiles are the edge of the lot, I always try not to build on the outer 4 tiles so that you can do landscaping and planting on those and that your sims can go around their houses.
* Do some planting, but don't overdo it, unless it's a park!
* All other tips I can think off are already up the list.
EDIT:
* Always to your build in steps and be sure each step is completed and look ok!
1. lay out the foundation to decide where the house will go. I always use the first fence in the list to 'draw' the floorplan on the terrain. I can then move it when the place isn't right. You can't move the house when it's finished!
2. build the foundation and the walls for each floor until their ok. For this you'll have to know what will come in each room so that you size them correct.
3. build the roof so that the outside of the house looks good.
4. add all doors and windows to make the outside look good.
5. add all inside doors and stairs.
6. Do the exterior painting according to the style of the house.
7. Do the interior.
8. place all objects you want outside on the lot.
9. use the terrain paint to add texture.
10. Do some planting and landscaping.
awww that is the most adorable picture I've seen in ages.
-When coming out/off a more high traffic area I like to use "Dry Grass" to give the effect of use.
-Under trees/near shrubs I'll either use Dry Grass or even weeds (or Pine Needles/Bark if there is alot of large trees or a darker grass if only 1 or 2 trees).
-Water edges I use Pond and Dry Grass.
-Cliff edges I use Dry Grass and Light Dirt.
Etc.. etc..
But the main thing is that you "blend" them together, once you have your paints down, go over them lightly with say.. Autumn Grass or whatever grass type you have been using to "soften/desaturate" the additional paints you have used, so they don't stick out, I find it to be more subtle so some people dont actually notice it.. which is the point. It's like an art! :P
Feel free to summarize if you wish to add this tip, hehe..
Example:
It's not the best but I am still practicing and learning (yes, I did go a little over the top with the Dry Grass for this pic.)
-Spec
That's a really good one I forgot! I also use blends of paint. Keep layering until it looks good!