Could use advice on building a house :)

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

These links may help.
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

@rosemow Thanks! I'll look :)

You’re welcome :)

I really like making Sim houses based off of real house blue prints personally. When I am building I like to recreate the plans on graph paper so I can kind of tailor the house so that it will work in the Sims.
As for the garden, I am just starting to really experiment with them myself. I find that the gardens tend to look nicer if you use the move objects cheat so you can place flowers closer to each other or on top of each other. If you want I would be happy to share some of my more recent builds with you :)

I'm also lost when it comes to building. I have to say that watching youtube tutorials did help me quite a bit. Have you ever tried?

When it comes to building I tend to think of what style home I want to exactly build. For example, modern, contemporary, victorian, etc. From there I go off reference pics and kind of get some inspiration, think of my color scheme, layout, and such. After that I really recommend when you do the bases of the house to do the floorplan and THEN decorate the outside of the home. Add the roof and make it perfectly how you want it, decide the colors and paint the house, design the porch, place windows, landscape, etc. After the outside of the home is done I then work on the inside. Placing the windows beforehand help me decide where my rooms cut off and such. Don't make blocky rooms, make rooms with corners and dips. It really helps with the depth, especially for decorating and picture taking. After I separate the rooms and figure what each room is I then go into detail with decorating the rooms. Remember to place the door to the room before furnishing it :) That's how I like to build and I used to be super bad before this past year.

Blueprints can be helpful if you have something specific in mind that you want to create. Most of the time I just go with the flow, have inspiration ideas or photos and then take it from there. I like to think about what would work, even in sim reality...like you wouldn't have curtains going into your stove or rugs under a bath tub - these little details really count! :)

Personally, a lot of my builds are based on Floor Plans. I LOVE them. I will change them up to meet the Sims needs, but I like having a basic layout to reference visually.

Just web search House Floor Plans, and then you can look around at the architectural styles and see any you like.

I think at the beginning floor plans can be very helpful. To be honest I never built on floor plans except for challenges. Sometimes I see a building or just a detail of it and think it's nice. So there 2 different options to start with: exterior when you know how it should look or a very simple way to start is with a room. You have to image how it should be and what makes it special - if it's the kitchen, it would be nice to have the dining area next to it and so on. Afterwards you just have to modify all edges together in a way that please you. This can be a bit tricky and long-winded but the result will be unique. To start with small houses is maybe not that frustrating. I hope that helps you a bit.

"kilra0;c-16254227" wrote:
I think at the beginning floor plans can be very helpful. To be honest I never built on floor plans except for challenges. Sometimes I see a building or just a detail of it and think it's nice. So there 2 different options to start with: exterior when you know how it should look or a very simple way to start is with a room. You have to image how it should be and what makes it special - if it's the kitchen, it would be nice to have the dining area next to it and so on. Afterwards you just have to modify all edges together in a way that please you. This can be a bit tricky and long-winded but the result will be unique. To start with small houses is maybe not that frustrating. I hope that helps you a bit.

@kilra0 Hello, again! Thank you. :)
I've been working on it for the past few days now. Started out as one blue print, but the inside I sort of did my own thing. It's become quite larger than I originally anticipated. I was thinking about posting WIPs, but I might just wait until it's done and post (many) pictures. :D Everyone's tips have been so helpful! <3

http://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/933170/tranquil-outdoor-theater/p1?new=1
This is an outdoor theater I just made. It's simple, but I wanted something cozy and colorful. I made it halfway through making my house--idea came to me on a whim. :)