I'm just curious about how other builders do their lots. For instance, I start with a rough room layout of each floor then do the exterior of the building. Once I get the exterior of the building done, I do the interiors since I like to use the yard space to lay out rugs. furniture, & decor items that I think I might want. After the interiors are done then I do the final step and landscape. When I first started building, I did all the interiors first before doing any exterior work. We have so many great builders here, I'd love to hear if you have a different system.

I do all the exterior first, landscaping (if i'm using it), then plan interior layout, bathrooms are the first to be furnished and then I go from there

@Flexono1 I also do like you. I find that the context helps me in inspiring and creating a story for the house. :)

I always furnish the outside first - it helps me to get a feel for what I want the inside of the house to look like. I also run out of steam by the time I get to the interior so half of the time I'll upload houses to The Gallery that are beautiful on the outside but bare bones on the inside! lol

It's interesting how most seem to do the exterior first. The reason this comes to my mind, is that someone was mentioning that houses they download often have windows placed strangely in rooms, like right up against the walls. I know this is because if you want the exterior to have symmetrical window placements, rooms often end up with window placements that are asymmetric or right up against a wall. If you do the interior first, the windows are symmetrically placed for each room but the exterior looks haphazard.

"lsnishi;c-16634421" wrote:It's interesting how most seem to do the exterior first. The reason this comes to my mind, is that someone was mentioning that houses they download often have windows placed strangely in rooms, like right up against the walls. I know this is because if you want the exterior to have symmetrical window placements, rooms often end up with window placements that are asymmetric or right up against a wall. If you do the interior first, the windows are symmetrically placed for each room but the exterior looks haphazard. It is kind of a giveaway as to which way the home was built, if the windows aren't symmetrical either outside or inside. I hadn't thought about that.What I do sometimes is put furniture down on the ground, the way it will be in the house, so I know how big I want the rooms to be. This helps me, especially if I'm building on a really small lot, and I know that I need to conserve space. I delete the furniture after I have the walls up, because they are just place holders, not what I actually want.After I put the walls up, interior and exterior, I do the outside decorating first. As in, paint, trim, windows, doors, stairs, porches, columns, railings. Things that are attached to the house. Then I do the inside of the house, and then back outside for the landscaping.I guess I've done it the way some of you do, build the outer walls first, and then try to divide it up nicely, but it never works out quite as well

Do you build the exterior or interior first?

18 Replies

oxfordsplice
New Veteran
8 years ago
I used to figure out what I wanted in the way of rooms, sometimes placing furniture and building around it. Now the order is generally: figure out the exterior first, then roofing, room layout, landscaping, furnishing, and then playtesting.
Lanetje
8 years ago
I definetly shape the exterior first. However sometimes the interior overlaps with the exterior. It just comes to me and sometimes it's due to things I can't do. Like for example a diagonal roof that can't be a certain amount of tiles big. So the exterior first, landscaping, windows, main build, colour scheme and then do the inside. Room making, interior decor, stairs ect.

I never really plan a build. I just put a wall somewhere and start from there.
CastielDestiel
8 years ago
Exterior is always first for me, then I add in the rooms. After that is the decorating bit, adding in everything the Sims would need.
Wooldrop
8 years ago
I start with the exterior then make adjustments as needed
kaeyresky
8 years ago
Exterior. I like to set up the windows before I set up the rooms, rather than do it the other way around.
K0j1K
8 years ago
Hi, great thread in my case I build and decor as inspiration flows
luxsylvan
8 years ago
I do the exterior first, then the interior. I almost always start with the kitchen once I'm working inside. Landscaping is last, because sometimes I just don't feel like it and it doesn't seem as necessary for me.
SimTresa
Seasoned Ace
8 years ago
Usually exterior first, so I can see where doors and windows and stairs need to go before I start adding to the interior. But sometimes if I have a specific idea, I might build the kitchen or living room first then design the rest of the house around them.

Forum Discussion

Do you build the exterior or interior first?

18 Replies

About The Sims 4 Creative Corner

Community Highlights

The Maxis Curation Guide

Maxis Favorite Nominations – LOTS

Maxis Favorite Nominations – ROOMS

Maxis Favorite Nominations – HOUSEHOLDS

Recent Discussions

The Munster Legacy - Occult Legacy Challenge

Sims 4 Animations | Animation Pack 162 | Animations with Letters and Cards

The Whittaker Saga - 1970s (updated 08/12)

What are your Favorite Sims 4 Restaurant lots and homes

Lusk Legacy