Info
This tutorial is to give aesthetic advice for your home or building.
Video
The beauty in exterior design can come from many different elements all interacting together. No matter what architectural style or color scheme you choose, the most important aspect of exterior design is adding details. This means that if you`re building a big blue colonial style home, you want to make sure to use different shades of blue blended together, maybe with another color as an accent. You want to remember the pillars on the porch, and the bushes out front. People may not always agree with your style, but attention to detail is undeniable. Check out this series to see how you can use 5 easy steps to transform a very bad-looking house into a decent one.
Exterior
Interior
Videos
Basic things
Note: You can install a furniture mod to add even more realistic furniture. Carpenter`s Blocks is also a good mod which lets you shape any block however you want.
Floor
Under certain circumstances, a glass floor can look excellent (for instance, as a see-through bridge over a ravine), but in most builds, glass is not the material to use. It`s recommended that the floor should not be made out of grass or dirt blocks, as they are better suited to outdoor landscaping. It is better to use a floor made of wood planks Wood Planks Transparency No Luminance No Blast resistance 15 Tool Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64) Flammable Yes Drops Itself Data value dec: 05 hex: 5 bin: 101 Name planks Wood planks are common blocks used in many crafting 
or stone Stone Transparency No Luminance No Blast resistance 30 Tool Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64) Flammable No Drops Cobblestone (1) Data value dec: 01 hex: 1 bin: 1 Name stone See the block called stone. For 
(including its variants Rock may refer to: Cobblestone (Mossy), a block that appears to be made from rocks. Stone, a block of solid rock. Stone Bricks (Variants), a block of stone with a brick pattern carved into it. such as sandstone Sandstone Transparency No Luminance No Blast resistance 4 Tool Renewable No Stackable Yes (64) Flammable No Drops Itself Data values Sandstone dec: 24 hex: 18 bin: 11000 Red Sandstone dec: 179 hex: B3 bin: 10110011 Name Sandstone sandstone Red Sandstone red_sandstone 
). Smooth stone slabs look good as tiles, as well as polished granite, diorite, and andesite. Wool Wool Transparency No Luminance No Blast resistance 4 Tool Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64), same color only Flammable Yes Drops Itself Data value dec: 35 hex: 23 bin: 100011 Name wool Wool is a block derived from sheep 
is decorative, but again, keep it away from fire hazards. Carpet Carpet Transparency Yes Luminance No Blast resistance 0.5 Tool Any tool Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64) Flammable Yes Drops Itself Data value dec: 171 hex: AB bin: 10101011 Name carpet Carpets are thin blocks which are mainly used 
is a much better alternative to wool, due to its being cheaper. Be that as it may, you can put mycelium under carpet to make the carpet look mystical or sparkly. To add a touch of oldness to your floor, for example if it is made out of stone bricks, use some regular stone bricks (the more, the less abandoned it looks), some cracked stone bricks, and some cobblestone/gravel as very cracked stone bricks. You can also use the mossy variant of stone bricks/cobblestone. To make the floor look worn down/heavily trampled use stone and/or light gray wool. Sandstone floors can have cracks if a sandstone stair block is placed in an upside down position. For a tiled effect, use dark prismarine Prismarine Transparency No Luminance No Blast resistance 30 Tool Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64) Flammable No Drops Itself Data value dec: 168 hex: A8 bin: 10101000 Name prismarine See the block. For the item used 
, which should look nice in environments such as kitchens, bathrooms and swimming pools. The underside textures of TNT TNT Transparency Partial (cannot attach other blocks) Luminance No Blast resistance 0 Tool Any tool Renewable No Stackable Yes (64) Flammable Yes Drops Itself Data value dec: 46 hex: 2E bin: 101110 Name tnt TNT is a block 
can be used similarly, however for obvious reasons be very careful. With the new terracotta blocks of 1.12 in the works, it may create a satisfying, space age floor.
Windows
If you are in the beginning of your survival, it`s a matter of preference as to whether or not you want to go focus on aesthetics or material conservation. If you choose the latter, then it`s recommended not to use glass Glass Transparency Yes Luminance No Blast resistance 1.5 Tool Any tool Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64) Flammable No Drops None Data values Glass: dec: 20 hex: 14 bin: 10100 Stained Glass: PC: dec: 95 hex: 5F bin: 1011111 PE: dec: 241 hex: F1 
blocks, as you can use glass panes Glass Pane Transparency Yes Luminance No Blast resistance 1.5 Tool Any tool Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64) Flammable No Drops None Data values Glass Pane dec: 102 hex: 66 bin: 1100110 Stained Glass Pane dec: 160 hex: A0 bin: 10100000 Name 
to conserve materials. If you either chose the former or are more advanced in your world, you should use glass blocks if it looks better.
If windows are at one to two blocks above the ground, it is easy to see out of them. Make large windows that take up a section of wall for a more open feel. If you make 1x2 windows, you can add wood blocks or trapdoors at the ends for shutters.
If you want your glass blocks to have a cloudier look, grab eight of them and one bonemeal Bone Meal Type Wool dyes Durability N/A Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64) Data value dec: 35115 hex: 15F15 bin: 10101111115 Name dye 15 Bone meal is a material that can be used as a dye as well as 
, go to a crafting table and place the bonemeal in the center while surrounding it with the eight glass. The resulting blocks, if used correctly, can look amazing. Other colors can be used, for example a muddy effect can be created with a cocoa beans and glass.
Ceiling
If your ceiling is 2 blocks high, people can`t jump. Adjust it so that it measures 3 to 4 blocks high, so your home will have a more spacious feel. Remember that endermen Enderman Health points 40 ( × 20) Attack strength Easy: 4 () Normal: 7 () Hard: 10 () Size Height: 2.9 Blocks Width: 0.6 Blocks Spawn In the Overworld, the Nether or the End in 
are three blocks tall, so keep your house well lit to prevent them from spawning; note that this will not prevent endermen that have spawned elsewhere from teleporting into your home. Or you could just make a 2.5 tall room by having a slab ceiling. A slab floor will prevent any mobs from spawning, provided your lighting is sufficient.
Certain blocks, such as TNT, have underside textures that can only be seen on the ceiling, and these can be used to one`s advantage. Be that as it may, as stated previously, use TNT at your own risk.
Stairs
If you have staircases that use full blocks instead of stair blocks Stairs Transparency Partial (blocks light) Luminance No Blast resistance Wood: 15 Stone: 30 Sandstone, Quartz, Red Sandstone: 4 Tools Renewable Cobblestone, Stone Brick, Wood, Purpur: Yes All others: No Stackable Yes (64) Flammable Wood: Yes 
, it is a good idea to switch them out. It makes it much easier to walk. If you want long stairs, use slabs. For completely vertical transport use a spiral staircase or a minecart elevator. If you want to use up horizontal space, use slabs and blocks. You could also use a slab/stair/block recurring pattern for slightly longers stairs (1.5 blocks apart to be exact), for more horizontal travel. Also you can use slab/slab/block/block, slab/slab/stair/block/block and so on to state the stairway`s shininess.
Hall
Make a hallway if you have multiple rooms. They should be three or four blocks wide for a large house, and two blocks wide for smaller ones. Use carpets for this part to add some color, though wool works as well. It is recommended to also leave a space for a window if you have the space, so it will look brighter.
Exterior
Include a garden of shrubs, flowers, a few trees, and some potted plants. Put one or two leaf blocks on top of wood to make hedges. If your garden is large enough, consider adding a tree house, pool, or even a fountain (see far below) to be the center of attention. Make sure to put stairs and other tile blocks (like stairs and slabs) to make it look even better.
Safety
When building a settlement or construction, you want a safe, useful, and reliable building. You don`t want your finely decorated home, filled with diamond, plants, fountain, etc. to explode down to the ground. You don`t want to witness your home go down in flames. Here are a few safety precautions:
- Be careful with wood and wool. They spread fire and will be burnt. If you are building a house with it, and a fire starts, it won`t burn forever, but you will lose a significant amount of your house.
- Don`t use fire charges, flint and steel, or lava buckets. One minute nothing`s happening, then the next the whole house is alight.
- Never build with dirt, grass, sand, or red sand, because endermen Enderman Health points 40 ( × 20) Attack strength Easy: 4 () Normal: 7 () Hard: 10 () Size Height: 2.9 Blocks Width: 0.6 Blocks Spawn In the Overworld, the Nether or the End in
can pick it up and let creepers Creeper Health points 20 () Attack strength Varies by proximity and difficulty. Maximum damage: Normal: 49 ( × 24.5) Charged: 97 ( × 48.5) Size Height: 1.7 Blocks Width: 0.6 Blocks Spawn Light level of into your house.
Others
Keep lots of open spaces and do not use too many doors, so your house will look more than "Designer". Light rooms up with redstone lamps or glowstone instead of torches to improve lighting, or add chandeliers for a classier look. Also you can put paintings Painting Type Decorations Durability N/A Renewable Yes Stackable Yes (64) Internal ID PC: 9 PE: 83 Network ID PC: none Entity ID painting Drops 1 Painting First appearances See History Data value dec: 321 hex: 141 bin: 101000001 
on the walls that look empty. You can "hang up" a torch by placing a torch on a block, then an item frame on the same block, before finishing it up by placing a stone button, stone half slab, or an anvil inside the item frame. You can also keep cats Ocelot Health points 10 () Attack strength Chickens Only: 2 () Size Adult: Height: 0.7 Blocks Width: 0.6 Blocks Baby: Height: 0.35 Blocks Width: 0.3 Blocks Spawn Ocelot: In Jungle Biomes, on Grass or leaf 
and dogs Wolf Health points Wild: 8 () Tamed: 20 () Attack strength Wild: Easy: 3 () Normal: 4 () Hard: 6 () Tamed: 4 () Size Adult: Height: 0.85 Blocks Width: 0.6 Blocks Baby: Height: 0.425 
in the building.
Kitchen
Include tables. These can be made either by making an extended piston upwards, or by placing a carpet/pressure plate on a fence/wall.
Don`t forget a sink. A filled cauldron or a hopper directed at the wall, with a down lever or tripwire hook at the top to simulate your taps. You could also place a water bottle filled dropper behind the block bearing the lever (faucet), which when "turned on" will pour out free water.
For a cooking range you could use a furnace topped by iron pressure plates, and put some stairs a few blocks above to simulate a range hood.
Add a crafting table as a worktop, and droppers with item frames containing rotated snow layers as cabinets that hold bowls and bottles.
You could also add an island in the middle of the room, iron bars to simulate an area to hang pans, and a table that contains normal cake Cake Transparency Yes Luminance No Blast resistance 2.5 Tool Any tool Renewable Yes Stackable No (Yes, 64 in Console Edition) Flammable No Drops None Data values Block dec: 92 hex: 5C bin: 1011100 Item dec: 354 hex: 162 bin: 101100010 Name 
and chocolate cake simulated by daylight detectors Daylight Sensor Type Block Entity Physics No Transparency Yes Luminance No Blast resistance 1 Hardness 0.2 Tool Renewable No Stackable Yes (64) Flammable No, but catches fire from lava First appearances See History Drops Itself 
.
Although expensive, hanging a beacon Beacon Type Block Entity Physics No Transparency PC, CE: Yes PE: No Luminance Yes, 15 Blast resistance 15 Hardness 3 Tool Any tool Renewable No Stackable Yes (64) Flammable No First appearances See History Drops 
block from the ceiling makes for elegant lighting.
Living Room
Include chairs and couches, and something decorative or something to do. You can also add a fireplace, but beware of fire! You can make fireplaces out of any material, but it is recommended to use stone or brick. Add a few chests and slap some trapdoors on their faces and bam, you have a cabinet. You can also hide chests under chests here.
Bedroom(s)
Include a bed, paintings, a jukebox, and a dresser made by stacking chests behind doors. Optionally, you may wish to include an enderchest to keep safe any valuables and easily transport materials in bulk. Be that as it may, it may not be recommended due to the cost of the components used in construction.
Bathroom
Use Dark prismarine for the floor, as it resembles small bathroom tiles. For bigger tiles, quartz does no harm. The new terracotta blocks can also help with tiling.
Add fences/ladders as a towel rack. Iron bars could also do good as a small radiator.
Put two upside down quartz stairs that are facing away from each other. On one side put a normal quartz block with a lever on top, and put a trapdoor on it so it lies on top of the other upside down stair. Congratulations, you just built a toilet.
Some Designs
Furniture
Chair
Note that you can make a couch by adding more stairs. Chairs can also be made using a half-slab of preferably oak for the bottom, armrests made of trapdoors and a door for the back to give your chairs that extra-classy feel.
Table
A village-style table can be made from a pressure plate atop a fence post. As of 1.6, carpets can be used the same way, and often look better. Connecting more than one table when using carpets will look better also. Oftentimes, a simple slab floating at waist-height can suffice, sometimes fitting in with `alternative style homes`. Another way of making larger tables with only four legs is to use carpets, fence posts and string, as carpets can be placed on string.
Appliances
Sink
Oven
Replace the furnace with a dispenser for a washing machine, clothing dryer or dishwasher.
Fridge
Water cooler
FishTank
Place the stairs upside down, and facing out the way the ice is.
Large Building Decorations
Fountain
Side View
Top View
Architectural Styles
Another easy way to make a building or group of buildings look nice is to build them according to real-world styles. The style will determine the shape of your building, the material, and possibly the location as well.
Colonial
These types of houses were first built during Colonial times (1600-1700 roughly) using either brick or wood, depending on what was plentiful in the area. Massachusetts has a lot of good clay, so brick is popular. Farther north you might see more wooden constructions. Wooden ones can be made just about any color with paint, although reds, whites, yellows, and blues are common. The house type is fairly simple, as it is a rectangular prism with a few windows and add-ons basically. These could look good in a player-made town in a forest biome.
Victorian
This style came over from England with the first American settlers used between 1840 to about 1900. It was a style used more by the wealthy as it was harder to build than Colonial style. Materials were often the same though, brick or wood. Occasionally stone may be used, but that would lead to a heavier and more expensive building so it is not as common. This style would look good on a hill overlooking some Colonial houses.
Modern
This contemporary style can featureSpecial attraction many different colors, layouts, and building materials. Normally, houses are made up of squares and rectangles all fitted together with many windows present.
