Minecraft is the perfect game in which to create designs and structures. Specifically, modern houses are very fitting to the block-style of the game. I have, for a few years, been into building modern houses in Minecraft. Over that time, I have tried to make the game more and more realistic to truly visualize a design. Recently I have gotten to the point where I am using modded, 1024 resolution texture packs with ray tracing shaders. The problem with that is that your computer must be very high end, and many of the Minecraft modifications cost money. If you are just starting out, I hope I can provide enough tips to be of use to casual builders.
In the 1.12 update, they added concrete to the game. That opened up many opportunities for building modern houses because of the clean look, and many colours. I almost always use concrete in my houses. This brings me to my first point. colour scheme. Before you place a block, you should collect a variety of colours and textures to use. Sometimes a modern house has one bright colour like red, blue, or green. This can help some parts of the house really stand out, but too many colours can really hinder the aesthetic. My palette is usually composed of greys, black, white, brown, and other neutral colours. Texture is also important. Textures like wood planks, cobblestone, or andesite (it doesn’t have to be andesite) tiles. These can work on the inside or outside of a home. The most important part of your palette is that you like it.
Once you have decided what blocks you will use, the layout of the house is quite straightforward. Rectangular rooms are likely going to work out best in the end. The number of floors is completely up to you. When I make a house I generally make the walls out of white concrete, because it is easy on the eyes, and works well in a modern house.
The basic frame of the house is one of the hardest parts to plan. You want something you like, that also doesn’t stray far from the style. If you go online and look at pictures of modern houses, looking at the shapes, and layout can be both inspiring, and useful. Anytime I try to build a new style of house in minecraft, look at many pictures online. Including depth in the facade is so important to making your house look realistic. Depth can added through an overhang, or an extended frame. Try to notice the usage of depth in the picture of the house below. I made this house with the extreme modifications I mentioned earlier.
Although the house is modded, It still has all the basic shapes you need to make something look modern.
Try not to over-detail. Modern houses have minimal details. Although I mentioned adding depth as being very useful, too much depth can become busy, which will lose the modern aesthetic. Every now and then, I recommend stepping back and looking at your house, to decide if you are maintaining a modern style. Never try to make something really large. When a house is too big, it’s easy to lose motivation, and one half of the house can end up being way worse than the other. When you’re starting out, I recommend something small and manageable.
Landscaping the area around the house isn’t always needed, but it will improve how the house looks. Water features are a fantastic way to make a house feel natural. I like to use leaf blocks to simulate bushes, and sometimes I build trees myself, to make them just as I would like them to be. You can simulate a freshly mowed lawn by building stripes of different coloured blocks (terracotta and concrete).
Lighting your house is an important part of the overall design. I like to use blocks, specifically glowstone, or prismarine lanterns. Prismarine lanterns are fitting because of the bright colour, and most shaders give them a cold light, which works well in a modern house. Torches are usually not the best choice, and they have an old, almost medieval look to them.
Overall, the most important part of building in minecraft, is to like your finished product. Don’t do something you don’t like, even if it helps the style of the house. When it comes to design, there are so many options, you cannot go wrong with something you like.