Sims 4 Building Ideas That AREN'T Houses

There are a lot of things to do in The Sims 4, although it can feel repetitive at times. There's a lot you can do in live mode, like stir up drama in random families or challenge the generations. But your Sims can handle a lot at once, so maybe it's time to give them a break and explore some new areas.

Relatives

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Alternatively, you can build something for your Sims to relax in, and it doesn't have to be another house. Available options for building community plots. So, if you're looking for ideas, here are some things to build in The Sims 4 that aren't houses.

1

Orangery

Bring gardening indoors

An image of a greenhouse with a Sim sitting outside it, an official screenshot of a greenhouse from The Sims 4.

If you want to add something fancy to your Sims home, you can build a small greenhouse in your Sims backyard. This would be a cute little addition for any Sim who loves gardening or if you're trying to make a quick buck in the hobby.

This is a quick and easy project if you want to start small, but there are lots of little things you can add to your greenhouse to create atmosphere. Now your Sim can finally raise a cow in peace to eat the pesky Sims who come into your house to play on your computer.

2

Castle

Live the royal dreams

If you want to create something spectacular to stand out from all the other plots, build a castle! There are plenty of good off-the-grid options if you have a Cottage Living kit if you want to really challenge yourself.

Or perhaps you want to create a castle ruin, something that was once lived in but has since been abandoned and long forgotten. Once you've decided on a route, you can either build a royal family of Sims there or make it a vacation rental.

3

Prison

Lock those pesky sims

An image of the prison building from The Sims 4.

If you want to do something with some of the more unruly or annoying Sims, it's time to build a place just for them. And this place will be a prison. Without mods, you can place up to eight Sims in a residential lot, so choose carefully.

You can build this prison as a dormitory with a couple of bunk beds, or each Sim can have their own room with their own activities to generate income while they are in prison. It might not be too practical, but it makes for good drama or a good story.

A place for your Sims to rest

An image of the community center built with The Sims 4.

A community center would be another great place for Sims to come together outside of the typical communities that exist on different worlds. You can also make the site a teen center to give teenagers a place to hang out.

There are many things that can be added to a community center: a mini-gym, a craft area or a performance space. Or you can make it one big, comfortable living area where Sims can hang out. The choice is yours!

5

Cemetery and church

A place for sadness

With the new Life and Death expansion pack, creating a graveyard just got a whole lot easier. With the new expansion pack, all you have to do is designate a plot as a graveyard and start building the graveyard.

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You can still build a cemetery if you don't have life and death, but you can add something else to the lot, like a church or a mausoleum. This would be the perfect little place to let your Sims mourn their lost ones, or a place for them to rest.

6

Bathhouse

Come in and relax

An image of the bathhouse construction from The Sims 4.

A bathhouse is basically a common place where people can bathe and observe other hygiene rules. It can be as simple as creating a building and placing several rooms with all the basic bathroom accessories, but you can also create a more luxurious bath.

In some areas, the baths can be practically spas, with healing baths, saunas and even a steam room. So why not go all out and create a mini spa for your Sims to relax in after a long day?

7

Laundry

Clean your clothes

An image of the laundry room assembly from The Sims 4.

If you have the Laundry Day stuff pack, you can build a laundry. ​Although it doesn't sound very glamorous, it's definitely something to build to make your Sims world a little more realistic.

All you would have to do is create a basic building and build a line of washers and dryers and add a little clutter here and there. It might be a bit simple, but who's to say that there isn't a side business on the sidelines – candle making or cross stitch?

8

Public swimming pool

Pool day

Community pool build image with Sims playing pool from The Sims 4.

A public pool can be indoors or outdoors, but if you have the Seasons expansion pack, an indoor pool might be more ideal for your game. It would be fun for your Sims to exercise, and you wouldn't have to try to make room for a pool in your Sims' house!

Again, it doesn't have to be anything fancy, but it certainly can be, since it's a community plot. You can add a small area for a kiddie pool or slide, add some vending machines and the whole family can come and have fun.

9

Event center

No more dirty dishes

An image of the activity center building with two Sims from The Sims 4.

If you're tired of constantly hosting events because you can't find a better place to hold them, why not create an event center? You can either set up one for each type of activity available, or have one common building for everyone.

You won't have to worry about a big mess in your Sims' house anymore. With an event hub, you can add the amenities you need, such as a stove, stereo, and anything else that fills out the event bar to earn a gold medal every time.

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