Build a modern Minecraft house: materials, tips, ideas

Thanks to Minecraft’s block palette, most people probably think first of medieval buildings you can create in the game. These days, though, there are so many blocks and textures that practically anything is possible! Modern builds also have their fans and can be realised in Minecraft without any trouble. You do, however, need to approach your ideas differently, look for real-world references and choose the right blocks and items. We’ve put together the most important tips to help you bring your ideas to life perfectly!

Modern Minecraft houses: features and architecture

You can find modern houses everywhere in the real world, yet surprisingly they’re still a very underrated building style in Minecraft. A quick Google search or a walk through a nearby neighbourhood shows clear differences compared with traditional houses.

This style actually translates very well to Minecraft, because what stands out at first are the many edges and corners. Modern houses often look like interlocking rectangles, which suits Minecraft and its block aesthetic perfectly. There are no pitched roofs either; in most cases you’ll see flat roofs. That simplifies building and makes systems more modular.

When it comes to the colour palette, there’s a clear direction: white shows up on almost every modern house and is a key part of the facade. That’s often because these homes are made from concrete and are sometimes left as exposed concrete. You’ll also see various greys, ranging from light to dark, as contrasting tones. Finally, you’ll find many **accents in wood, signalling a continued connection to nature.

One feature you should never forget is large windows. They’re a defining element of the modern style and ensure plenty of natural light floods the house. They come in many shapes and help break up the form of the building.

Building a modern Minecraft house: step by step

Based on these notes and observations from real modern houses, you can already bring many elements straight into Minecraft. Assuming a typical modern, minimalist build, you should work with rectangles of varying sizes and line them up as you wish. We recommend building these temporarily with coloured wool to see how they interlock and look from different angles. Let the shapes overlap a little so they feel less ‘blocky’.

Best materials for modern Minecraft builds

You’ve set the foundations; now you need the right materials to fill out and refine the house. Thankfully, there are now plenty of blocks that fit a modern style perfectly! Again, we recommend using real reference images and trying to recreate them in Minecraft. It’s often more about texture and colour.

• Concrete: No other block in Minecraft suits modern builds as well as concrete. The sand-and-gravel mix has a clean, understated look and comes in many colours. White concrete is especially useful, but the grey tones are indispensable too!

• Quartz: Before concrete existed, quartz was the best white block. Notably, Smooth Quartz (without borders) is great, but both variants work well. Quartz has a subtle texture with a slight yellowish tint, which sets it apart from concrete and adds interest. You also get alternatives like quartz bricks and quartz pillars to add stronger accents.

• Terracotta: Terracotta can be thought of as a darker alternative to concrete: similarly clean-looking, but less saturated. Thanks to its natural origin it has a faint brownish cast, making it a good substitute for concrete. Once again, the grey tones are the most useful and create a great contrast with white concrete.

• Wool: You can of course use wool, which also comes in many colours. Wool has a coarser texture that doesn’t always fit modern houses, but it certainly has its place. It’s perfect for carpets to dress interiors.

• Wood: Wood is essential to modern architecture and provides a lovely contrast to the simple black-and-white scheme. Whether as wall cladding, flooring or ceiling, you should definitely incorporate wood elements. Dark oak looks particularly stylish! A pro tip is using stripped logs, which look cleaner yet still feel natural.

• Glass: As mentioned above, glass is vital for modern houses. Large glass fronts are a hallmark of modern architecture and an absolute must! Both full glass blocks and glass panes work beautifully. You can also use stained glass to help it blend in. Greys are a great choice again here.

• Leaves: Use leaves to define outdoor areas and gardens. They read as trimmed hedges or bushes and, thanks to their shape, fit modern builds perfectly.

• Stone/Andesite: If you want a more natural, brutalist feel to your concrete, plain stone and andesite are your best bets. They combine wonderfully and have a natural texture that still feels clean and modern.

• Blackstone: Various blackstone variants also work well, offering a strong contrast thanks to their deep black texture. The brick variants are especially effective.

• Deepslate: Likewise, the different deepslate blocks are very useful. Deepslate tiles in particular, which read like small bricks, make excellent flooring!

Modern interior design in Minecraft: tips

With the exterior done, it’s time for the interior. Again, you’ll need to think differently than with medieval builds to keep the style consistent. In general, go for a clean, minimalist interior. Real reference images are great for inspiration.

Further tips:

• Break up large white surfaces with different decorations, such as paintings, trapdoors as shelves, or plants.

• For light sources, we recommend sea lanterns, end rods and froglights. They look clean and modern.

• As with the leaves outside, green accents are perfect for modern builds. Avoid colourful flowers and use bamboo or saplings to beautify your home instead.

• If you use colour, keep it limited and focus on one or two base tones. Turquoise works very well, and you can also use wood types from the Nether.

Conclusion: embrace modern building in Minecraft

Minecraft is perfect for trying out different building styles. The modern style is often overlooked, even though Minecraft’s blocks are ideal for it! With real-world references and the right palette of blocks, you can create a beautiful modern house that’s a refreshing change from wood and Cobblestone.

Rent your own Minecraft server from us and show your friends what’s possible in Minecraft. After all, the game has so much to offer — everyone’s sure to find a building style that suits them.