What to do with a massive open space?

[Valden21]

I'm currently in the process of building a new house for my sims. It's a large, two-story house in Bridgeport's richer area. Y'know, where all the fancy houses are. I've almost got it finished, and the only question I have is what to do with this massive open space in the middle of the second floor. I have added rooms in the corners of that floor, but those rooms are from the in-game blueprints, so they don't take up the entire space. I'm open to suggestions, because the only thing I can think to do with it is to trick it out for dancing.

[cadh20000]

A rec-room perhaps? As is use your dance room idea but not stop there, add other activities and such if you have room for them, for instance a pingpong/table-tennis table, arcade games, chessboard, etc...

[Valden21]

Originally posted by cadh20000:

A rec-room perhaps? As is use your dance room idea but not stop there, add other activities and such if you have room for them, for instance a pingpong/table-tennis table, arcade games, chessboard, etc...

Unfortunately, I already have a room I've designated for that purpose. It's not yet furnished, but I do have plans for what's gonna go inside. As of now, the only furbished rooms are those that came from the in-game blueprints.

[B✪✪tsy]

Showing a screensot from above would help :)

[cadh20000]

Originally posted by B✪✪tsy:

Showing a screensot from above would help :)

Agreed!
Of course, just listing the already designated rooms would also help so we knew what you already have decided.

[Valden21]

Originally posted by B✪✪tsy:

Showing a screensot from above would help :)

Will do.

[Valden21]

https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198131865865/screenshots/#scrollTop=700

[B✪✪tsy]

Originally posted by Valden21:

Okay, here they are.
https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198131865865/screenshots/#scrollTop=100

I personally would delete all the prefab rooms and build rooms yourself that are the same dimension and then fill an entire outer wall with rooms. I use 5x5 rooms as bedrooms as that is a good size to fit a 2 person bed and 2 nightstands. If I have a 3x or 4x size left against an outer wall then I fill that as an extra small bathroom.

[Valden21]

Originally posted by B✪✪tsy:

Originally posted by Valden21:

Okay, here they are.
https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198131865865/screenshots/#scrollTop=100

I personally would delete all the prefab rooms and build rooms yourself that are the same dimension and then fill an entire outer wall with rooms. I use 5x5 rooms as bedrooms as that is a good size to fit a 2 person bed and 2 nightstands. If I have a 3x or 4x size left against an outer wall then I fill that as an extra small bathroom.

I understand that, but everyone has their own tastes. For now, this setup suits me, and I'm still learning how to build houses in this game. You've taken this farther than I want; all I'm looking for is suggestions on how that open space on the second floor can be used, not a critique of the whole house.

[Catawing Nightfang]

What about an art gallery or a display of your Sims' collections? In one of my old saves, I ended up using my Sims' sprawling basement as a museum, complete with a geology exhibit and it was really fun to trick out and change as they collected more stuff.

[Captiva]

This is a side effect of building the big area for the house first and then trying to fill it. I and my wife both used to do this a lot and had similar issues. I learned to try and build more organically by basically building each room as you go and to build smaller overall.

There is nothing wrong with liking the open space in the house, but you end up with having to fill either one massive room, or several, and they just end up feeling empty.

Try to imagine the inside of real houses you like and then emulate that in game. You will find if you look that many houses do not have big open areas, but instead are more cozy.

I am trying to be helpful without being confusing.

[NetPCDoc]

As said above, everyone has their own style ...

I like to include (swimming) pools in the homes I build.

Or maybe, for rainy days, an indoor patio setup? IMO it is interesting what one can do with the 'right' style of porch railings ... (if one isn't working in a basement area?)

[Drab]

Make small rooms that are for 1 sim to do art/science etc. in. Having 1 sim lock the door so only they can enter, keeps other people from randomly using their equipment.

[Kvinden]

... And then, after spending 2 days making the perfect big house the son grew up to young adult and like an idiot I played him 2 sim days just for the time to install him in his own house, find him a job and improve a bit the furniture and environment.

Meanwhile the parents left the big nice house I designed with love, leaving behind all the furniture, the priceless gallery, the rare relics, the collection of fine nectar, the piano and ball room, and the cars in the garage and moved to the crappiest slum in town where they stack in promiscuity and squalor.
Never again. The ungrateful can live in a premade house