How to Build a Modern House in Minecraft
Construct a sleek, contemporary Minecraft home using white concrete, oak planks, and glass panes with an open-concept living space and compact pool.
- Read the tools, materials, safety notes, and steps below for free.
- Tap Start Camera Coach when you want hands-free voice help.
- Allow camera and microphone. Point your phone at the work; the coach watches your progress and tells you the next step.
🧰 Required Tools & Equipment
- ✓ Diamond or Iron Pickaxe
- ✓ Diamond or Iron Shovel
- ✓ Diamond or Iron Axe
- ✓ Shears
- ✓ Scaffolding
📦 Materials & Supplies
- ✓ White Concrete
- ✓ Oak Wood Planks
- ✓ Black Stained Glass Panes
- ✓ Dark Oak Door
- ✓ Sea Lanterns
- ✓ Water Bucket
- ✓ Oak Leaves
⚠️ Safety Checkpoints & Warnings
- • Maintain adequate light levels across all floor blocks to prevent hostile mob spawns inside the structure.
- • Deploy scaffolding or place a water bucket below when constructing upper cantilever frames to avoid lethal fall damage.
- • Ensure adequate wrist support and take short visual breaks during extended building sessions to avoid eye fatigue.
📋 Step-by-Step Guide (6 Steps)
Clear the Area and Mark the Foundation
Clear a flat 16x16 block parcel using your shovel and pickaxe. Outline the exterior footprint measuring 12 blocks wide by 10 blocks deep using white concrete. Dig out the interior ground layer one block deep and replace the dirt with oak wood planks to serve as the ground floor.
- • A smooth 12x10 oak plank floor bordered flush with white concrete blocks.
- • Surrounding terrain is completely level with no obstructing grass or trees.
- • Miscounting the perimeter dimensions, leading to misaligned window frames later.
- • Leaving raw dirt exposed under perimeter walls.
Erect the White Concrete Framing
Raise the front-left concrete pillar to 6 blocks high and extend an L-shaped beam across the roofline toward the right edge. Build a 5-block-wide, 4-block-tall rectangular frame on the upper floor that cantilevers forward by one block to create a distinct modern overhang. Connect the rear pillars to complete the structural cubic shell.
- • A distinct rectangular overhang jutting out on the top level.
- • Interlocking white concrete frame forming two tiers of open volume.
- • Placing the second-story frame flush with the lower floor instead of cantilevering it forward.
- • Making the overall ceiling height less than 3 interior blocks.
Install Panoramic Glass Panes and Walls
Fill the open exterior gaps on both floors with black stained glass panes, keeping the front wall primarily transparent for modern aesthetic appeal. Seal the remaining rear and side walls with solid white concrete. Leave a 2-block-tall opening on the lower front wall for the entry door.
- • Flush tinted glass facade reflecting the front yard.
- • Fully enclosed rear walls with no open light gaps.
- • Using glass blocks instead of panes, which ruins the thin, modern window depth.
- • Accidentally breaking placed glass panes without a Silk Touch tool.
Construct the Exterior Pool and Deck
Dig a 3x5 trench two blocks deep directly in front of the lower window area. Line the bottom and walls with smooth quartz or white concrete, then fill with water source blocks until the surface is completely still. Frame the pool perimeter with oak planks and add oak leaf hedges along the side walkway.
- • Calm, source-level water surface with no visible downward currents.
- • Lush leaf hedges framing the walkway leading to the front door.
- • Placing water from only one side, leaving running water currents in the pool.
- • Using decaying leaves clipped without shears.
Lay Out the Split-Level Interior Loft
Inside the house, build a loft platform on the upper tier using oak planks, leaving the front living room open to a double-height ceiling. Place oak stairs against the left wall to create a clean, minimalist staircase up to the loft. Embed sea lanterns flush into the ceiling and lower floor to maintain a seamless, high-illumination environment.
- • A functional oak staircase leading up to a secure second-floor loft.
- • Bright, evenly lit interior with no shadows in the corners.
- • Blocking the window visibility with poorly placed interior walls.
- • Using hanging torches that clutter the modern minimalist look.
Furnish Modern Living and Sleeping Zones
On the upper loft, position a bed against the wall bordered by oak trapdoors, an armor stand, and a single-block bookshelf desk with a flower pot. Downstairs, construct an L-shaped sofa using quartz stairs, a dark oak coffee table, and an iron trapdoor kitchen counter with a smoker. Mount a dark oak door at the front entrance to finalize the build.
- • A fully decorated split-level interior with dedicated sleeping and lounge areas.
- • Secured front entrance with a functioning dark oak door.
- • Overcrowding the ground floor with too many bulky chests or crafting blocks.
- • Placing the door from the outside, which disrupts modern recessed door geometry.
Credit: inspired by an original tutorial by WiederDude — watch the original on YouTube.
Don’t have everything?
- No White Concrete? Smooth Quartz or White Terracotta
- No Sea Lanterns? Glowstone or Shroomlights hidden under Carpets
- No Black Stained Glass Panes? Clear Glass Panes or Tinted Glass