In Terraria, we are limited to a 2D plane, yet the game offers so much freedom in building. Players can create intricate structures, from simple houses to full-fledged cities. In future posts, I will cover the basics of building in Terraria, from the tools you need to the different building styles you can choose from. For now, I will be discussing the theory of what makes building well-structured in Terraria.

Mimicking Real Life

When building in Terraria, it is important to consider how buildings are constructed in real life. Many buildings in Terraria look “good” because we are very familiar with how they look in real life.

Terraria houses often have features that are arranged in ways that resemble the functional and aesthetic features of real-life houses.

For example, the house on the left is lined with wooden beams, which gives a sense of structure and support to the building, even though the game does not simulate structural integrity. Although both houses above are nearly identical, the one on the left looks conventionally better because of the sense of support.

An even better example is the comparison of the two houses below:

In addition, the house on the left has a stone palette on the bottom and a wooden palette on the top, while the house on the right has the stone palette on the top and the wooden palette on the bottom.

Okay, we immediately know that the house on the left looks better, and the one on the right may raise some alarm bells, but why? All I did was swap the stone and wood palettes.

If we tried to construct a house like the one on the right in real life, it would immediately collapse because the wood, being much lighter than the stone, would not be able to support the stone construction above it. This gives the appearance of being extremely top-heavy and unstable, even though the only change was swapping the stone and wood palettes.

Since the house on the left appears more stable and natural, it is more pleasing to the eye. This is why it is important to consider how buildings are constructed in real life when building in Terraria.

Note on Overhangs

Often, players will create overhangs in their buildings. They add nice detail that can make a building look more interesting. However, it is important to consider how these overhangs are supported.

Sometimes, builders will create overhangs that appear too large or are not properly supported. These overhangs would not be able to support themselves in real life, so they look out of place and stick out in Terraria as well.

Balance and Proportion

Another important aspect of structure is balance. Parts of a building should be balanced in terms of size and shape. A small building with a massive roof will look strange, as will a large building with a tiny roof.

Room Size

A common mistake in building is to make rooms that are too big or too small. A room that is too big will look empty and hollow, while a room that is too small will look cramped.

However, between the two, a room that is too small is better than a room that is too big. A room that is too small is easier to decorate, but a room that is too big will require a lot of furniture to fill up the space.

Foundations

Sometimes buildings may look a bit flat and unbalanced because the floor is where the entire building ends. A foundation can help ground the building and also make the building appear larger than it actually is. This can especially help if a roof or second floor is too large for the building to support it.

Anyways…

Building in Terraria is a fun and creative process. By considering how buildings are constructed in real life and paying attention to balance and proportion, you can create structures that are not only functional but also aesthetically pleasing on their own. In future posts, I will cover more advanced building techniques and styles.