How to Model a House in 3DS Max

In this tutorial I am going to show you how to create a house, design objects inside of it, and finally create an animation.

First we have to create the layout of the house. To do this we have to first create a box and lay it across the full work space given. This will be our floor. Next create more boxes and lay them along the edges of the floor to make the walls. Make sure to leave space for the doors to be made.

For this step we need to create the floor plan for the house. Now that we have the base layout of the home we must section off the rooms. To do this we create another box and make it into another wall just like the ones outside. These walls will be positioned on the inside of the house to create the borders of a room. Once we create those walls we must add in the doorways. To do this add another wall and extend it all the way up to the border wall. Do not move it all the way though so we have space for a door. With that you will have a door shape but have a space on the top that must be filled. To do this you must select the object, go to the modify tab and select modify poly, and then select the polygon option. Finally you will use the polygon option on the top part of the wall to close in the gap leaving a door space. To do this you will select the needed spaces with the polygon option and scroll down on the modify tab. While scrolling down make sure that ignore backspacing is on. Lastly with the upper wall selected you will scroll down and find the extrude tool. Once selected the tool can be used to extrude the wall pieces selected and leave a door space.

Now that we have the layout for the house we are going to start filling in the rooms. First we will work on the living room. The first object that we are going to create is a couch. To do this we must create a box shape and then scale it to make a rectangle. While creating any object make sure edged faces is on. Then right click on the name that says box and select editable poly. Select the edges of the shape and use the move tool to raise them up making the arms of the couch. Finally to finish the couch turn the shape around and select the polygons that are on the back, raise these using the move tool and you will have a couch. Next is the chair, this will be the exact same steps as the couch except the object will stay a square. The last object for the room will be a tv. To create the tv we will make another box shape. Once the shape is made go to editable poly and select vertex. Use this to select the lines made of vertices and create a box shape in the middle of the object. Then use the polygon tool to select that middle shape that was created. Finally use the extrude tool with the middle box selected and pull the space back making it look like a tv screen.

The next room we will begin working on is the kitchen. The first object we will make is the island. For the island the design is very simple. Create a simple box shape and make it into the form of a rectangle. After that fit it in the room and space it where you want using the move and scale tool. The next object to create will be the refrigerator. To make this first start off with creating a rectangular shape. Also make sure the shape is standing upwards like a refrigerator would in real life. Next change the object to an editable poly located on the modify tab, use the polygon option to select the spots where you want the handles to go and extrude the spots. Fit them how you want and then finally add another going across near the bottom to resemble the handle for a freezer add on. Next we are going to make the cabinets. For this create a box and do the same steps as the refrigerator when creating the handles. After this position the cabinets in the spaces that you want them. The final item we will create for the kitchen is the oven. For this object start by creating a square, next make the object an editable poly and select the vertex tool. Move the vertices in the middle of the square to create a space for the inside of the oven. After that select polygon and pick the spot you just created with the vertices. With the section selected scroll down and use the extrude tool and pull the section back to give the effect of inside of the oven. You can color that section however you want but I made it black to give the effect of glass. Finally like the previous objects before create a handle on the upper area.

Now that the kitchen is done we will work on the dining room. First we will create the table, to do this we must first make a rectangle shape. After this we will make it into an editable poly and create a middle section using the vertices like the previous objects created. Since we want this table to be more new and modern instead of a 4 legged table traditional look we are going to use the polygon tool, select the middle section, and extrude the bottom of the table in the center to give a modern look. The next object we are going to create is the chairs. For this we are going to create a flat square then similar to the handles move the vertices to a spot that leaves four corner sections on the bottom of the shape. After these are made select the polygon tool and pick all four corners, use the extrude tool and this will create the chair legs. With this you should have a stool but we aren't done. Finally to finish the chair select the few polygons on the top on one side that aren't connected to the chair legs. You will then use the move tool and pull upwards to create the seating section of the chair. Now we must create the bowls and plates. For a bowl you can simply create a sphere, select the polygon tool, and pick a little over half of the bowl and delete the selected section leaving you with a bowl. Next we can create a plate. To do this take another bowl and select all vertices with the vertex tool. Now that all vertices are selected pull down with the move tool and you will get a plate shape. Finally we have the utensils, first we will make a fork. To make a fork we will make a very short rectangle and extend the edges using the extrude tool. Next use the vertices tool to shape the fork. After that we will create a spoon, to create the spoon take a sphere and slice it in half using the slice tool. Next use the polygon tool at one of the edges of the slice sphere and extrude it which creates a spoon. The final object for the dining room is a knife. For this item simply create a shape like the fork and select the vertex tool. Use the vertices to shape the object into a knife as best as you can.

Now that the dining room is done we are going to fill in the bathroom. The first item we are going to create is a towel rack. To do this first start off by creating a cylinder. Make it long and thin so that it best represents the handle of a towel rack. Next as seen in the first picture above we are going to select 3 polygons on each end of the towel rack using the polygon tool and extend them using the extrude tool. This will allows the towel rack to connect to the wall of the bathroom. The next object we will make is a bathtub/shower combo. To do this we will start by creating the tub. Start off by making a square shape, elongate it into a somewhat more rectangular shape using the scale tool, and finally like the oven in the kitchen and some of our previous designs we are going to use the vertex tool in the modify section to create a square shape in the middle of the rectangle. Use the polygon tool to select the space created and pull it down using the extrude tool leaving you with a bathtub. For the shower part of the combo we are going to create a shower head. For this simply take a thin cylinder shape and extrude a single polygon using the polygon tool to connect it to the wall right above the tub. Next we are going to make a sink. Start by creating a sphere and using the slice tool in the modify section to cut it in half only leaving the bottom section. Next use the polygon tool to extrude the bottom of the sphere to create the sink. The final object for the room we must create is a toilet. To do this first create a thin cylinder to act as the toilet seat, next extend it down on the bottom using the extrude tool to create the base and finally on the top back section use the polygon tool and select the area, once selected use the scale tool and pull up creating the seat cover.

Now that the bathroom is done we are moving on to the final room of the house that needs to be filled in, the bedroom. First we must create a bed to do this we are going to take a rectangle shape and using the vertex tool move the vertices in the corners leaving four squares on the base of the shape one in each corner. Next select the polygon tool and select the 4 corner squares. With these spots selected use the extrude tool to pull down and create the legs of the bed. Finally for this shape go to the top section on the edge and use the extrude tool to pull up creating the headboard. Next we are going to create a dresser. For this we are going to start with a square shape, next similar to the oven use the vertex tool to create multiple boxes where the drawer can go. Finally select those sections with the polygon tool and extrude them back making the look of drawers. The final object for the room will be a closet. Since we have a small room we are simply going to create the illusion of a closet. To do this we will take two squares and using the scale tool we will make them longer, into the shape of a door. Next we will clone the door by right clicking and selecting clone. Once in the room we will place them next to each other to make the illusion of doors leading to a closet.

As the last step before we begin animating the house we must add lighting. To do this go to the photometric tab and select free light. Finally place the lights where you see fit.

For the final step we are going to animate the house. First we must add a camera to walk around the house. To do this go to the cameras tab and select free camera. Next select the set key button at the bottom of the screen and start recording the rooms. Make sure to move the camera as you go so it records the areas. Finally select the rendering tab and edit the render. Make sure to select the active time segment. Once the rendering has finished then you will have fully finished the house and animation