Public Spaces vs Private Spaces ~ How-To Use Room Markers (Basics)

[MrsFlynn]

Using these space or room markers can be done with just base game.

Hidden Room Markers and Public Room Markers are base game items, you can get to the via the buydebug menu with testingcheatsenabled on. (Press Ctrl-Shift-C together and type in testingcheatsenabled on)

 💡 – Important Note: Once room markers are placed you need to use the {restrictbuildbuyinbuildings off} cheat to edit anything on that lot.

Click on images to see larger view.

  ✽ – BuyDebug
Buy Mode > Sort by Function > Debug [?].


    Go to the last tab called Misc. Objects, scroll down until you see the orb called Hidden Room Marker and/or Public Room Marker.

** Do not put any markers in your Sims' bedrooms/bathroom. This is considered their own private space.

  ✽ – Hidden Room Marker:
This marker is for rooms your Sim will not have access to. This is considered rooms where NPC Sims will be living.



  ✽ – Public Room Marker:
This marker is for all the spaces you want your Sim to use, but not own any of the objects. For example, living spaces, such as kitchen, living room, family room, etc. Any space you want to consider shared public space.


Please note: The NPC rooms will be darkened out when in Live mode. All NPC Sims do is walk through them and disappear. There is no need to furnish their rooms. If you ring their doorbell, they will come to the door to interact with your active Sim.

Pick the lot you want to build on and build the house or apartments as you would normally. This includes furnishing, decorating, and recoloring the objects if desired. Once room markers are placed you need to use the {restrictbuildbuyinbuildings off} cheat to edit anything on that lot.

     ✽ – To Turn Editing off. Press Ctrl-Shift-C together to bring up the cheat window and type in testingcheatsenabled on and then type in restrictbuildbuyinbuildings on. This turns off the build cheat.

You don't need to furnish/decorate the rooms or spaces that you'll be putting the hidden markers in. You can even take out some walls so you don't have to place as many hidden markers. This may help lower the cost of the purchase price of the lot.

[MrsFlynn]

In this example I am using a home I previously built. If you'd like to see it in person with the NPC Doors setup, click here. Look for a file called Finley-B1b.zip near the bottom of the post.

Click on images to see larger view.

The hidden rooms won't be used by my active Sim so I use free wood flooring and free wall covering to place in those rooms. This also helps me plan out which rooms will be hidden and public.

Free Wood Flooring -
Build Mode > Floor & Ceilings - 3rd tab over - The first 8 floorings are free.



Free Wall Coverings -
Build Mode > Walls > Wall Coverings > Miscellaneous tab - The first 6 wall coverings are free.



Door still need to be placed to the rooms, so the NPC Sims can get into their rooms. The doors need to be placed on the outside of the NPC rooms. Lights are needed for public spaces as well.



Now that the house is built, furnished and decorated and NPC rooms have been done. We can place the markers.

[MrsFlynn]

Click on images to see larger view.

I'm starting in the basement with hidden markers being placed in the NPC rooms. Once markers are placed, the grid disappears. Also, will be hidden once you go into Live mode.



    Press the Esc key to let go of the markers.

Once markers and NPC Doors are placed you can press Ctrl-Shift-Click on them to make them an NPC Door.



Don't forget to place a public room marker in the hallway. If you don't Sims can't get to their rooms.



Basement is finished.



Most of the upstairs is public as in the living room, kitchen/dining room areas and the bathroom just off the entryway/front door.



The bedrooms are my active Sim's private spaces, so I won't be placing any markers in them. Though the doors to these private spaces may need to be locked - to specific Sims when in Live Mode to keep NPC Sims out.

[MrsFlynn]

Click on images to see larger view.

No room marker balls show in Live Mode!!



In Live Mode, the NPC Rooms are gone. They appear when in Build/Buy Mode.



You can click on any NPC Door that has been setup and select Ring Doorbell and a Sim will appear for your Sim to interact with.



You may even see other Sims popping out of the NPC Doors. lol



You can edit your Sim's rooms/spaces without having to use the {restrictbuildbuyinbuildings off} cheat.



To keep NPC Sim's out of your Sim's private rooms, you may need to lock the rooms to Specific Sims.