The one-minute rule

A first-night shelter only needs four walls, a roof, a door and a light. Build it next to trees so your wood is close, and near water if you can.

Starter house styles

1. The log box. 5x5 planks with log corners. Build it in two minutes.
2. The hillside dugout. Dig into a hill and add a wooden front wall.
3. The tree house. Build a platform in a big tree. Most mobs cannot reach you.
4. The stilted hut. Raise a small house on fence posts over water.
5. The lookout tower. A tall, thin tower so you can scout the area when morning comes.

Upgrade it later

Once you have a stone pickaxe, swap planks for cobblestone at the base, then add a proper roof. See our roof designs guide.