When you start a new survival world in Minecraft, you may feel overwhelmed because there is so much to do before day turns to night. You can spend your first night in a dirt house, but the best way to increase your chances of survival is to build a small starter home that can meet all of your early game requirements before transitioning to a new home.
Just because these early homes may not be permanent doesn't mean you should skimp on decorating the entire building. That's because there are hundreds of online tutorials that can help you throughout the building process. If you're wondering which of these starter homes best suits your needs, check out the list below.
Updated on January 24, 2026 by Zoë J. Osik: Your first house in Minecraft is very important. That's where you'll set up shop and lay down roots for your future endeavors. We recommend making one you like as it will be your safe haven for the first few hours of gameplay. We've updated the list to include new builds that you can experiment with to find the perfect starter home, no matter what biome you're in.
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compact starter house
These modular starter homes utilize the minimum amount of space required, saving you both time and resources. This house in particular has one block of standing room inside, and all other space is taken up by a bed, two chests, a workbench, and a fireplace.
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The house is made of simple wooden blocks and cobblestone and is best used by players who are not very interested in the building aspect of Minecraft.
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Cottage Starter House
There is nothing more cozy than a simple villa and Ayvocado's first house really proves this statement. Built from dark oak and spruce planks, this quaint cottage provides everything you need as you begin your Minecraft adventure.
Additionally, you can add decorations like leaves or fake chimneys to further enhance the overall aesthetic of this simple building.
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Plains Starter House
If you are entering the fantastic world of Minecraft for the first time, it is recommended to settle in the plains biome. These locations offer a large amount of wildlife, ample space for farming, and areas unobstructed by construction.
In particular, building a Plains Starter House means you'll have plenty of room to rest your head at night, while also maintaining a large group of crops to replenish your hunger bar. This is definitely the smallest house on the list, but you can easily build this building in one Minecraft day to protect yourself from monsters that may spawn during the night.
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Lakeside Starter House
If you spawn next to a large lake or ocean, you can always incorporate these bodies of water into your creations. The house uses a spruce trapdoor as the foundation for a small L-shaped dock, upon which the entire two-story house rests.
The house itself is made of simple materials such as cobblestone, wood, brick and deep-slate brick. Despite the house being built on a sophisticated landscape, the entire foundation is only a 9×9 square, making it the perfect opportunity for novice builders to practice their skills.
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Deep Slate Starter House
The Deep Slate Starter House is one of the updated versions of the Plains Starter House. This deep slate structure features additional stories and diorite decoration to create an attractive exterior. In particular, the Deep Slate Stater House uses the aforementioned blocks to decorate the roof of the house, allowing the spruce planks to blend seamlessly into the overall structure.
Additionally, unlike the previous two full homes on this list, this starter home has a second story. This means that as you progress through the game, you can specialize different parts of your house by adding additional storage, forges, enchanting rooms, and more.
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Starter Oak House
The Starter Oak House is probably the most common starter home on the entire list. But don't mistake this for a bad thing. Modeled after an old villager's house, this multi-level structure is made entirely of wood and offers everything needed for full play in a single, compact space.
Specifically, the lower levels of the property are reserved for farming and enchanting, while the main level of the house contains crafting space and the all-important bed. Overall, if you are a player who prioritizes utility and functionality, this is definitely the starter house for you.
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blue starter house
This little blue starter house is perfect for players who love exploring the dangerous Nether dimension. The main building material for this house is Twisted Wood, which can only be found in the Twisted Forest of the Nether.
This dark blue wood goes perfectly with dark woods like spruce or plank. Starter homes are relatively small and built with intersecting diagonal roofs, creating space for upstairs bedrooms and storage areas.
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Winter Starter House
If you play Minecraft on warm summer nights and want something a little cooler, you should build a Winter Starter House. This house is made entirely of spruce and planks, as these trees can be found in abundance in snow-covered forests.
Additionally, you can decorate the exterior of your home with dead plants or berry bushes to add color to the structure. Finally, wait until it snows and your roof will be covered in a comfortable layer of snow.
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Japanese Starter House
While most of the homes on this list focus on creating a fully functional structure, the Japanese Starter House aims to blend the aesthetics of Japanese architecture with the usability of a starter home. In particular, the building utilizes deep slate steps and slabs to create a pointed roof similar to a Japanese temple.
However, while his design is certainly attractive, it can be quite difficult to replicate for inexperienced builders. However, since the game lets you learn the basic building skills required to create attractive structures, it's worth taking on that challenge.
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medieval starter house
If you like a more traditional aesthetic, consider building a medieval-themed home from Nanaroid. This traditional house has two floors, a gazebo, small stables and a sloping roof reminiscent of houses of the period.
A great starter home also comes with farm-like amenities. You can easily build farms to provide a consistent food source while still sticking to your build theme. Unfortunately, the only downside to this build is that it slightly increases the difficulty as building the roof can be a bit tricky.
