3 Video Games That Will Scratch Your Interior Design Itch

Most people only get one home to decorate, and once this mammoth task has been completed, it's unlikely that they will start the process over again; Graham and Brown estimate that the average person redecorates once every five years. On top of this, in 2020, only 4% of the UK's population lived alone. This means that not only does the average person in the UK have finite opportunities to decorate their home, but that they will also often have to compromise when decorating.

For most people, this is fine. The task of decorating a home is time consuming and can be overwhelming, not to mention a strain on personal finances.

However, for some, interior design is a hobby and passion. These people will stay on top of the current interior design trends, constantly tinker with different DIY projects, and have a number of brimming Pinterest inspiration boards.

One way to scratch the interior design itch is video games. There are many games out there that allow gamers to decorate and renovate spaces. In this blog post, I will share my three favourite home decorating games. I will also share video clips from Youtube, in order to demonstrate how these interior design elements work. 

Designing and building a home is a dream for many people, and in the Sims 4, you can bring that dream to life. The Sims 4 is available on computers and can be bought from Origin, a digital distribution platform for video games. It may come as a surprise for some that there are such expansive building and decorating options in the Sims 4, since the game is mainly known for being a life simulator where you control the lives of tiny, digital people. However, the Sims 4 comes with thousands of options for flooring, wall colours, windows, doors, furniture and even roofing textures.

Not only is it possible to design your dream home in the Sims 4, but many people use the game to create floor plans when they are moving. This is an excellent way of planning out a space without the hassle of heaving heavy furniture backwards and forwards. 

Animal Crossing: New Horizons was eagerly anticipated when it came out in 2020, on the Nintendo Switch. Like the Sims 4, it is a life simulator. This is where the similarities end between the two games, however. ACNH is a slow-paced game that allows the player to explore island life. They are able to bond with their neighbours, a pack of anthropomorphic characters, fill the local museum with a variety of different artefacts, and - of course - decorate. In ACNH, not only can you decorate your home, you can decorate your island as well.

Throughout the gameplay of ACNH, the player collects furniture and fill out your catalogue. This means that at first, the player doesn't have many decorating options. Collecting different furniture, wallpaper and flooring options becomes all the more satisfying because of this though. 

While there is less decorating freedom in ACNH in comparison to the Sims 4, it is possible to create a variety of different living spaces in the game that will reflect your character's personality, and maybe even tell a story. 

House Flipper is a first person game that allows you to pick up different clients who need help with their homes. The game starts off relatively easy, with clients who just want their homes to be cleaned or painted, however as you progress in the game, the tasks get more time-consuming and eventually you are granted more decorating freedom. House Flipper is available on a number of different gaming platforms, such as the Nintendo Switch and the computer, through Steam, a digital game distributor. 

House Flipper is different to the two previous games listed as it revolves entirely around decorating and renovating homes. Because of this, it is a bit more of a slow burner. I find myself having to take more breaks when playing House Flipper, but it's also so satisfying to clean up and decorate the unloved spaces that can be found in the game. 

It's a shame that these games don't have a virtual Pick and Fix Kitchens business that the characters can visit for all their kitchen handle needs, as there are a number of furniture pieces in all the games that would look even better if they had some brushed brass cup handles or cast iron pumpkin knobs. 

Are there any games that aren't on this list that you think should be? Let us know over at our instagram page!