In reality, there are buildings of various styles, but in Minecraft construction, there’s no need to worry about not being able to replicate them. Among all housing styles, the most common type is the cozy and warm style. However, there’s another style you’re sure to love—the dark style, which is perfect for showcasing during the night. If you enjoy this type of architecture but struggle with design ideas, these builds are especially for you.
① Fence
In the overall structure, the design of the fence is crucial. In horror-style builds, it can even be said that the fence itself is a key architectural element. So, how do you build a dark-style fence?
Fences are not highly customizable. After some experimentation, I found this design to be the most suitable. First, Soul Sand is essential—most other blocks don’t fit the dark style well. For the fence itself, regular fence blocks are used. Soul Sand alone isn’t enough; you’ll also need Mob Heads. However, they shouldn’t be overused—one head per three-block length of fence is sufficient. Finally, add some Turtle Eggs and Brown Mushrooms.
② House
If you’ve observed a Zombie Village closely, designing a dark-style house won’t be a problem. Zombie Villages have two key characteristics: lots of Cobwebs and plenty of Moss Blocks. Incorporating these elements into the house will help establish the style. Ancient-style architecture works best for this. The door shouldn’t be just a simple one—you can add Mob Heads and hanging lanterns around it. Here’s a detail: focus the lighting around the door; other areas can be left dark to enhance the mystery.
③ Altar
Altars were places for rituals in ancient Western cultures and naturally fit the dark style. The core of building an altar isn’t its appearance but the atmosphere created by smoke. You can design the altar freely, but don’t make it too tall. Underneath the blocks, hollow out a space and place Lava inside. This way, you won’t see flames on the surface, but you will observe smoke rising.
④ Trees
Yes, that’s right—trees can also be structures. Of course, they’re not natural trees but ones you design yourself. The best material is wood, and Vines and Cobwebs are essential too. Even though it’s a tree structure, you don’t need leaves—use wood blocks to shape the tree. Here’s a useful design idea: first, place the tree structure, pour Lava over it, then add Water. Use this charred appearance as a reference to build your tree structure—it will be much easier this way.
⑤ Scarecrow
No manor is complete without a scarecrow, and a dark-style manor is no exception. However, this isn’t a normally styled scarecrow. The core item is a Carved Pumpkin. The scarecrow’s appearance will resemble a Snow Golem. You’ll also need Banners, Fences, and Wooden Planks. Keep the size moderate and the number limited. Finally, adding some Cobwebs is a nice touch.
⑥ Second House
The architectural style of the entire manor shouldn’t be limited to just one type—the second house is also very important. The Zombie Village house style works particularly well here, using Moss Blocks for construction. You can add Iron Bars to enhance the mysterious feel, making it resemble a dungeon in a village. Notice that every house includes Cobwebs—this might be the only architectural style where Cobwebs truly fit.
No matter what kind of house it is, as long as you build it carefully, it becomes a perfect house, doesn’t it?
