I got a request for some window sill tutorials. These are all I could think of.
Things you’ll need for all or some of these:
Hold Alt to have a better range when shifting shelves up or down, or when placing objects not on the grid
NRAAS DebugEnabler (my tutorial here)
1. One of the simplest sills would be a regular game shelf shifted to the height of the bottom of the window.
2. As I already mentioned in my 10 Things to do with Shelves (in No. 4), if you have any “outie” windows, attach a shelf on the outside wall and shift it to the level of the bottom of the window. Note: Since the shelf is outside, the decor on the shelf will react to outer lighting as opposed to lighting inside the room.
Here I’m using the Base Game “Not Just a Bay Window” window. I’m using two Into the Future shelves (on top of each other, for more slots). I also turned one of the shelves to face the wall as opposed to facing outside. I did so because you can’t rotate objects on EA shelves, so the cactus was stuck facing the outside and you couldn’t really see the flowers on it.
This is what it looks like from the outside. The shelf is a little longer than the window, but I don’t think it’s such a big deal. I am using ITF shelves here because they’re thinner than Generations one. Note: To get rid of the ITF shelf “light”, make the glow channel black when recolouring the shelf.
3. This one also uses “outie” windows, but this time I will “place” objects on the window using DebugEnabler, so there is no need for any shelves AND you’re able to display larger objects that otherwise don’t go on shelves.
If you’re new to DebugEnabler in terms of lifting objects, please check my DebugEnabler tutorial.
I’m simply placing these 4 objects of my choice (3 of which would not go on a shelf) right under the window, around the position of where I want them to be on the bottom window shelf (it might take you a couple tries to get the positions right). Once that’s done, I lifted the objects. If I remember correctly, for this particular window (Fantasie Bay Window), my height was 0.61 for the 2 book piles and the lemonade. The birdy needed a bigger height because I was placing it on top of one of the book piles.
4. Similarly, you can use the lifting technique with a normal window, as long it has some semblance of a sill on it, and the decor you use is relatively small.
Here’s how I embellished the Classic Arch Window from Seasons EP:
5. On to more complex stuff. There’s a way to build a kind of window sill.
Start off by determining how wide you’d like it to be. Mine is going to be 3- tile wide. Build wall columns as shown below on the edges of your would-be window sill.
Choose any solid fence or a half-wall to wall in your space. I’m using Simply Stylish Wall fencing from Showtime EP here.
Next, we will begin to cover the top space with some shelves. It’s easier to start from the inner side of the fence, but you’ll probably find that the stubborn shelf will not turn because it’ll keep snapping to the tall wall in the back. You don’t HAVE to have 2 of the 4 shelves facing another way, but that’s how I do it (mostly due to how light reacts with the shelf).
Place a shelf on the tall wall, don’t bother shifting it up or down because it’s there temporarily. Now place another shelf right on top of it.
Use the “grab” tool and grab either shelf, and while still “holding” the shelf, press (and keep pressing) Shift, and then either “<” or “>” key to rotate your shelf ‘til you finally have it in the correct position - it should appear to be sticking to the fence/half-wall.
Shift it up or down so it’s the same height as the top of your fence/half-wall, and get rid of the other shelf on the back wall.
Now that you have one shelf on correct height, use the “eyedrop” tool to clone the shelf. The cloned shelves will come on exact same height, so that saves you the hassle of shifting them manually again.
Cover the whole space with shelves. If you’re making a 2-tile sill, you’ll only need 2 shelves. I need 4 to cover my 3-tile sill.
Then I find some windows.
6. A different way to achieve a quite similar look is through the use of foundation in a sunken room. I won’t dwell into how to build a sunken room (because this post is already way too long), but if you’d like to find out more about it, simply search for “sunken room Sims 3” or something, and I’m sure you won’t have trouble finding a decent tutorial.
A sunken room is a room that’s build on foundation but foundation is removed in that one room, so you end up with a room that’s 1 floor high plus the height of the foundation.
If you know how to build a sunken room, here’s what you’re looking for:
See, instead of the whole shelf+fence business, you have some foundation instead.
I took a slightly different approach when recolouring/furnishing to show that other things can be achieved with this “sill”. :-)
7. This one’s not so much a window sill, but it still provides a shelving space, and the counter underneath looks like a neat radiator cover.
You’ll need one or more island counters for this. I’m using Immemorial Counter Island from Base Game, and I suggest using the exact one because it changes to become “smaller” when 2 pieces are connected.
Place one of the counters and using MOO cheat and by holding Alt key, move it as far into the wall as you can, as long as parts don’t start showing on the other side of the wall.
Now grab another counter and connect the two, and watch as they transform.
With recolouring and furnishing:
8. This technique also uses counters, but it goes for that very simple “shelf” look, similar to the first technique. We will manipulate the counters to have the top surface only, which was previously shown here.
Choose a counter (non-island), I’ll be using Modern Cowboy Counter from Pets EP. As you can see in the below image, the two counters are a bit wide for my window of choice, so I’ll be manually positioning them.
With MOO on and while holding Alt key, I moved the counter.
Now though, if I simply grab another counter and snap it onto my first, it won’t line up with the window on the right side and will be sticking out even more than in the first image of this technique.
Attempting to move the 2nd counter will prove to be different because it’ll be trying to snap to the 1st counter. Use a large object to break up the snapping grid between the two. I’m using Base Game treadmill to do so.
Once it’s in place, I’m free to move the second counter freely, so I aligned it in accordance with the window width, as well as the 1st counter.
Edit: Alternatively, you can use the “DisableSnappingToSlotsOnAlt True” cheat.
Time to turn these counters into top-only parts. Use any large kitchen appliance that goes inside the counters - trash compactors, dishwashers or any other.
If you currently don’t have “TestingCheatsEnabled On” cheat active, it’s time to activate it. Once you’ve done that, Shift+click (in Live Mode) or Shift+Ctrl+click (in Build/Buy Mode) the appliance (not the counter), and either “Object…”->“Delete It”, or “Delete It”.
You should end up with the top bits only now. If you’re happy with what you have, consider yourself done. Personally, I thought the top bits were a tad too high for the window, so I’ll be lowering them using DebugEnabler.
I’ve lowered the left counter part by 0.1 and you can see the difference.
9. This technique allows you to create a simpler/neater sill + “radiator space”. You’ll need some sort of thin square object, so I’ll be using a nectar rack from World Adventures EP.
Here I’ve turned it to face the wall so I get the solid back side. I’m using two racks slightly moved into one another to appear as wide as the window (and the shelf).
The reason I need shelf is because you can’t place objects on top of the nectar rack.
This is what it looks like with the shelf shifted as high as the racks.
I’ve deliberately made my “sill” the same colour/pattern as the wallpaper, to make it seem as if it’s part of the wall.
10. Lastly, remember that you can use any other pretty shelves that already come with decor on them as your window sills.
