Build Mode and Home Store Refresh FAQ

During the August 2026 Tale of Knights update, the Build Mode and Home Store refresh will be available to a small group of players. Build Mode is a fundamental part of The Sims FreePlay and one of the main ways Simmers express their creativity, so it is important that these changes support how players build and decorate. This limited release will help us understand how well the refreshed experience works as development continues. It will be available only for the duration of the update.

The refresh introduces a new look and several new features designed to make the Home Store easier to navigate, help you find what you are looking for, and make building and decorating faster. This guide explains what has changed and how to use the updated experience.

Let's jump in and see what's changed.

How do I enter the Home Store?

You can enter the Home Store by tapping the blue Home Store button in the bottom-right of your device screen, just like before.

Where do I find the category I'm looking for?

To simplify navigation, Build Mode is now organized into two clear spaces: Furnish and Construct. Furnish is where you'll find categories for personalizing your home, including Kitchen, Living Room, Bedroom, and Lighting. Construct is where you'll find everything you need to shape your build, including Rooms, Doors, and Windows, and – once you've unlocked them – Pools, Stairs, Balconies, and more.

To swap between these spaces, simply tap the green Furnish (🛋️) and Construct (🔨) buttons in the top-left of the Home Store menu.

What happened to items with color variants?

Items with multiple color swatches are now grouped under a single item card. For these items, you will notice a list of color swatches on the right side of the item card.

Simply tap the item card in the Home Store. Then, find a place for the item on your lot. Finally, select an available color swatch from the swatch picker menu.

How can I see the price, name, and star rating for each item in the Home Store?

While browsing a category, you will see an item's price, name, and star rating on its item card, including its currency type – Simoleons, LP, or SP.

For items with multiple color swatches, the item card will display this information for only the color variant shown on the card.

To see this information for other color variants, simply tap the item card. The item will appear in your lot with the swatch picker menu, which also shows each swatch's currency type. From here, you can select each color swatch and take note of its price, name, and star rating before purchasing.

What happened to the Inventory button?

Instead of opening a separate category to view your Inventory items, you can now toggle your Inventory on to quickly see what you own.

Simply toggle the on-off switch next to the cardboard box (📦) icon in the top-left of the Home Store menu. When enabled, the Home Store displays only the items you currently own in the Furnish or Construct spaces, hiding categories that contain no items. Your Inventory will still show each color variant individually, so it's easy to see exactly which variant you own.

How do I search for items?

You can search for items by tapping the green magnifying glass (🔍) button in the bottom-left of the Home Store menu. Start by entering the item's name – or even part of it. Then, tap the search bar to enter your search. You will see only the categories that contain items that match your search. Open a category, and you will see the items you searched for. Try searching for "elegant" and see what you find!

Search uses the language your game is set to and looks through item names. Using the full item name will usually give you the best results.

To cancel a search, tap the ❌ button next to your search query in the bottom-left of the Home Store menu.

What happened to the filter menu?

You can access the filter menu by tapping the green slider (🎚️) button in the bottom-left of the Home Store menu. You can use this menu to filter for items by their star rating and currency type.

The category filter options that previously appeared here have moved. Now, you can open any category to see filters at the top of the Home Store menu – for example, Electronics contains Computers, Phones & Stereos, and more. Simply tap one of these filters to see the relevant items. You can even combine these filters with Search and the Inventory toggle to narrow your results even further.

How do I control the camera while viewing the Home Store?

You can pinch, turn, and swipe your fingers to control the camera while the Home Store menu is open, just like before.

You can also select from the buttons on the left side of your device screen, including the zoom button, toggling the top-down camera, changing floors, and hiding and showing walls.

What happened to the 'Move and Sell' button?

The Move and Sell button has been removed. Now you can tap the arrow (▶️) on the left side of the Home Store to collapse the menu and start customizing your home as you did before. Or, while viewing the Home Store, simply tap any item on your lot to move or sell it.

Why do some categories have colored buttons?

To make it easier to find construction features like Rooms, Pools and Basements, their categories will appear on orange buttons in the Construct space.

While a Home Store Sale is happening, you will notice the purple Special Offers category appear in the Home Store. Check it out – you might find some items you don't own!

Can I still find Craft Challenge stations in the Home Store?

Yes, they will appear in the Event Items category in the Furnish space while a Craft Challenge is happening.

How do I exit the Home Store?

You can exit the Home Store by tapping the green exit button at the top right of your device screen.

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