Stop Losing Colonists to Bad Base Design: Fix Your RimWorld Colony Layout

Guide Contents

Stop Losing Colonists to Bad Base Design

Are your colonists dying because they can't reach safety in time? Starving because the kitchen is too far from the freezer? Getting picked off by raiders because your defenses have gaps? Poor base design kills more colonists than any other factor in RimWorld. This guide will show you exactly how to fix your colony layout to keep your people alive and thriving.

We'll cover life-saving layout principles that prevent colonist deaths, room designs that maximize survival chances, and defensive structures that actually work. Whether you're playing vanilla or with DLCs, these proven strategies will transform your deadly base into a colonist-saving fortress. If you're just starting out, check our comprehensive beginner's guide for essential survival tactics.

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This guide covers:

  • Base layout fundamentals and efficiency principles
  • Room-by-room optimization tips
  • Defense structures and killbox designs
  • Adapting for all DLCs (Royalty, Ideology, Biotech)
  • Start-specific strategies (Tribal, Crashlanded, Rich Explorer)
  • Helpful mods and tools for better building

Looking for more RimWorld guides? Check out our research optimization guide to unlock the right technologies for your base, or our essential mods guide for tools that make base building even better.

Quick-Start Blueprint

Short on time? This section is your quick guide to setting up an efficient base layout in any new game. Follow these steps in your first few in-game days:

  1. Pick Your Base Spot Wisely: Pause the game and survey the map. Look for a defensible location – ideally against a hillside or in a nook, so you have fewer flanks to guard. Ensure there's room to expand.
  2. Start with a Single Multi-Purpose Building: In the very beginning, build one structure that will serve multiple functions. A popular starter layout is an 11x11 interior (13x13 with walls) square. Divide it with temporary walls: one corner for freezer, one for kitchen/workspace, and the remaining area as barracks.
  3. Get Essential Rooms Running: By end of day 1 or 2, aim to have:
    • A freezer (even if small) with a cooler
    • A cooking station near the freezer
    • A table with chairs for dining
    • Sleeping space (barracks initially)
    • Basic defenses (traps, sandbags)
  4. Plan Your Expansion: Use the in-game planning tool to outline where new rooms will go. Key rooms to add soon: research lab, hospital, prison cell, workshop. Keep bedrooms at the outer edges and high-traffic work areas central.
  5. Upgrade from Barracks to Bedrooms: As resources allow, give each colonist a 5×5 bedroom. Include a bed, dresser, and end table in each. Place bedrooms along the perimeter of your base.
  6. Set Up Dedicated Work Areas: By mid-game, aim to have:
    • Kitchen + Dining: adjacent but separate
    • Workshop: near raw material storage
    • Hospital: central and sterile
    • Prison: secure and close to hospital
  7. Fortify & Organize:
    • Build a perimeter wall with a killbox entrance
    • Use shelves to optimize storage (3 stacks each)
    • Set up proper lighting throughout the base
    • Establish power grid redundancy
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Grow and Iterate:

Don't be afraid to redesign as you go. Your base will evolve; the best builders continually tweak layouts. Aim for a setup where related rooms are adjacent and pawns can do their daily routines with minimal walking and maximal safety.

Base Layout Fundamentals

Let's break down the core principles that make a base efficient and functional. These rules apply to virtually any colony, regardless of biome or scenario.

Plan Ahead & Embrace Adaptation

Always build with a plan in mind, but be ready to adapt to RimWorld's random events. Use the planning tool to sketch future expansions and build in stages – you don't need to erect your entire base on day one.

💡 Pro Tip:

Build one big room and use cheap walls to divide it temporarily (e.g., into a freezer and barracks). Later, remove those internal walls to convert spaces as needed.

Minimize Foot Traffic: Base Flow and Distance

An efficient base lets pawns get stuff done with minimal walking. Centralize high-usage areas (workshops, dining/rec, storage) and keep bedrooms on the outskirts.

Use Hallways Efficiently:

  • Main thoroughfares: Use 3-tile-wide hallways for smooth passing
  • Secondary paths: 2-wide halls in low-traffic zones
  • Place doors strategically: Create shortcuts between frequently connected rooms

Preserve and Boost Room Beauty

A pretty base isn't just for vanity – it has practical in-game benefits. Beautiful environments give mood boosts; ugly ones give debuffs.

Hide Ugliness

  • Keep dirty work in specific areas
  • Place dumping zones far from living areas
  • Isolate butcher tables from dining areas

"Decor-bomb" High-Traffic Areas

  • Place sculptures in warehouses and work areas
  • Use quality floors in important rooms
  • Add comfort furniture (armchairs vs stools)

Power and Temperature Planning

While building layout, don't forget the infrastructure that powers and preserves your colony. Electrical and temperature management are critical.

Power Grid Tips:

  • Place generators strategically (ugly ones in side rooms)
  • Use redundant conduits (don't rely on one power line)
  • Isolate batteries for safety (prevent Zzzt events)

Temperature Management:

Room Ideal Temp Design Considerations
Freezer -18°C or lower Double walls, airlock entry, multiple coolers
Kitchen ~21°C Keep clean, adjacent to freezer, avoid heat
Bedrooms 16-26°C Connected by vents for efficient heating
Hospital 18-20°C Cooler side to prevent disease spread
⚠️ Anti-Infestation Trick:

Keep mountain rooms below -17°C to prevent infestations. This is power-costly but effective for critical areas.

Efficient Room Designs

Let's zoom into individual rooms and areas – how to design each to best serve its purpose. These specifications will help you create functional, efficient spaces.

Bedrooms: Private Spaces or Communal Barracks?

Optimal Size and Furniture

A 5×5 interior bedroom (that's 6×6 including walls) is often cited as the sweet spot for regular colonists. It's spacious enough for comfort bonuses while being economical with space.

Key Furniture Placement:

  • Place bed with head against a wall
  • Position dresser within 6 tiles of bed (for bonus)
  • End table directly adjacent to head of bed
  • Add a small sculpture or plant in corner for beauty

Bedroom Size Guide

Size Effect
3×3 (9 tiles) Cramped
3×4 (12 tiles) Minimum acceptable
5×5 (25 tiles) Optimal (spacious)
7×7+ (49+ tiles) Luxurious (nobles)

Barracks vs Individual Rooms

Early game, a shared barracks is perfectly fine. In fact, one well-decorated barracks can be better than several awful little bedrooms. As soon as feasible though, give everyone their own room – each colonist in a decent private bedroom gets a mood buff.

💡 Strategic Placement:

Place bedrooms at colony edges as "ablative armor" for your base's core. If a breacher raid comes through a bedroom wall, it's better than them popping straight into your armory or reactor room.

Defense Structures

Defense is a crucial part of base building – a perfect workshop means nothing if raiders murder you in your sleep. Building defensive structures into your base layout ensures survival.

The Killbox: Funneling Raiders to Their Doom

The infamous but effective RimWorld killbox is a trap-laden, turret-lined hallway of death that funnels enemies into a shooting gallery. For advanced combat tactics and weapon selection to maximize your killbox effectiveness, see our detailed defense guide.

Key Elements of an Effective Killbox:

  1. Create a long approach corridor with a bend (prevents sniping from outside)
  2. Place slowdown obstacles (alternating sandbags or rubble) in the corridor
  3. Hide traps between these obstacles
  4. At the corridor exit, deny cover to enemies
  5. Position your colonists behind cover facing the killzone

Turret Placement

  • Position turrets where they're targetable before your colonists
  • Don't clump turrets too close (explosion chain risk)
  • Protect turrets with sandbags or walls
  • Connect to a power switch to save energy when not in use

Right design forces raiders deep into the killbox. Wrong design allows raiders to use corridor walls as cover.

⚠️ Post-1.3 Warning:

Since update 1.3, breach raiders may ignore your killbox completely! They'll use breach axes or explosives to make their own entry points. Don't rely solely on a killbox for defense.

Anti-Breach Defenses

Perimeter Protection
  • Build double-thick walls in vulnerable sections
  • Place scattered traps along likely approach paths
  • Use natural terrain barriers where possible
Layered Defense
  • Create internal chokepoints and barriers
  • Position fallback defenses inside your base
  • Design your base in defensive "zones"
Mobile Defenses
  • Train combat animals as breach deterrents
  • Create sniper positions overlooking perimeter
  • Build emergency evacuation routes

Special Defense Considerations

Fire Safety

Use stone or metal for defensive structures. Place firefoam poppers in strategic locations. The new foam turret can also help fight fires.

Drop Pod Defense

Raiders may drop directly into your base. Roof large open areas or keep them filled. Have interior defensive positions as backup.

Infestation Defense

For mountain bases, keep areas below -17°C to prevent infestations. Create "bait" rooms for infestations away from critical areas.

Adapting to DLC Content

RimWorld's expansions introduce new mechanics that affect how you should build your base. Let's explore how to adapt your colony design to accommodate these features.

Royalty DLC: Noble Requirements and Psycasts

Throne Rooms & Noble Bedrooms

Nobles of rank Yeoman and above will demand a throne room and fancy bedroom. The requirements increase with rank:

Rank Room Size Requirements
Yeoman No specific size Just a throne placed somewhere
Knight 30+ tiles 60+ impressiveness, 2 columns, harp
Count ~80+ tiles 160+ impressiveness, 6 columns, piano, braziers lit

Design Strategy

  • Build a multi-purpose grand room that can serve as a throne room
  • Your dining/rec room can double as a throne room if it meets requirements
  • For noble bedrooms, use your best quality furniture and decorations
  • Place the noble's quarters in a safe interior location

Psycast Meditation

Design meditation spaces based on focus types:

  • Dignified: Nobles meditate on their throne
  • Artistic: Place sculptures in a meditation room
  • Natural: Create a garden with trees or nature shrine

Start Scenario Considerations

Different starting scenarios require different approaches to base building. Let's explore how to modify your strategies based on your game start.

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Tribal Start (Lost Tribe)

Tech Constraints

  • No electricity at start = no coolers or powered devices
  • Rely on passive coolers for temperature control
  • Use campfires for cooking and heating
  • Research is slower, so plan for longer primitive phase

Building Style

Early tribal bases often resemble small villages:

  • Separate huts for different purposes
  • Central communal area with fire pit
  • Wooden palisade walls for basic protection
  • Consider connecting structures with covered walkways

Defense Focus

With 5 colonists but limited tech:

  • Set up trap corridors early
  • Use animals as early warning systems
  • Create multiple defensive positions
  • If using Royalty DLC, protect the Anima tree (no building within 10 tiles)
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Crashlanded (Classic Start)

Balanced Approach

  • Electricity available from day one
  • Set up a freezer and lights quickly
  • Limited manpower (3 people) constrains building speed
  • Use crash site ruins as initial shelter when possible

Compact Design

With only 3 colonists:

  • Start with a compact base - one building containing essential rooms
  • Optimize stockpile placement to minimize hauling
  • Prioritize time-saving infrastructure over aesthetics initially
  • Plan for expansion as your colony grows

Resource Focus

Leverage your starting resources:

  • Components and steel from crashed ship parts
  • Create a secure stockpile under roof immediately
  • Balance between immediate needs and research progress
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Rich Explorer (Solo Start)

Labor Shortage

  • With only one person, building is extremely slow
  • Prioritize absolute essentials only
  • Use survival meals to delay need for freezer/kitchen
  • Focus on recruiting help ASAP

Tiny Initial Base

Keep your first structure extremely compact:

  • A single 4×4 or 5×5 multi-purpose room to start
  • Combine bedroom, kitchen, and storage in one space
  • No wasted space or long walking distances
  • Add rooms only as you recruit more colonists

Security Focus

When you're alone, safety is paramount:

  • Create an escape route or safe room
  • Use deadfall traps around your perimeter
  • Keep medicine and food in your bedroom
  • Leverage your starting wealth for early defenses

Extreme Biomes (Ice Sheet, Desert, etc.)

Extreme biomes demand specialized base designs to handle the harsh environment:

Ice Sheet

  • Build mostly indoors or under mountain
  • Double or triple wall insulation
  • Centralized indoor farm with hydroponics
  • Multiple heat sources with backup power
  • Connected structures to avoid outdoor travel

Desert

  • Cooling is a priority - extra coolers with backup power
  • Build to maximize shade (courtyards, roofed areas)
  • Water conservation systems (if using mods)
  • Indoor farming essential
  • Protected paths between buildings

Rainforest

  • Elevated structures to avoid flooding
  • Extra storage space for abundant resources
  • Disease prevention (clean hospital a priority)
  • Dehumidifiers (if using mods)
  • Pet exclusion zones to keep animals from tracking mud

Leveraging Mods & Tools

While vanilla RimWorld offers plenty for creative base building, there are some in-game tools and popular mods that can make designing and managing your colony easier.

In-Game Planning and Management Tools

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Planning Tool

Don't underestimate the built-in planning designator (in the orders tab). Use it to draw out future rooms, hallways, or measure distances without committing resources.

Pro tip: Plan your power conduit lines or outline the area for a future project so you don't build other structures there.

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Replace Stuff

You can build walls over existing walls to replace materials. This lets you upgrade wood walls to stone without tearing down everything.

Similarly, you can upgrade floor types by just placing new floor orders; they automatically tear up the old ones first.

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Blueprints

If you have Royalty or later expansions, the game allows you to create Blueprints of existing structures.

Design a perfect bedroom once, save the blueprint, then whenever you need a new one, just place the blueprint down—it will mark all walls, furniture layouts, etc., saving a ton of clicking.

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Area Zones

Use allowed area zones to influence where colonists walk, even within the base. For example, exclude animal pens or dumping stockpiles from general traffic to reduce dirt tracking.

This doesn't change layout physically, but optimizes daily movement patterns.

Essential Mods for Base Building

More Planning

Allows using colored planning designations. Extremely useful for complex planning:

  • Blue for future walls
  • Red for critical paths
  • Green for potential expansions
  • Yellow for defensive positions

Allow Tool

Helps manage construction with features like:

  • Mass selecting similar items
  • Quick forbid/unforbid functions
  • "Haul urgently" option for clearing build sites
  • Better designation controls

Vanilla Furniture Expanded

This suite of mods adds many building options:

  • New furniture types (bunk beds, wall lights)
  • Decorative items and structures
  • New production stations
  • Additional defense options

Popular Building Enhancement Mods

  • EdB Prepare Carefully
  • Dubs Bad Hygiene
  • Path Avoid
  • Stack XXL
  • Wall Light
  • Replace Stuff
  • Blueprints
  • RimHUD
  • Progress Renderer
  • Camera+
  • Dubs Mint Menus
  • LWM's Deep Storage

Conclusion & Next Steps

Recap & Action Plan

By now, you've learned how to plan efficiently, design each room optimally, adapt to DLC content, and implement robust defenses. Here's a quick summary of the key takeaways:

  • Keep bedrooms at edges, critical rooms central
  • Use 3-wide hallways for main thoroughfares
  • Double up room functions where possible (dining+rec)
  • Leverage shelves and new storage options
  • Plan defenses for both killbox raids and breachers
  • Adapt your design to DLC features and your start scenario
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Evolve Your Base

Remember that base building in RimWorld is an iterative process. As your colony grows, don't fear remodeling. Tear down walls and rebuild areas as needed—RimWorld rewards adaptation. Even the most elaborate bases started as a single room!

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Further Resources

For more inspiration and guidance, check out the RimWorld Wiki's Building Guide, browse community hubs like r/RimWorld for innovative base screenshots, and explore YouTube tutorials by creators like Noobert, Francis John, or Ic0n Gaming.

"A well-built colony is like a well-written story - it evolves over time, weathers countless challenges, and reflects the personality of its creator."

Now load up RimWorld and put these strategies into practice. Good luck, and have fun designing your perfect colony!