How to Create a House Mock-Up Icon in Adobe Illustrator

If you have an interest in architecture, or you just like houses or icons in general, then this tutorial is for you! You'll learn how to create a house mock-up icon in Adobe Illustrator which consists of three main parts: the blue folder, the architectural plan of the house, and finally, the house mock-up with the roof under construction. 

If you are interested in other icon designs, Envato Market has a great selection of icons by categories,whether it's Technology, Development or Business, to help you save your time. Let's have fun with this one!

Tutorial Assets

To complete the tutorial you will need the following assets:

• Round Any Corner Script

1. Start a New Project

Launch Illustrator and go to File > New to open a blank document. Type a name for your file, set up the dimensions and then select Pixels as Units and RGB as Color Mode. Make sure that Align New Objects to Pixel Grid is not checked.

Next, go to Edit > Preferences > General and set the Keyboard Increment to 1 px and while there, go to Units to make sure they are set as in the following image. I usually work with these settings and they will help you throughout the drawing process.

2. Create the Blue Folder

Step 1

Use the Rectangle Tool (M) to draw a 1200 x 830 px rectangle and then use the linear gradient shown to fill this shape.

Step 2

Take the Add Anchor Point Tool (+) and add two extra points as indicated. Next, use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to select the two points from the bottom right side and go to Object > Transform > Move. Type 70 px in the Vertical field and hit OK.

Step 3

Use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to select the two corner points and go to File > Scripts > Round Any Corner. Run the script using a Radius of 35 and you will get the rounded corners.

Step 4

With the folder-shape selected, go to the Appearance panel and add a New Fill above the first. Use the color indicated and then go to Effect > Texture> Grain. Apply the settings shown and then set this fill to Blending Mode Overlay and 66% Opacity.

3. Create the Sheets of Paper

Step 1

Create a new rectangle in the center and fill it with the linear gradient shown (the colors are grayscale).

Step 2

Let's create the shadow. Copy and Paste in Back (Control-B) the first sheet of paper; then using the Direct Selection Tool (A) move the corner points in the direction of the arrows to obtain a bigger shape (1). For visual purposes, I've changed the fill color of the copy to green so you can see the difference in size between the two (2) but you should keep the existing gradient.

Copy and Paste in Back (Control-B) the first sheet again and set the fill color to black. Now, select the bigger copy and the black copy and go to Object > Blend > Blend Options. Choose 15 Specified Steps, hit OK and then go to Object > Blend > Make (Alt-Control-B) (3). Set the resulting group to Blending Mode Multiply and 25% Opacity (4).

Step 3

Use the Rectangle Tool (M) and the gradient shown to draw the second sheet of paper. Rotate it as in the following image.

Step 4

Copy and Paste in Back (Control-B) the second sheet of paper; then use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to move the corner points outwards in order to obtain a bigger shape. For visual purposes, the copy is purple but you should keep the existing gradient (1).

Copy and Paste in Back (Control-B) the second sheet of paper again and change the fill color to black. Now, select the bigger copy along with the black copy and go to Object > Blend > Make (Alt-Control-B) (2). Set the resulting group to Blending Mode Multiply and 25% Opacity (3).

4. Add Details and Shadow to the Blue Folder

Step 1

Grab the Pen Tool (P) or the Line Segment Tool (\) and draw two straight paths as shown below. Give them a 2 pt black Stroke. Next, type “NAME” and “No.” using Myriad Pro, size of 27 pt.

Step 2

To create the shadow, first Copy and Paste in Back (Control-B) the folder-shape and then make this copy bigger by moving the anchor points outwards with the Direct Selection Tool (A). Focus mainly on the bottom right side (1). Set the fill color for the bigger shape to white.

Copy and Paste in Back (Control-B) the folder-shape again and set the fill color to black. Now, select the bigger copy along with the black copy and go to Object > Blend > Make (Alt-Control-B) (2). Set the resulting group to Blending Mode Multiply and 40% Opacity (3).

5. Create the Architectural House Plan

Step 1

Grab the Rectangle Tool (M) and draw all the rectangles shown in the next image.

Step 2

Select all the rectangles and press Unite in the Pathfinder panel in order to get a single shape. Set the fill color to gray and the stroke to 1 pt black but check the Align Stroke to Inside option in the Stroke panel. I will name this shape “exterior edge”.

Step 3

Next, draw the six rectangles shown below and apply the same appearances. Group (Control-G) these rectangles and name the group “interior edge”.

Before you continue, make a copy of “exterior edge” and a copy of “interior edge” for later use. Move them out of the way for the moment or hide them.

Step 4

Draw a few small 6 x 12 px rectangles filled with the same shade of gray. Their purpose is to cover the black stroke between the walls in some areas.

Step 5

It's time to create the windows. First decide how many windows you want and then draw the rectangles over the “exterior edge”. You can create single windows or double windows. After you are done, Group (Control-G) all the rectangles.

Select “exterior edge” along with the group of rectangles and press Minus Front in the Pathfinder panel. With the resulting group still selected, go to Object > Compound Path > Make (Control-8).

Step 6

In the empty areas obtained in the previous step, we need to create the actual windows. Draw new rectangles with the same thickness as “exterior edge” and then give them a 0.5 pt Inside Stroke. The last thing is to draw a very thin black rectangle near the outside edge of each window. 

Step 7

Let's create the doors. First decide where you want the doors to be and then draw the rectangles with the same length. You can create single doors and double doors.

Group (Control-G) only the rectangles arranged over the “exterior edge” (purple ones) and then select this group along with “exterior edge” and press Minus Front in the Pathfinder panel. Repeat the same thing with the green rectangles and the “interior edge”.

Step 8

To create a single door, first zoom on one of the empty areas that you have obtained in the previous step. Draw a very small square next to the wall (1); then draw a thin 2 x 30 px rectangle in front of the square (2). Grab the Pen Tool (P) and draw a curved path between the rectangle and the opposite wall (3). These three shapes have a 1 pt black Stroke and you can see the end result below (4).

Group (Control-G) the three shapes that compose the door; then multiply, rotate and arrange them to create the other doors. A double door is composed of a single door, a copy of the single door that has been flipped horizontally and a thin rectangle between them.

Step 9

Use basic shapes like rectangles and rounded rectangles to create a dining table and a couch. All these shapes have a 0.5 pt black Stroke. 

Step 10

Follow the sequence of images and use basic shapes like ellipses and rectangles to create the elements in the bathroom.

Step 11

Use rectangles to define the kitchen area; then draw four circles as the stove top and three rectangles to create the sink. All these shapes have a 0.5 pt black Stroke.

Arrange the furniture and the other elements inside the rooms as shown in the following image.

Step 12

To create the stairs, draw four straight paths between the walls with the Pen Tool (P) or the Line Segment Tool (\). Next, draw two black rectangles and the up and down arrows (triangle + line).

Step 13

Let's define the outside area at the entrance. Take the Pen Tool (P) and draw two paths between the corners of the “exterior edge”. Select a 1 pt Stroke; then check Dashed Line in the Stroke panel and type 10 pt in the first dash field.

Step 14

Now, draw a path to define the deck area followed by the oblique lines. After you are done, Group (Control-G) all these lines.

Step 15

You are almost done. Grab the Type Tool (T) and type the name of each room on the plan using Calibri, size of 23 pt. Also type random numbers as the surface area using Calibri, size of 16 pt.

6. Create the Folded Blueprint

Step 1

First let's create the appearance of a folded sheet of paper. Grab the Rectangle Tool (M) and draw a rectangle with the same length as the second sheet of paper. Use the black to white linear gradient shown to fill this shape and then set the Blending Mode to Screen (black becomes transparent).

Step 2

Select all the shapes that compose the house plan and Group (Control-G) them. Go to Object > Expand Appearance and Object > Expand a few times until your group has no stroke. Now, you can scale the house plan as much as needed, rotate and arrange it over the second sheet of paper. Reduce the Opacity to 80%.

Step 3

Draw another rectangle right above the previous one and use the black to white linear gradient shown to fill it. Set to Blending Mode Multiply (white becomes transparent) and 8% Opacity. 

Step 4

To create a paper clip, draw a path like in the next image with the Pen Tool (P). Use gray as the stroke color and increase the Stroke Weight to 3 pt. Rotate and arrange the paper clip over the blueprint.

7. Create the House Mock-Up

Step 1

Grab the copy of “exterior edge” and the copy of “interior edge” that you made earlier in the tutorial, because we will use those to create the house mock-up. Remove the existing appearances and use the colors indicated to fill them.

Step 2

Use the Pen Tool (P) to draw a new shape as the floor of the house, and select dark gray as the fill color. While the “floor shape” is still selected, go to Effect > Stylize > Inner Glow and apply the settings from the next image in order to add the shadow.

Step 3

Grab the Pen Tool (P) or the Line Segment Tool (\) and draw the three blue paths right next to the “exterior edge”. While the blue path from the left is selected, go to Object > Transform > Move, type 45 px in the Horizontal field and then hit OK. As a result you will get the orange path from the next image.

Apply the Move effect again for the blue path at the top, type 30 px in the Vertical field and hit OK. Do the same thing for the blue path at the bottom but this time, type -30 px in the Vertical field.

Step 4

Use the blue and orange paths from the previous step as guide lines to create the “exterior walls”. Grab the Pen Tool (P) and simply click on the corner points indicated (1) to draw the first wall on the left side (2). In the same way, draw the wall at the top and the one at the bottom (3). You can see the end result in the image below (4). 

Step 5

Draw two new blue paths right next to the kitchen edge. Move the path at the top 35 px Vertical and the path from the right -50 px Horizontal. As a result you will get the orange paths (1). Use these guide lines to draw the exterior walls of the kitchen as explained in the previous step (2). Following the same technique, draw the last two walls at the entrance (3).

Step 6

Now that all the exterior walls are ready, you can delete the guide lines. Use the linear gradient shown to fill all of them but adjust the angle accordingly (0, 90 and -90 degrees). 

Step 7

Next, draw the four walls using the same technique with the guide lines. Fill them with the gradient shown in the previous step. Group (Control-G) these walls and name the group “interior walls”; then send it behind the group “interior edge”.

Step 8

Let's add some shadows. Focus on the kitchen and draw a rectangle in the right side of the wall. Use a black to white linear gradient to fill it and then set to Blending Mode Multiply and 20% Opacity. As indicated by the arrow, the shadow is not smooth at the bottom, but we will fix that with an opacity mask in the next step.

Step 9

Copy and Paste in Front (Control-F) the last rectangle and then use the gradient shown to fill this copy. Now, select both rectangles and from the fly-out menu of the Transparency panel choose Make Opacity Mask. 

Step 10

Focus on the living area and draw a new rectangle next to the wall. Fill it with the black to white linear gradient shown and then set it to Blending Mode Multiply and 20% Opacity (1). As you can see, the shadow is not smooth on the left side (2), but that can be fixed with an opacity mask.

Copy and Paste in Front (Control-F) this rectangle and then use the second gradient shown to fill the copy (3). Now, select both shapes and from the fly-out menu of the Transparency panel choose Make Opacity Mask (4). 

Step 11

As explained above, you can create the shadow for the other interior walls. 

Step 12

Next, draw a rectangle about the size of the bathroom and select dark gray as the fill color. Apply the Inner Glow effect using the settings shown in order to add the shadow.

Step 13

In the next image you can see the "before shadows" and "after shadows" images: 

8. Create the Roof

Step 1

First draw a 18 x 446 px rectangle filled with brown (1). Next, draw a 271 x 18 px rectangle above the first one and a 95 x 65 px rectangle in the bottom right side (2). The following shapes have the dimensions 366 x 18 px and 73 x 57 px (3), respectively 433 x 18 px and 49 x 57 px (4).

Step 2

Select the three blue rectangles from the previous step and fill them with yellow. Add a new fill above the first, change the fill color, and then go to Effect > Sketch > Reticulation. Apply this effect using the settings shown and set the Blending Mode to Overlay.

Step 3

Let's add some shadows as we go along. Draw four new rectangles above the yellow ones like in the next image (1). Fill all of them with a black to white linear gradient. 

Move these shapes behind the brown rectangles but in front of the yellow ones, except for the shape at the bottom which is behind the yellow rectangle but in front of the first brown rectangle (2). Set the Blending Mode to Multiply and 65% Opacity (3). 

Step 4

Draw another brown rectangle in the left side and then go to Object > Path > Split into Grid. Apply the settings shown and hit OK. 

Step 5

Group (Control-G) all the resulting shapes, select brown as the fill color, and add a 0.75 pt Inside Stroke.

Step 6

To add the shadow, draw a new rectangle on the right side of this group, just to cover the yellow rectangles. Send it behind; then fill it with the gradient shown and set to Blending Mode Multiply and 60% Opacity. 

Step 7

Draw another rectangle that covers the last portion of the roof (1). Select gray as the fill color and then add a new fill above. Use a pattern called Checkers from the Swatch Libraries menu under Patterns > Decorative > Decorative_Geometric 2. 

Next, go to Object > Transform > Scale, type 50% in the Scale field, uncheck Objects, check Patterns and only then hit OK (2). Set this pattern fill to Blending Mode Multiply and 35% Opacity. You can see the final result in the image below (3).

Step 8

Now, draw a rectangle with the same height as the group of brown rectangles and send it behind the pattern-shape. Use the gradient shown and then set it to Blending Mode Multiply and 60% Opacity like the rest of the shadows.

Step 9

Next, draw the two rectangles and fill them with red.

Step 10

Draw another two rectangles behind the red ones and use the same settings to create the shadows.

Step 11

Let's add more shadow. Draw a few smaller shapes where needed, using the same settings. Don't forget to send them behind.

9. Finalize the House Mock-up Icon

Step 1

The house mock-up is ready at this point, and you can Group (Control-G) all the shapes that compose it. Rotate and arrange the house as you like on top of the blueprint. 

Step 2

Use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to select only the “floor shape” and under the existing appearances, apply the Drop Shadow effect twice. 

Here are the settings for the two Drop Shadow effects:

Congratulations! You're Done

The house mock-up icon is ready. I hope this tutorial was different but fun, and that you learned some new techniques. Don't forget to share your re-creation with us.