Stop building boxes in the dirt.
Seriously. We’ve all done it—dug a 3x3 hole into a mountain on night one, slapped down a crafting table, and called it a day. But if you’re still living in a cobblestone cube three weeks into a world, you’re missing out on the best part of the 1.20 and 1.21 updates. The Caves & Cliffs update changed the math on what makes cool minecraft underground bases actually work.
The world height didn't just go up; it went way down. Deepslate is harder to mine, sure, but the scale of the new generation means your "underground base" doesn't have to feel like a basement. It can feel like a cathedral.
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Most players treat the underground as a place to hide. That’s the wrong mindset. You should treat it as a canvas where the walls are already painted.
The Lush Cave Aesthetic is Overrated (and How to Fix It)
Everyone loves a Lush Cave. The glow berries, the moss, the clay pools—it’s basically a pre-built starter home. But here is the thing: it’s messy. If you just throw some chests in a natural Lush Cave, it looks like a cluttered closet.
To make it actually cool, you have to lean into the contrast. Try mixing high-tech materials like Polished Andesite or Cyan Terracotta with the wild greenery. It creates this "abandoned laboratory" vibe that looks incredible. You want the cave to look like it’s trying to eat the base.
Check out builders like Phaze Concrete on YouTube. He doesn't just put stuff in caves; he carves geometric shapes out of the cave walls. That’s the secret. You need sharp, man-made lines to contrast the organic curves of the stone.
Lighting Is Your Biggest Enemy Underground
Torches are ugly. There, I said it.
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If your base is littered with torches every three blocks to stop creepers from spawning, it’s going to look like a construction site. Use Glow Lichen. It’s subtle. It blends into the stone. Or, if you’re feeling fancy, hide Sea Lanterns or Glowstone under Moss Carpets.
The light bleeds through the carpet, but the block stays hidden. It’s a clean look.
Engineering the Deepslate Bunker
When you get down past Y=0, the vibe changes. It gets moody. Dark. Grungy. This is where the "bunker" style thrives.
Instead of fighting the Deepslate, use its variants. Tiled Deepslate and Polished Deepslate are some of the best-looking blocks Mojang has ever added. They have this industrial, heavy feel.
Think about functionality. A cool base isn't just a bedroom; it’s a machine. I’m talking about auto-sorters that hum behind glass walls. I’m talking about a Super Smelter fueled by a bamboo farm that’s tucked into a side cavern.
You’ve gotta think about the layout. Don’t just make a long hallway with doors. That’s boring. Create a central hub—a massive vertical shaft with an Elytra launcher or a bubble column elevator. From there, branch out into specialized rooms. One for enchanting, one for your nether portal, one for the "illegal" stuff like your villager trading hall (we all know those guys are basically prisoners).
Pro Tip: Use tinted glass for your mob farm viewing windows. It lets you see the action without letting light bleed out and ruining the moody atmosphere of your main hall.
Why Verticality Changes Everything
In the old days of Minecraft, underground bases were flat. You had maybe five or six blocks of head space before you hit the ceiling.
Now? You can find massive "megacaves" that span 60 blocks from floor to ceiling. This is where you build a "hanging" base. Use chains and iron bars. Make it look like your base is suspended from the roof of the cavern by massive industrial links.
It’s terrifying to build in survival mode because one slip means a long walk back to your death point, but the result is unmatched.
- Materials for Hanging Bases: Spruce wood (dark and sturdy), Stone Bricks, and Iron Blocks.
- The "Support" Logic: Make sure the chains actually look like they are holding weight. Use walls and fences to create "struts."
Handling the Logistics of Living Underground
Living below sea level sucks if you don’t have a plan. You’re far from wood, far from cows, and far from the sun.
You need an internal ecosystem. An underground forest isn’t just a flex; it’s a necessity. You need a 9x9 area of dirt with a high ceiling just to grow oak trees for torches and tools.
Also, deal with the sound. Nothing ruins a "chill" underground library like the constant hiss-gurgle of a nearby lava pool. Carry a bucket of water. Scour the walls. Extinguish every stray lava source within 20 blocks of your walls. Silence is a luxury in the deep dark.
The Misconception About Space
People think underground bases need to be cramped. No. If you have a beacon with Haste II and a Netherite pickaxe, you should be clearing out massive 50x50 chambers.
Think big. Ancient Greek big. Giant pillars. High vaulted ceilings. Use the "Stair" trick to add depth to your walls so they don't just look like flat surfaces. A flat wall is a boring wall.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Build
If you’re ready to stop living in a hole and start building one of those cool minecraft underground bases you see on Reddit, here is how to actually start:
- Find the right biome. Don't just dig down anywhere. Find a Jagged Peaks or Meadow biome. These usually have massive cavern openings underneath them.
- Pick a palette. Limit yourself to 4-5 blocks. For a modern look: Smooth Stone, Gray Wool, Andesite, and Glass. For a gothic look: Deepslate Bricks, Dark Oak, and Soul Lanterns.
- Clear the "Noise." Before you build, mine out all the random patches of Granite, Diorite, and Dirt. Replace them with the surrounding stone so you have a clean slate.
- Work with the terrain. If a cave has a natural ledge, build a balcony there. Don't fight the shape of the world; enhance it.
- Automate early. Build a small auto-smelter immediately. You’re going to be generating thousands of blocks of Cobblestone and Deepslate. You’ll want to turn that into bricks and polished versions while you work.
Building underground is about conquering the dark. It takes more time than a surface house because you have to remove blocks before you can place them. But when you’re standing at the bottom of a massive, custom-lit cavern looking up at a base that defies gravity, the effort pays off.
Get a beacon. Get some Efficiency V tools. Stop worrying about the surface and start digging.