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I usually think about what I want my sims to be able to do when they go to the lot. Is it intended as a dating venue? Is it a place to buy stuff? Is it mostly a way to meet people and make friends?
Then I think about how to satisfy their needs while they're away from home. I like putting a chess set and comfy chairs on every lot, so they can satisfy comfort and get some fun, plus they can socialize if they find someone to play with them.
Some people want most of all to make their lots LOOK nice, but I care most of all about making my lots functional. I have a community lot in Old Town that has all the shopping stuff, so my sims can buy whatever they want, plus some fast food and fun items, and also the oh-so-useful
Job Faire computers from AroundTheSims that let you pick whichever career you want.
Putting it in Old Town means my poor sims can take the free shuttle, then they can find a job, make friends, buy seeds or whatever, all in one place. I put the shopping and fast food indoors and put the Makin' Magic mini golf and the chess sets out on the lawn, so only about a third of the lot is indoors, to avoid the giant warehouse look.
My lots never look elegant, but since I don't care about that, it works for me. :-)
I've made some mods for The Sims 1 -- yes, The Sims ONE :-) -- which you can find at
http://corylea.com/Sims1ModsByCorylea.html