After you have mapped out your area, go through and do a skeleton or backbone of the area. Just make one room with the most common sector type, and copy it to all of the rooms you will need. I do not name room or create a description at this point. The reason for this is that in some code bases you cannot make an exit to a room that does not exist. It is easier to be able to make the exits when you make the room.

Once you have the backbone, there are two ways you can go about it. Some people go through and make the rooms first, then the creatures, the objects, then the shops. Personally, I go through and make each room completely before moving onto the next. That includes the creatures and objects that go there, and shops etc.

Whichever way you decide to use, I suggest that you finish a room, creature, or object completely (if possible) the first time you do it. It is much easier to add details then than to go through the whole area making sure you have gotten everything at the end. Do a thorough job the first time through. You will have fewer errors in your finished product that way.