How Do You Decorate Your House In Skyrim

How Do You Decorate Your House in Skyrim?

Decorating one's home in Skyrim is an integral part of the role-playing experience, offering a chance to personalize the environment and create a haven amidst the game's harsh landscapes. The process is multifaceted, encompassing everything from acquiring a suitable property to carefully selecting and placing furniture, decorations, and other items. This article will explicate the key aspects of home decoration in Skyrim, providing a comprehensive overview of the mechanics and strategies involved.

The ability to decorate a house in Skyrim is not a built-in feature available immediately upon starting the game. The player must first acquire a property, either through purchasing one or, in some cases, earning one through completing specific quests. The options for purchasing property vary depending on the version of Skyrim being played. The base game initially offers five purchasable houses located in major cities: Breezehome in Whiterun, Honeyside in Riften, Vlindrel Hall in Markarth, Hjerim in Windhelm, and Proudspire Manor in Solitude. Each house has its own associated cost and requirements, often involving completing quests for the local Jarl or Thane.

Furthermore, the Hearthfire downloadable content (DLC) introduces the ability to build one's own house from the ground up. This involves acquiring a plot of land from a Jarl, gathering resources such as lumber, stone, and clay, and constructing the house piece by piece, from the foundation to the roof. This method offers greater customization options, allowing the player to choose the layout and appearance of their home. The Dragonborn DLC offers Severin Manor in Raven Rock after siding with the Morvayn Family.

Once a property is acquired, the player can begin the process of furnishing and decorating it. The method for achieving this varies between the pre-built houses and the Hearthfire homes.

Purchasing Furniture and Decorations for Pre-Built Houses

For the houses in the major cities, furnishings are purchased through the Jarl's steward. After purchasing the house itself, the steward will offer various furnishing options, typically broken down into themes such as "living room," "bedroom," or "kitchen." Each theme contains a pre-determined set of furniture and decorations. Upon selecting a theme, the corresponding items will gradually appear in their designated locations within the house. This process requires a significant investment of gold and patience. The player must return to the house periodically to observe the progress of the furnishings being added.

The items added via the steward are generally static and non-interactive, meaning they cannot be moved or further customized. They serve primarily as visual enhancements for the house. However, the player can still add their own personal touches by placing items they find or craft throughout the world. This can include books, weapons, armor, potions, food, and other miscellaneous objects. This process involves using the "grab" function, typically activated by holding down the interact button, to pick up an object and then carefully positioning it in the desired location. This requires patience and a steady hand, as the physics engine in Skyrim can be somewhat unpredictable.

While the steward-provided furnishings offer a basic level of decoration, the real customization comes from the player's own efforts in collecting and arranging items. This allows for a truly unique and personalized home environment.

Building and Furnishing Hearthfire Homes

The Hearthfire DLC provides a significantly more granular and customizable approach to home decoration. Rather than relying on pre-determined themes, the player constructs the house piece by piece, choosing the layout and appearance of each room. This is accomplished by using a drafting table to select the desired structure and then constructing it at a nearby workbench using the required resources.

Once the basic structure of the house is complete, the player can begin furnishing it by crafting furniture and decorations at workbenches. A wide variety of items can be crafted, including beds, tables, chairs, chests, weapon racks, armor mannequins, and more. The crafting recipes require various resources, such as lumber, iron ingots, corundum ingots, and animal hides. Gathering these resources can be time-consuming, but it allows the player to acquire the specific items they desire for their home.

Placement of items in Hearthfire homes is also more flexible than in the pre-built houses. The player can freely move and rotate most items, allowing for precise positioning and arrangement. This allows for a high degree of customization and control over the appearance of the home.

In addition to crafting furniture, the player can also install various improvements to their Hearthfire homes, such as an alchemy lab, an enchanting table, a grindstone, and a workbench. These additions not only enhance the functionality of the home but also serve as decorative elements in their own right. The player can also hire a personal steward who can purchase resources and provide other services, further streamlining the homebuilding and decoration process. A spouse can also be asked to live in the home.

Strategic Considerations for Home Decoration

Beyond the technical aspects of acquiring and furnishing a house, there are several strategic considerations to keep in mind when decorating a home in Skyrim. These include the overall aesthetic, the functionality of the space, and the efficient storage of items.

The aesthetic of a home is a matter of personal preference, but it is important to consider the overall theme and atmosphere that the player wants to create. Some players may prefer a rustic and practical aesthetic, focusing on functional furniture and minimal decoration. Others may prefer a more opulent and luxurious aesthetic, filling their home with valuable artifacts and ornate decorations. The choice is entirely up to the player, but it is important to have a clear vision in mind to ensure a cohesive and satisfying result. One can collect unique items from across Skyrim to decorate such as the Bust of Gray Fox or the East Empire Company Strongbox to give your home real character. Consider lighting too, a well lit home is more appealing to return to.

The functionality of the space is another important consideration. A well-designed home should not only look good but also be practical and easy to navigate. This involves carefully considering the placement of furniture and other items to ensure that they do not obstruct pathways or create unnecessary clutter. It is also important to consider the intended use of each room and to furnish it accordingly. For example, a bedroom should be furnished with a bed, a dresser, and a nightstand, while an alchemy lab should be equipped with an alchemy table and storage for ingredients.

Efficient storage of items is crucial in Skyrim, as the player's inventory space is limited. A well-organized home should provide ample storage for weapons, armor, potions, ingredients, books, and other items. This can be achieved by using chests, cabinets, shelves, and other storage containers. It is also helpful to organize items into categories to make them easier to find. For example, weapons could be stored in a weapon rack, while armor could be stored in armor mannequins. Using named containers can aid with organization too.

Furthermore, strategic placement of items can prevent them from being knocked over or displaced by the game's physics engine. Heavier items are less likely to be moved than lighter items. Securing items on shelves or tables can also help to prevent them from falling. Some players even resort to using glitches or mods to fix items in place, but this is not necessary for most objects.

Ultimately, decorating a home in Skyrim is a rewarding and enjoyable experience that allows the player to express their creativity and personalize their in-game world. By carefully considering the technical aspects of acquiring and furnishing a house, as well as the strategic considerations of aesthetics, functionality, and storage, the player can create a truly unique and satisfying home environment.