House Customization & Upgrades (Hearthfire)

The Hearthfire DLC for Skyrim introduces the ability to build and customize your own homes, offering a personal sanctuary and a place to display your achievements. From choosing a location to furnishing every room, this system allows for a deeply personalized player experience. This guide covers the process of acquiring land, building, and decorating your dream home.

Owning a home in Skyrim is more than just a place to rest; it's a testament to your journey. With Hearthfire, you can construct three unique homesteads from the ground up, each with its own advantages and aesthetic. Whether you desire a cozy cottage, a grand manor, or a fortified lodge, the building mechanics provide ample opportunity for creative expression and functional customization.

Acquiring Land

To begin building, you must first purchase plots of land from the Jarl of the hold in which you wish to build. The three available plots are:

Lakeview Manor: Located in Falkreath Hold.
Proudspire Manor: Located in Hjaalmarch (requires purchase from the Jarl's steward after completing certain quests).
Heljarchen Hall: Located in the Pale.

After completing a small task for the Jarl or their steward, you will be granted permission to purchase the land for 5,000 gold.

The Building Process

Once you own a plot of land, you'll find a Stewardship Ledger and a Drafting Table near the desated building site. The Stewardship Ledger lists the materials needed for various components of your house, while the Drafting Table allows you to choose which sections to build.

The building process involves gathering raw materials and then constructing different parts of your home:

Foundation: The initial structure.
Walls: Choose between Stone Walls or Timber Walls.
Roof: Select a roof style.
Interior Components: This is where customization truly begins. You can add various rooms and features, such as:

Main Hall: The central living area.
Bedrooms: For yourself and potential family members.
Kitchen: For cooking.
Trophy Room: To display your trophies (e.g., dragon heads, Daedric artifacts).
Library: For storing books.
Greenhouse: To grow alchemical ingredients.
Alchemy Laboratory: For brewing potions.
Enchanter's Tower: For enchanting items.
Armory: For displaying weapons and armor.
Study: For crafting.
Vault: For storing valuables.

Exterior Features: You can also add features like stables, a garden, a fish hatchery, and a carriage house.

Gathering Materials

The primary materials needed for construction are:

Sawn Logs: Purchased from lumber mills (e.g., Anise's Mill, Half-Moon Mill) or found in piles near your building site.
Clay: Found in specific clay deposits near your building site.
Stone: Found in stone quarries near your building site.
Iron Ingots: Purchased from blacksmiths or smelted from Iron Ore.
Glass: Smelted from Quarried Stone.
Straw: Purchased from general goods merchants.

Furnishing and Decoration

Once the basic structure is built, you can further customize your home by furnishing it. The Stewardship Ledger will list available furniture options. You can also purchase pre-made furniture sets from general goods merchants in larger cities.

Key decorative and functional items include:

Display Cases: For weapons, armor, and artifacts.
Mannequins: To display armor sets.
Weapon Racks: For displaying swords and daggers.
Bookshelves: To store your collected books.
Trophy Bases: For displaying dragon heads and other trophies.
Beds: For resting and gaining the 'Rested' or 'Well Rested' bonus.
Chests and Wardrobes: For storing items.

Hearthfire House Features Table

Feature	Location	Benefits
Lakeview Manor	Falkreath Hold	Central location, good for farming and fishing.
Proudspire Manor	Solitude	Already built, requires renovation. Central city location.
Heljarchen Hall	The Pale	Good for mining and proximity to the College of Winterhold.
Greenhouse	All houses	Grow alchemical ingredients.
Alchemy Laboratory	All houses	Brew potions and poisons.
Enchanter's Tower	All houses	Enchant weapons and armor.
Trophy Room	All houses	Display dragon heads and other trophies.

Tips for Building Your Home

Plan Ahead: Decide what features are most important to you before you start building.
Gather Materials Efficiently: Purchase lumber from multiple mills and gather stone and clay in bulk.
Hire a Steward: A steward can manage your household, purchase materials, and even marry you.
Utilize Followers: Followers can be assed as housecarls to manage your homes and provide protection.
Display Your Trophies: The Trophy Room is a great way to showcase your accomplishments as the Dragonborn.