The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Furnishings & Decorations

Decorate your Skyrim home. Learn about functional and decorative furnishings, crafting stations, and building options in the Hearthfire DLC.

Furnishings & Decorations

The Hearthfire DLC for Skyrim introduces the ability to build and customize your own homes, and a sificant part of this process involves choosing and placing furnishings and decorations. These items not only add aesthetic appeal but can also provide functional benefits, such as storage, crafting stations, and displays for your trophies and achievements.

Once you have built the basic structure of your homestead, you can purchase a specialized Steward from any Jarl or Steward. This Steward will then offer you a catalog of available furnishings and decorations that can be added to your home. The process is done through a build menu, allowing you to place items in desated spots or freely within your house.

Functional Furnishings

Many furnishings serve practical purposes:

  • Crafting Stations: Essential for progression, these include:
    • Tanning Rack: For curing hides into leather.
    • Tinker's Bench: For crafting arrows.
    • Workbench: For crafting and improving armor.
    • Grindstone: For improving weapons.
    • Smelter: For smelting ores into ingots.
    • Alchemy Lab: For brewing potions and poisons.
    • Enchanting Table: For enchanting items.
    • Cooking Pot: For preparing food.
  • Storage: Chests, wardrobes, and shelves provide space to store your items. Different containers have varying capacities.
  • Beds: Provide a place to rest, granting the Well Rested bonus which increases skill gain.
  • Display Cases: Allow you to showcase unique items like Daedric artifacts, Dragon Priest masks, or specific weapons.
  • Trophy Cases: Specifically desed to display the heads of slain dragons and other creatures.
  • Weapon Racks and Mannequins: For displaying your favorite weapons and armor sets.
  • Bookshelves: For storing your collection of books.

Decorative Furnishings

These items are purely for aesthetic enhancement:

  • Carpets and Rugs: Add color and texture to your floors.
  • Paintings and Trophies: Adorn your walls with various artwork and mounted creature heads.
  • Candles and Lanterns: Provide ambient lighting.
  • Chairs, Tables, and Sofas: Furnish your living spaces.
  • Plants and Flowers: Bring a touch of nature indoors.
  • Statues and Sculptures: Add unique decorative elements.

Building Your Home

When building your homestead, you'll have choices for the wings you add:

  • The Small House: The initial structure.
  • The Greenhouse: Allows you to grow your own ingredients.
  • The Library: Provides numerous bookshelves for your collection.
  • The Trophy Hall: Ideal for displaying creature heads.
  • The Alchemy Tower: Houses an Alchemy Lab and other alchemical equipment.
  • The Armory: Features weapon racks and mannequins.

The choice of wings affects the available furnishing options and the overall layout of your home.

Tips for Furnishing:

  • Prioritize Functionality First: Ensure you have all the necessary crafting stations before focusing purely on decoration.
  • Plan Your Layout: Think about how you want to use each room and place furnishings accordingly.
  • use Your Steward: Your Steward is your primary source for ordering furnishings.
  • Experiment with Placement: Don't be afraid to try different positions for decorative items to achieve the look you desire.
  • Consider Your Playstyle: If you're a crafter, an Alchemy Tower or Armory might be more beneficial than a Library.

Furnishing your home in Skyrim is a personal endeavor that allows you to create a unique sanctuary that reflects your Dragonborn's journey and accomplishments.