Skyrimis an immersive world, and for dedicated players, it can feel something like a virtual second home. This is especially true with theHearthfireadd-on, which allows players to build their own homes. These mansions are far bigger and grander than any within the cities, as well as being customizable, allowing the Dragonborn to tailor their house to their own style.
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Building a house, though, can seem like a big task. There are myriad materials to be sourced and several big decisions to be made. Here are a few tips and tricks to help turn a few logs and an empty plot of land into the home of a Dragonborn’s dreams.
Updated July 11, 2025 by Demaris Oxman:With the release ofSkyrim’sAnniversary Edition, players now have more options than ever to choose a place to live in this fantasy world of dragons, draugr, and more. The new edition adds an incredible amount of content from the Creation Club, includingnine new pre-built homes. However, enterprising Dragonborn may still wish to choose the difficult — but satisfying — path of building their own mansion from the ground up. For these hands-on players, this guide has been expanded with additional tips on how to make their home their own.
10Determine Location
Hjaalmarch, Falkreath, and the Pale each contain plots of land. However, to purchase it, the player must become Thane of that hold by assisting the people. Some are easier than others: for example, in Morthal, the player must survive avampire-slaying missionbefore they can begin completing other tasks for the people. Determining which path to Thanehood is easier may influence the player’s decision on where to live.
Aesthetics are another consideration. Would this particular Dragonborn rather live in an icy marsh or overlooking a lake? Are they comfortable in the snowy reaches of the Pale or the more temperate region of Falkreath?
9Consider Unique Features
Each homestead has one unique aspect that distinguishes it from the others. The Pale’s Heljarchen Hall comes with a grain mill, Falkreath’s Lakeview Manor has an apiary (beehive), and Hjaalmarch’s Windstad Manor includes a fish hatchery. Thinking about which feature they like best can help players pick a property, as each suits different play styles better.
Fish Hatchery
For players who want to make use ofthe Anniversary Edition’s new fishing mechanic, the Fish Hatchery is the perfect choice. The fish hatchery is a boon to alchemists, who use various fish in their mixtures. Any type of fish can be bred in this hatchery, for cooking or for potions.
Apiary
Apiary products are also useful for potions — players will find themselves with infinite supplies of bees and honeycomb, as well as honey to use in cooking. Beekeepers will find this asset especially useful in acquiring ingredients for Stamina potions.
Grain Mill
Turning wheat into flour, the grain mill is a good choice for those who want to utilizeHearthfire’scooking features. Considering the massive buffs provided by some cooked items like the Lavender Dumpling and the Juniper Berry Crostata, it can be worth keeping some flour on hand, especially for players who aren’t alchemically inclined.
8Collect And Store Crafting Materials
Every homestead comes with a starter chest containing basic materials; however, these are nowhere near the amount needed to build a splendid manor. Hoarding every ingot, horker tusk, and lump of clay is essential to completing the perfect house. Since crafting items can get heavy, keep them in this starter chest to save inventory space.
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General goods merchants sell some basic crafting materials, but be prepared to spend a lot of time mining for iron and stone.Sawn logs are also essential, and can be bought from lumber mills.
7Choose East, West, and North Wings Carefully
After constructing the main hall, players can build three wings, each of which offers the player three choices for a room. Each choice appeals to different play styles, so think about which ones best suit the Dragonborn who lives here. An alchemist might love togrow rare plantsin a greenhouse, while a proud warrior would love to display kills in a trophy room.
North Wing
6Think About Skill Leveling
Another way to narrow down choices when building wings is to consider which skills the player wants to focus on. As players can see above, even though not every option correlates to a specific skill, some of them provide useful tools.
For example, an enchanting tower or an alchemy lab offers fantastic opportunitiesto level these skills. An armory, meanwhile, helps the player level smithing as well as providing places to display armor and weapons. Additionally, once complete, each of these wings holds many materials that can be used in their respective skill. Though facilities for these crafting skills can be built without these add-ons, many players enjoy having a dedicated space to practice their craft.
5Don’t Neglect Decor
Additions like corner shelves, lighting, and mounted slaughterfish might seem superfluous to a player working endlessly to build out all their rooms. However, these extra touches are essential to the atmosphere of a Skyrim home.
Why build a vast mansion if it doesn’t feel comfortable and lived in? What’s the point of these vast rooms, if not to fill them with trinkets and treasures? Build wall sconces to make the main hall feel warm and welcoming; mount some taxidermy for the feel of a cozy hunting lodge.
4Display Treasures
EverySkyrimplayerwinds up with weapons, armor, and accessories that look fantastic but don’t suit their play style. When building a house, there are plenty of opportunities to create weapon racks, mannequins, and wall plaques to show off the items that they don’t use but are visually impressive.
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Depending on the Dragonborn’s personality, there are plenty of creative ways to fill display cases. Maybe they’ll fill them with sparkling jewels, a collection of soul gems, or perhaps something more macabre like troll skulls. Not only does this lighten the player’s inventory, but it helps add a personalized touch.
3Don’t Forget The Outdoors
Even after the house is finished, plenty of the homestead land remains open. Players can build a garden, stable, and animal pen. The Dragonborn can then grow flowers and fungi,purchase a horse, and keep cows and chickens.
A grindstone, smelter, and armorer workbench can also be built outside. Additionally, the animal pen comes with a tanning rack. All in all, these are essential pieces that add to the atmosphere of the homestead as well as providing more skill-building opportunities.
2Think Of The Children (and Pets)
Whether or not the Dragonborn is married, they may choose to adopt children. Residents of Honorhall Orphanage, as well as unfortunate street urchins throughoutSkyrim, can be taken into the player’s home.
While there are no specific requirements that a home must meet before children can be adopted, parental players might like to consider how kids would feel in their home. Build a bed or two to let the little ones have a place to sleep and be prepared to take in any animals that follow them home.
1Hire Staff
Once this magnificent manor is built, there are a few personnel the Dragonborn can hire. To do this, they’ll need a Steward. Any Housecarl can fulfill this role, but there are plenty of other options as well,typically recruitable followers.
The Dragonborn can speak to their Steward to purchase supplies or to pay to furnish any previously constructed room in the house. They can also buy animals, a carriage (including a carriage driver), and hire a bard to fill this lovely home with music.
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