How to Build a House in Skyrim

Last Updated: November 6, 2022 Approved

Wandering the frozen wastes of Skyrim can be tiring, and sometimes an adventurer needs a warm place to call their own. This wikiHow will teach you how to build a house in Skyrim so that you can rest from your adventures.

Steps

1
Purchase and install Hearthfire. This add-on can be purchased directly from The Elder Scrolls website if you use a PC or, for console gamers, from the PlayStation Store or Xbox Live.
2
Speak with a steward in Morthal, Dawnstar or Falkreath and buy a plot of land. 5000 gold will be removed from your inventory.
- You may have to complete a few quests in each respective city before the jarl will allow you to purchase land.
- If you are having trouble deciding where you want to build your house, keep in mind that buying one plot does not stop you from buying the other two.
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3
Follow the quest marker to the site of your new home. There you will find what you need to build your home: a drafting table, a carpenter’s workbench and a treasure chest filled with the materials you will need to begin building your house.
4
Read The Beginner’s Guide to Homesteading. This book, found on top of the carpenter’s workbench, will help you understand how to build your new home.
5
Use the drafting table and select “Small Home.” This will make the various components of the small home available to build with the carpenter’s workbench.
- Selecting projects to build on the drafting table does not use resources, so do not worry if you do not have all of the wood, iron, and so on that you will need.
6
Use the carpenter’s workbench and build the components of your small home. Once your small home is built, you can decorate the interior using the carpenter’s workbench found inside.
7
Continue adding onto your home by selecting “Main Hall” from the drafting table. This will greatly increase the size of your house and turn the small home structure into an entryway.
- Being a much larger structure, the main hall will require you to gather additional materials.^{[1]
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8
Acquire the needed materials to continue building.
- Lumber can be bought from any of the many lumber mills in Skyrim, including Deadwood Mill in Falkreath, Agna’s Mill which is west of Windhelm or the Solitude Sawmill in Haafingar.
- Clay can be found in close proximity to your home. Look for a reddish-brown deposit on the ground and mine it just like other minerals in Skyrim.
- Quarried stone can also be found close to each homestead. Look for a grey deposit against stones or mountains. As with clay, you will need a pickaxe in your inventory to mine it.
9
Complete the main hall and choose which wings you want to add onto your home. These additions can bring both added utility and a sense of personalization to your character’s dwelling.
- On the north wing, you can choose from a storage room, a trophy room or an alchemy laboratory.
- On the west wing, you can choose from a greenhouse, a spare bedroom or an enchanter’s tower.
- On the east wing, you can choose from a kitchen, a library or an armory.
10
Decorate the inside of your main hall and wings using the carpenter’s workbench, exactly like you decorated the small home. When you are selecting which item to build, the needed components will be listed.
- There are many aesthetic options for decorating, including wall-mounted horker heads and iron chandeliers.
- There are also many functional options for decorating, including enchanting and alchemy tables.

Community Q&A

Question

What if I made Lydia my steward and she is lost?

Community Answer

Usually if you lose her, she'll come back to you when you fast travel. However, if she doesn't come back when you fast travel, go back to where you were when you lost her and there's a chance she'll be somewhere around that area.
Question

Can I adopt kids if you've made a house, or does it have to be bought?

Community Answer

Either way. Buy or build your house, as long as you make enough bedrooms for the children.
Question

Can I build a house if I joined the Stormcloaks?

Community Answer

Yes, you can.