Summary
The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimis undoubtedly one of thebest RPG titlesof all time. When the game was released in November of 2011, players were blown away by the vast world, breathtaking landscapes, and engaging questlines. When Bethesda releasedSkyrim Special Edition, it breathed new life into the game for the modding community to take advantage of. This included a wealth of housing mods that went far beyond what the standard vanilla experience had to offer.
These mods allow players to live like virtual Kings and Queens in a variety of abodes both humble and grandiose. What’s more, thanks to the tireless efforts ofSkyrimmodderslooking for that perfect domicile to put their feet up after a long day of “Fus Ro Dah’ing” foes off the cliffside, more greatSkyrim housemods are being created all the time. The modding community of this game continues to be highly active to this day, and it’s easy to see why players can open the mod pages forSkyrimafter months and still find new, well-decorated houses to mess around with!
Updated May 18, 2025, by Hamza Haq:Housing in Skyrim is definitely not the main focus of the game. Players can easily complete entire playthroughs that take over 100 hours without having seen the inside of a player’s home. That said, the joy of Skyrim, and the reason why the game is still relevant today, is because its options are not limited to a single type of playstyle. Players can do what they want and not get punished for it. Best of all, modding has made Skyrim, well, modular, where prospective adventurers are free to slot in whatever catches their interest on a particular day to the game and simply run it. House mods for Skyrim range from simple hovels in the ground to wooden lodges in the wilderness to literal castles. Two new mods have been added to the list to give players even more player homes to browse for their next playthrough.
25Aemer’s Refuge SE
Downloads: 47,147
Located south of Ivarstead, atop a high mountain peak, liesAemer’s Refuge, a mountain fortress that follows the design language of the city of Markarth. Players can lay claim to this beautiful stone castle by simply traveling to it and convincing the Refuge Spirit to let them in.
The Refuge Spirit also doubles as a helpful butler of sorts who can be summoned inside or outside the fortress to take the Dragonborn’s extra items, bring the storage chest with him, or teleport the player directly to the player home. Additionally, features include auto-sorting, portals to all major hubs in the main game (and the DLCs), a Lift that isn’t a loading screen, every single crafting station imaginable, and a hidden vault that works like a mini Legacy of the Dragonborn museum.
24LC_Citadel
Downloads: 158,957
LC_Citadeladds not just a house to the game, but a whole city to go along with it. The Citadel is locatedjust north of Whiterunnear the base of the mountains. ThisSkyrimhouse modcomes with full lore and a progression system through which players can acquire the castle.
Players may not be able to access all areas of the castle immediately, but they can work up to it by following the progression system. This mod delivers the quintessential royal experience, thanks to the addition of an entire city built alongside the castle home.
23Haven Bag
Downloads: 161,677
TheHaven Bag modadds an entire home in a bag that players can keep in their inventory, which is added when the mod is activated. Players can access it by selecting the bag in their inventory and using it. The Haven Bag comes with some basic amenities, a few crafting stations, and a bed to rest on.
The house is exited by reactivating the bag in the inventory, whereby players will find themselves back inSkyrim. They will not be able to take their followers inside the home, which means it’s best suited for players who prefer to go solo throughout the province.
22Ebongrove - Recall And Teleport SE
Downloads: 162,363
Ebongrove - Recall and Teleport SEadds a player homelocated in Eastmarchbetween the Eldregream Sanctuary and the ruins of Mzulft. Ebongrove is located inside a cave-like area that is illuminated by a Dwemer Sun and features interiors in the Dunmer style of décor.
Players with Dunmer or Dunmer-influenced characters will feel right at home with Ebongrove. The mod adds nearly all the crafting stations, up to eight beds, and even a small indoor fish pond, making it one of the most unique player house mods ever made.
21Riverside Lodge
Downloads: 180,526
TheRiverside Lodgeis located smack dab in the middle of the area that falls between Whiterun and Riverwood. The location is excellent as much of the early game is spent adventuring back and forth between the two major cities and, later, Falkreath. The Lodge is a multi-tiered structure built into the landscape rather than on top of it. It neighbors the rapids waterfall along the road to Whiterun from Riverwood. A balcony overlooks the vista below, a gorgeous view that is especially breathtaking with thebest graphics mods forSkyriminstalled. There is a small, fenced-off garden to the side where players can grow vegetables and a stable by the river to house any horses that might need it.
The Riverside Lodge also comes equipped with a fully stocked kitchen, enchanting table, alchemy table, forge, and everything else a budding adventurer might need. A book placed on a table just outside the main structure allows players to alter or add certain rooms at will. A followers room, sorted storage containers, and custom master bedrooms to personalize the interior are all available to mess around with.
20Dragon Keep SSE
Downloads: 187,221
TheDragon Keep SSEadds a gigantic player home on a mountain peak almost directly in the middle of the map, west of Whiterun. All areas ofSkyrimother than Riften are within reach. Dawnstar is to the north, Falkreath is to the south, and so on. The Dragon Keep itself contains more than just a place for players to stay; it serves as a boarding school forup to 12 orphan children, who come fully equipped with everything they need for anything they want to learn. Players can send children they find elsewhere to this school, which is under the supervision of adult NPCs who come prepackaged with the mod.
There are rooms dedicated to Alchemy, Enchanting, sword fighting, archery, and housing in separate sections of the Dragon Keep. Servants' quarters to house the help, a kitchen to prepare food for everyone, a dormitory for the students to sleep in, and much more. As the de facto principal, the Dragonborn can stay in private quarters inside the school or in a separate building just outside the main structure, which comes equipped with every amenity imaginable.
19Lakeview Manor - As It Should Be
Downloads: 190,186
This mod does not add a new house, but rather takes an existing one added by theHearthfiresDLC and changes it into something worthy of the Dragonborn.Lakeview Manor - As It Should Beadds a dynamic lighting system, custom displays for all weapons and armor, a treasury, 6 beds for followers, two beds for children, and a functional bathtub with a toilet.
Players who want to enjoy something new, yet still want to keep close to the vanillaSkyrimexperience will feel right at home with this mod. It’s essentially a booster shot for an existing abode that boasts a few more bells and whistles.
18Airship - Dev Aveza
Downloads: 205,772
The Dragonborn that likes to travel a lot will find right at home withAirship - Dev Avezaby Deapri. As the name suggests, the mod adds a flyable airship to the province ofSkyrimwhich players can live in. The mod comes packed with the usual refinements including all the crafting tables, tons of storage, a kitchen, a bathing area, and displays for different weapons and armor.
The ship can be found parked behind the Blue Palace in Solitude, and players will have to battle a small group of Thalmor to get to it. Dev Aveza is one of theSkyrimhouse modsbetter suited for the single Dragonborn or one that has not adopted any children.
17Unlimited Bookshelves
Downloads: 283,731
Placing items on bookshelves is pretty great, but there’s only a limited number of items that can be placed before players end up without any space. This can be pretty disappointing, especially since bookshelves clearly have more space for items than the game allows.
This issue becomes a thing of the past with theUnlimited Bookshelves mod, which does precisely what is stated in the title. It’s a small change, but players will love just how many items they can stuff into these bookshelves with no issues whatsoever.
16Rayek’s End - SSE Expanded Edition
Downloads: 326,202
There are several custom-made hubs and homes that are available in the form of mods.Rayek’s Endis one of the most popular ones that allows players to enjoy a secluded retreat and relax as they hear the sound of a waterfall while getting their bearings together.
This modded hideout contains a display room and an underground garden where players can spend some time too. All in all, Rayek’s End is one of the better customSkyrimhouse mods that players should check out.
