Do you sometimes find yourself at 2 AM trying to rearrange furniture in a game because the rug doesn’t fit the throne room aesthetics? If you do, here’s some good news: The Elder Scrolls Online “Welcome Home” Housing Contest is live, and in case you crafted a secret garden or tavern that would put The Rosy Lion to shame, you are free to take part now.
Players are entitled to submit four to six screenshots of their best home creations based around one of the four prompts from now until June 6 2025. And don’t worry, you don’t need to be a pro decorator, though if you are, this is your chance to brag.
ZeniMax has lined up four archetypes—each with their own flavors and expectations. Consider the them like housing styl types:
- Cozy Inn Rooms: Small spaces but lots of charm. Think of small libraries, warm lighting, maybe a burning hearth and a few nice chairs.
- Secret Garden: Outdoor areas packed with flora and fauna, overflowing with hidden magical creatures that give the feeling of having stumbled upon something enchanting.
- Festival Day: Can you picture a dog that juggles? Neither can I, but it definitely would make for a grand Winter themed costume party and serve as a stall decoration.
- Master-Tier Creations: This one is for the serious from-scratch architects creating airships, portals, and entire cities, ou.
Each category has its own set of tags to hit, so if you know what “Cozy,” “From Scratch,” or “Exhibits” means, you’re halfway there.
Just don’t get too greedy – you can only enter one build per category. Four total. So think before you act.
What’s in it for you (besides eternal glory)?
Oh, just a little something called:
Grand Prize (1 per category):
- 30-minute video chat with the ESO Housing Team – yes, that team
- 12 months of ESO Plus (that’s 19,800 Crowns)
- One in-game house of your choice
- 10 luxury furnishings (also of your choice)
- 2 houseguests (again, your pick)
- A signed print of official ESO housing art
- And yes, you’ll be featured in a winners’ video shared with the whole ESO community
Runners-Up (2 per category):
- 6 months of ESO Plus (9,900 Crowns)
- One in-game house
- 5 luxury furnishings
- 1 houseguest
- A signed screenshot – because validation matters.
A small catch – your picks for houses, guests, and furnishings have to be from items put out already via the Crown Store or Luxury Furnishing vendor. No unreleased sneak pevks allowed.
ZeniMax aims to spotlight your creativity regardless if you are vying for the prize packs. They will be sharing favorite entries across their official social channels during the contest so be sure to post using #ESOWelcomeHomeContest. With a dash of luck, your garden gnome might go viral.
Also, a little whisper on the wind—Kudos if you decorate the new “Grand Gallery of Tamriel” home which is free through May’s Golden Pursuits campaign. There is no better flex than building a magnificent ballroom before the month’s end.
So Why Bother?
In all honesty, housing in ESO is one of the most underappreciated mechanics in the genre. It is not just décor—it is a means of character-building. Every stack of books, every hanging lantern, and every suspiciously placed Daedric artifact tells a tale.
This contest is meant for players to showcase their decorated houses, guilds, or even servers and possibly interact with ESO’s developers. It’s about sharing those stories.
Go on. Bend the housing editor to your will.
Because home, in Tamriel, is where the creativity is.
