Well the only time I've really immersed with making my house look pretty was with my thief/assassin argonian (raised by Bosmers) who adopted a couple of kids to try and become a better person
He uses his home to display his achievements.
His manikins are the armor of the important people he has slain (Captain Maro, Astrid, Mercer, Lord Harkon, the Emperor....). He has the soul gems of Maro, Astrid, and Mercer laying next to each of their manikins.
He has the soul gem of Calixto with the Beware of the Butcher letter and necromancy necklace in the cupboard near his bed. All those random things in Calixto's "museum" are also in the cupboard.
He has the soul gem of his own partially trapped soul in the display case next to his bed. The skull of Arvak is on the nightstand on the other side of his bed. Some dwemer gyros are also placed on shelves around his bed.
He has the eye of the falmer, the draw blade, canicle bark, paragons, dragon claws, ewer, mark of dibella, blood potion, soul cairne potions, and phantom potion all strategically placed throughout his house.
There are vale pelts placed on shelves around the house. Oh, and he has cupboards filled to the brim with cheese wheels. Yeah, that one took awhile to do. and of course there are special weapons displayed everywhere.