Drusara's Humble Abode

"Welcome back to my humble abode. Feel free to take a look around."

Yes! I can actually say this now! Did I make an article on my own home just so I could? Maybe!

I also wanted to do this because I think "self appreciation" and "self care" is important! Far too often we compare to others vs just enjoying what we're capable of achieving or creating ourselves.

"Max Ehrmann (from the poem Desiderata): "If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself".

How it started

I thought an interesting idea would be to include some screenshots of how my home used to look! My first time testing was during Housing's "early access" and as you can see, I was just placing items I had randomly:

I then discovered my current plot, which I loved even more (in the cemetery surrounded by gravestones) and as you will be able to tell, my "final form" was starting to take shape:

My interior was also a bit of an "empty shell" (bar the first room which is where I was building everything originally). Sadly I can't find screenshots I took way back in the beginning.

The snowman is by Building Mouse on YouTube! They were also an inspiration for my Christmas Tree (which took way too long to do)!

What inspired me?

I have opposing favourite "Holidays":

• I adore Halloween in real life, and would often spend so long decorating my house (as well as the in-game event Hallow's End)!
• My favourite WoW holiday is probably Noble Garden - I spent so many hours egg hunting in Teldrassil when younger!
• I also love Christmas (mainly because "oooh shiny" and everything feeling cozy)!

So you might be able to assume that my WoW home is going to be a collection of different themes!

If you noticed the face in the fireplace, let's be friends!

Like many others. I've also been inspired by so many people around the Internet! Via Reddit, WoWDB Housing Hub, YouTube and Instagram. And of course, my neighbours!

I'll credit anyone who directly inspired me througtout the article! But with the start of my Alliance Home, I just kind of placed items wildly. I've definately been taking more inspiration for the "secret area" I'm working on - but I'll do a revisit for that once it's finished!

How much did I spend?

Definately 300k on a WoW token... I couldn't resist some of the items from the store, like the … and …. As mentioned earlier, I'm obsessed with Noble Garden so I had to get a bunch of … and ….

As for general gold? It's hard to say. I tried my best to grind and farm my own materials. Luckily @... and I had different professions levelled (that we forgot about on some alts that were covered in cobwebs) so we were able to create profession items for each other! But general gold costs from vendors can add up quite quickly!

Having some professions levelled definately helped me make gold in the beginning - while Decor was selling for a good amount of gold.

In terms of real world money - I prepurchased the Diablo 4 expansion as I was looking forward to the Paladin class! I loved the "Crusader" in Diablo 3 (the "spinny hammer" build and the "my little pony" build were my favourites). Which unlocked the Diablo 4 themed decor:

Oh and I pre-ordered Midnight too. Don't judge me!

Changes and Future Plans

Well, you may notice that my 360 Tour looks a little different to the screenshots I'm posting here...

"I woke up this morning and I just hated, everything." ~Lara Croft, Tomb Raider (2001)

... That's because as I was taking photos for this article, I kept getting ideas or noticing things I wanted to change! D'oh!

I would have redone my 360 Tour but I think it's kind of nice being able to see the constant progress that goes into WoW Housing!

Some other things I've wanted to change but haven't found the time is probably my attempt at a "natural sink" in my Zandalari themed bathroom:

I've started to create a "not so secret" area that I want to finish (shout out to …). It will be a courtyard illusion that leads to an undead/forsaken themed bedroom! But this is me after all, so there will be some juxtaposition in the form of a pastel party/spring themed room!

Why choose just one theme, when you can make an amalgamation of many?! Duh!

But I'll have to show that off another time, when it's finished!

Features I want to see

Some things I was looking forward too was outside lighting and some more exterior decor limit! Luckily this came in Patch 12.0.7! I just sadly haven't had much of a chance to try it out fully!

I'd also adore a vegetable garden! Kind of like from the Mists of Pandaria expansion and the Tillers farm. I really loved cooking and farming my own materials during that time!

Advice to my readers

Obviously I am not the most extravagant builder! I'm not a huge fan of doing custom things (so fiddly!) and I often prefer to make things symmetrical (much to @...s chagrin) - but hopefully some of the below advice resonates with you! <3

@... actually inspired my pub! She originally made an awesome kitchen under the stairs in her Alliance home - so I stole the idea for myself and expanded on it! My next article will actually be showcasing Teacup's Horde home!

The fridge is also by Building Mouse, on YouTube!

For some reason though one of my fridge handles has disappeared - I guess my home is haunted, nice!

Take your time and have fun!

My home was just 1 large room to start with that I kept messing around with and adding too. And honestly, I loved it! It's only because I had more ideas but not enough space, that I ended up creating more rooms!

But just having a smaller home that you love is perfectly valid! Compared to trying to make a huge home that you then struggle to fill!

Don't compare - just get inspired!

I see people do absolutely amazing builds - but I just try and see it as that, something awesome to view!

I don't beat myself up (sure I definately get jealous sometimes and think "shucks, why didn't I do that!") because do I really have the brain power and time to create something as grand? Nah! And that's fine!

So you shouldn't compare or feel bad about your accomplishments! Just enjoy what you see, take some inspiration and use that to do something that your capable of. Life wouldn't be interesting if we all created the same things!

Just place stuff and see what sticks!

Honestly so much of what I built came about as I just started placing items wildly to see what they looked like. I would then and mess around with them (see how big or small they could go, see what they looked like at different rotations etc) and that would give me an idea!

Wait till you see my Horde house! I was just placing items for the endeavour quest (place 150 decor items) and from that, it spawned some crazy random stuff!

Take progress screenshots!

It's easy to forget where we started - and keep thinking we haven't improved. But if you document your journey - it helps to remind yourself that you are making progress and improving!

Kind of like how I showed in the beginning! And for a side by side comparison:

Hide offline!

WoW is definately a social game! But there's nothing wrong with hiding offline or locking down your house while building!

It's good to say no sometimes! And take time for yourself!

Well there we have it dear readers, I hope you enjoyed touring my home today.

Have fun and take care out there in Azeroth!