I've also decorated with things on top of barrels and here and there, to lighten things up.

I solved the lighting problems in it by pickpocketing guards torches, around skyrim at night, then dropping them behind stuff here and there in Severin manor. This is because its all one floor, nice and roomy and has a forge/anvil/all the weapon improving stuff and everything inside of it. My favorite of all is Severin manor, or whatever, in the Dragonborn area. I thought it was laid out nicely, as well as all being on one floor. My favorite was Markarth, which is weird because I've not seen many others like it.