🏠 Let’s Look at the Final Fantasy XIV Housing Districts

 So I wanted to take a moment to share some thoughts about the different housing districts in Final Fantasy XIV. These are my personal opinions, based on both aesthetics and practical experience. Everyone has their own favorites, so feel free to agree, disagree, or share your own rankings in the comments. Let’s get into it!

🎨 Best in Aesthetics

  1. Lavender Beds

  2. Shirogane

  3. Mist

  4. Empyreum

  5. The Goblet

When it comes to pure vibes, Lavender Beds takes the crown. It feels the most natural and immersive, like you’ve escaped to your own secluded haven, separate from the hustle of Gridania. It’s not a direct copy-paste of the city, but it clearly belongs in the region. It gives off “private island retreat” energy, and I love that.

Shirogane comes in strong at second. It’s definitely inspired by Kugane, but still stands on its own, with a beautiful and distinct Japanese flair.

Mist gets third—it gives me Mediterranean vibes with a splash of nautical charm. It feels like the Greek Isles met Limsa Lominsa and decided to settle down somewhere scenic.

Now, Empyreum and Goblet? They’re fine, but they feel like direct add-ons to Ishgard and Ul’dah, respectively. They’re a bit too tied to their source cities and lack that feeling of stepping into a new world.

🗺️ Best in Navigation

  1. Mist

  2. Shirogane

  3. Empyreum

  4. Goblet

  5. Lavender Beds

This list is all about how easy it is to get around, especially if you’re new to a district.

Mist wins this hands down—it feels like a clean grid. You can navigate by logic: walk a block, turn a corner, and you’re back where you started.

Shirogane follows closely. It has a similar structure, but with more elevation changes that can trip you up slightly. Still intuitive overall.

The others are varying degrees of “where the heck am I?”, and Lavender Beds is easily the most chaotic. Gorgeous? Absolutely. But I get turned around constantly. I’ve literally jumped through people’s yards in a panic trying to find a plot—sorry neighbors.

🏪 Best in NPC Design & Layout

  1. Shirogane

  2. The Goblet

  3. Lavender Beds

  4. Mist

  5. Empyreum

This category is all about how the merchant NPCs are placed and styled in each district.

Shirogane nails it. The merchant stalls are scattered in a natural-feeling way across different elevations, and the NPCs even wear region-specific outfits like kimonos. I actually mistook one for a background NPC because it blended so well—loved that.

Surprisingly, The Goblet gets second place here. The merchant area features desert-style gear and has more variety than I expected. Definitely grew on me.

The last three are... fine. They usually stick NPCs in a basic line or semicircle. Practical? Yes. But creatively? Meh. They just lack that immersive flair that Shiro and Goblet deliver.

🛋️ Best in Internal Housing Design (Default Interiors)

  1. Empyreum

  2. Lavender Beds

  3. Mist

  4. Goblet

  5. Shirogane

This one’s all about the default interior designs of houses in each district, not including the newer “Minimalist” interior theme.

Empyreum (Ishgard) comes out on top. It’s clean, versatile, and blends stone and wood in a way that’s cozy and easy to decorate around. Whether you’re going for rustic, noble, or even cafe-core, it just works.

Lavender Beds and Mist are pretty solid too—they have personality without being too aggressive.

But Shirogane… I love the district overall, but its default interiors are hard to work with. They’re dark, blocky, and don’t lend themselves well to light, airy, or playful design themes. If you want a café or cozy nook, Shiro’s base design may work against you.

If you’re into designing around clean slates, consider trying the new Modern Look—it’s minimalist, bright, and makes your house feel so much bigger (though that wasn’t factored into this ranking).

🐾 Final Thoughts

Final Fantasy XIV’s housing system is one of the most unique parts of the game, and each district has its own strengths and challenges. Whether you love them for their aesthetic vibes, layout, or NPC flair, there’s something special to find in each one.

Let me know in the comments:

  • What’s your favorite housing district and why?

  • Which one do you think is the most underrated?

  • And hey... what kind of house are you designing right now?

Thanks for stopping by The Bear Cave—your home for cozy gaming and creative deep dives. Until next time...

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Location: RJC2+FV Emison, IN, USA

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