I've just bought the house in Windhelm called Hjerim and I cant decorate it. I know i'm supposed to talk to the steward but he doesn't have the option for decorating it. Can anyone help me please, it will be much appreciated.

You first need to read the book that was given to you regarding the home decorations. After reading that, you are then given the option to buy from the steward

i am having problems buying the house. i have the strategy guide and i did all the quests required b4 i consulted the guide. the guy says its not ready. i looked in the guide and it said do the first 2 main quests for it and help 5 or more people. i did the quests and helped 6 people but he still says that its not ready yet. what did u do to get the house?

i havent recieved a book on decorating and i do have the option i just cant get the blood on the ice quest to start. i have left and come back like 50 times done the quests required and helped 7 people but the quest wont trigger.

I didn't have to read any book to buy decoration for my house in Whiterun (or Markath). I just talked to the Stewart who sold me the house and told him I want to buy decorations which then gave me a list of different choices I could pick from.

I know this doesn't help the OP, just wanted to point out it's not necessary to read the "house decoration" book first. Maybe it has something to do with the amount of gold you are carrying? If you don't have enough, the option doesn't show? Some house parts you can buy can be bought for a few hundred gold. But no idea if that is actually the problem.

But, now that I think of it ... I read somewhere that you have to finish a couple of quests to buy at least some (if not all) the furniture for the Windhelm house. So maybe you need to do some more good things for Ulfric first.

Ah, Hejerm...lol

First off, you have to do the quest for the Butcher which starts inside your house...only when you complete that quest will he allow you to decorate it. Also, I hope you like blood and bones as decorations. It should give you the option to 'investigate' the various objects already inside the house for clues when you bought it.

Oh ok, I assumed it would be the same as the Manor in Solitude I just bought, I guess not... Try checking in some of the shops?

Have tried everything. my friends are getting it to trigger on their first visit and i have done almost all the quests there less the one about refilling the phials. just can not get the murder to take place.