I just wanted a home to store things, so I built the small house layout. I haven't put anything in it but a bed and the worktable is still in it. It comes with a chest, and I'm wondering if that chest is safe. I put stolen items and they didn't get marked red, but were still stolen when I took them out. So the fact they weren't red makes me wary of the chest.

Also what happens when down the road I change the small house to thee items I put into things in it.

Thanks.

I'm pretty sure stolen items in Harthfire don't get marked in red for stolen items. Its a bug I think with Harthfire, but the chest itself should be fine. I have never lost anything myself. The chest outside doesn't go away unless you remove it in the work bench once you are done building your home.