Stardew Valley House Upgrades Guide: Complete Progression
Your farmhouse is your home base in Stardew Valley, and upgrading it unlocks essential features like cooking, marriage, children, and artisan goods aging. This comprehensive guide covers the complete house upgrade progression, including costs, materials, and what each upgrade unlocks.
Overview of House Upgrades
The farmhouse can be upgraded three times, each adding new rooms and features. All upgrades are purchased from Robin at the Carpenterโs Shop and require gold and materials. Construction takes 3 days for each upgrade.
Upgrade Progression
- Starter House: Basic one-room farmhouse
- First Upgrade: Adds kitchen and bedroom expansion
- Second Upgrade: Adds nursery for children
- Third Upgrade: Adds cellar for aging goods
Starter House
Description
Your starting farmhouse is a modest one-room building with basic amenities. It includes a single bed, a small living area, a fireplace, and a TV. The house is functional but limited in features.
Features
Layout:
- Single room design
- One bed (single)
- Fireplace
- TV (weather channel)
- Small living space
- No kitchen
Limitations:
- Cannot cook
- Cannot marry (no double bed)
- Limited storage space
- No children possible
- No cellar access
Starting Furniture
| Item | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Single Bed | Sleep |
| Fireplace | Decoration |
| TV | Weather forecast |
| Rug | Decoration |
First Upgrade - Kitchen
Cost and Materials
Cost: 10,000g Materials: Wood (450) Construction Time: 3 days
Features Added
Kitchen:
- Full cooking functionality
- Stove for cooking recipes
- Refrigerator for ingredient storage
- Counter space
Bedroom Expansion:
- Double bed (replaces single bed)
- Larger bedroom area
- Marriage capability unlocked
Living Room Expansion:
- Expanded living space
- More room for furniture
- Better layout
Unlocks
Cooking System:
- Access to all cooking recipes
- Cook meals for energy and buffs
- Gift cooked items to villagers
- Refrigerator stores ingredients
Marriage:
- Double bed allows spouse to move in
- Can propose to marriage candidates
- Spouse lives in farmhouse
- Spouse helps with farm tasks
Kitchen Functionality
Cooking Process:
- Approach stove
- Select recipe from menu
- Recipe shows required ingredients
- Cook if ingredients available
- Meal appears in inventory
Refrigerator:
- Stores up to 36 items
- Ingredients accessible while cooking
- Keeps food fresh
- Convenient storage
Cooking Benefits
Energy Restoration:
| Food | Energy | Health |
|---|---|---|
| Fried Egg | 50 | 20 |
| Omelet | 100 | 50 |
| Hashbrowns | 80 | 30 |
| Complete Breakfast | 200 | 100 |
Buff Foods:
| Food | Buff | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Spicy Eel | +1 Speed, +1 Luck | 7m |
| Lucky Lunch | +3 Luck | 11m |
| Dish oโ The Sea | +3 Fishing | 5m |
| Minerโs Treat | +3 Mining | 5m |
Second Upgrade - Bedroom/Nursery
Cost and Materials
Cost: 65,000g Materials: Hardwood (100) Construction Time: 3 days
Features Added
Nursery:
- Second bedroom for children
- Two cribs for two children
- Childrenโs room decoration
- Separate from main bedroom
Expanded Space:
- Larger overall house
- More furniture placement options
- Additional storage space
- Better layout
Unlocks
Children:
- Can have up to two children
- Children appear after marriage
- Children grow through stages
- Family life experience
Children System
Having Children:
- Must be married for at least 7 days
- Spouse asks about having children
- Choose to have or decline
- Child appears 14 days after agreement
Child Stages:
| Stage | Duration | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 (Baby) | 14 days | Sleeping in crib |
| Stage 2 | 14 days | Standing/walking |
| Stage 3 | 28 days | Crawling |
| Stage 4 (Toddler) | Permanent | Full toddler stage |
Two Children:
- Second child possible after first reaches toddler stage
- Same process as first child
- Maximum two children per family
Children Interactions
Baby Stage:
- Can be held
- Makes baby sounds
- Stays in crib
Toddler Stage:
- Walks around house
- Can be picked up
- Plays with toys
Child Stage:
- Runs around house
- Can be talked to
- Has personality based on spouse
Third Upgrade - Cellar
Cost and Materials
Cost: 100,000g Materials: None Construction Time: 3 days
Features Added
Cellar:
- Underground room accessed via staircase
- 33 Cask slots for aging
- Temperature-controlled environment
- Perfect for wine and cheese aging
Casks:
- 33 casks included
- Each cask ages one product
- Products improve quality over time
- Iridium quality achievable
Unlocks
Product Aging:
- Wine can be aged to iridium quality
- Cheese can be aged to iridium quality
- Goat cheese can be aged
- Value increases significantly
Cask Aging Mechanics
Quality Progression:
| Stage | Quality | Value Multiplier |
|---|---|---|
| Base | Normal | 1x |
| Silver | Silver | 1.25x |
| Gold | Gold | 1.5x |
| Iridium | Iridium | 2x |
Aging Times:
| Product | Time to Iridium |
|---|---|
| Wine | 2 seasons (56 days) |
| Cheese | ~14 days |
| Goat Cheese | ~14 days |
| Pale Ale | ~14 days |
| Beer | ~7 days |
Wine Aging Value Analysis
Example: Starfruit Wine:
| Quality | Value | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Base | 2,400g | 0 days |
| Silver | 3,000g | ~14 days |
| Gold | 3,600g | ~28 days |
| Iridium | 4,800g | 56 days |
Profit Analysis:
- Base to Iridium: +2,400g (100% increase)
- 56 days investment
- Worth aging for high-value wines
Best Products to Age
High-Value Wines:
| Wine | Base Value | Iridium Value |
|---|---|---|
| Starfruit Wine | 2,400g | 4,800g |
| Ancient Fruit Wine | 1,650g | 3,300g |
| Pineapple Wine | 900g | 1,800g |
| Melon Wine | 600g | 1,200g |
| Rhubarb Wine | 660g | 1,320g |
Cheese Products:
| Product | Base Value | Iridium Value |
|---|---|---|
| Cheese | 200g | 400g |
| Goat Cheese | 250g | 500g |
Upgrade Comparison Table
| Upgrade | Cost | Materials | Days | Features Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | 10,000g | Wood 450 | 3 | Kitchen, double bed, marriage |
| Bedroom | 65,000g | Hardwood 100 | 3 | Nursery, children capability |
| Cellar | 100,000g | None | 3 | Cellar, 33 casks, aging |
Upgrade Strategy
Priority Recommendations
First Upgrade Priority:
- Kitchen upgrade should be first priority
- Unlocks cooking for energy/buffs
- Enables marriage
- Essential for game progression
Second Upgrade Priority:
- Bedroom upgrade for family life
- Optional if you donโt want children
- Consider after marriage
- Adds storage space
Third Upgrade Priority:
- Cellar upgrade for artisan goods
- Best after establishing wine production
- Requires casks to be useful
- Late-game investment
Timing Recommendations
Kitchen Upgrade:
- Best time: First year, after earning 10,000g
- Priority: High
- Reason: Cooking and marriage essential
Bedroom Upgrade:
- Best time: After marriage, when wanting children
- Priority: Medium
- Reason: Optional for family gameplay
Cellar Upgrade:
- Best time: After establishing keg production
- Priority: Medium-High
- Reason: Maximizes wine profits
Material Gathering
Wood (450 for Kitchen)
Sources:
- Chop trees on farm
- Chop trees in forest
- Buy from Robin (not recommended)
- Clear farm debris
Time Estimate: 1-2 days of chopping
Hardwood (100 for Bedroom)
Sources:
- Large stumps on Forest Farm
- Secret Woods (12 daily)
- Hardwood nodes in mines
- Buy from Robin occasionally
Time Estimate: 8-10 days for bedroom upgrade
House Upgrade Benefits Summary
Kitchen Upgrade Benefits
- Cooking Access: Cook meals for energy restoration and buffs
- Marriage Capability: Double bed allows spouse
- Refrigerator Storage: Store 36 ingredients
- Expanded Space: More room for furniture
- Gift Options: Cook meals for villagers
Bedroom Upgrade Benefits
- Children: Have up to two children
- Family Life: Experience family gameplay
- More Space: Additional room
- Storage: More furniture placement
- Story Progression: Family narrative
Cellar Upgrade Benefits
- Product Aging: Age wine and cheese
- Quality Improvement: Iridium quality products
- Value Increase: Double product value
- 33 Cask Slots: Batch aging capability
- Artisan Excellence: Premium goods production
Tips for House Upgrades
Planning Tips
- Save materials in advance: Gather wood, stone, hardwood before purchasing
- Plan timing: Upgrade during convenient seasons
- Consider order: Kitchen first, then bedroom, then cellar
- Budget wisely: Save gold progressively
Construction Tips
- Check Robinโs schedule: Shop closed Mondays
- Have materials ready: Cannot purchase without materials
- Plan around festivals: Construction continues during festivals
- Prepare for changes: House layout changes during construction
Usage Tips
Kitchen:
- Cook daily for energy
- Store ingredients in refrigerator
- Learn recipes from TV and villagers
- Gift cooked foods
Nursery:
- Decide on children early
- Interact with children daily
- Enjoy family narrative
Cellar:
- Age high-value wines first
- Rotate products efficiently
- Plan aging schedule
- Use all 33 casks
Conclusion
House upgrades are essential milestones in Stardew Valley progression. The kitchen upgrade unlocks cooking and marriage, the bedroom upgrade enables family life, and the cellar upgrade maximizes artisan goods value.
Plan your upgrades strategically, gathering materials in advance and timing purchases appropriately. Each upgrade significantly improves your farmhouse capabilities and enhances your Stardew Valley experience. Start with the kitchen upgrade as your first priority, then progress through bedroom and cellar upgrades as your farm and family grow.