Create a seperate workshop/building?

Depending on what biome you're building in, putting different activity centers in separate buildings can reduce the amount of raid defense you need. In fact, it could be made even more thematic, since you could make a small keep containing your respawn bed and comfort stuff, then build full raid defenses only for that building.

Just make sure there is plenty of space for raid mobs to path around the other buildings and they should generally be only threatened by normal biome mob activity which requires much less in defensive structures.

Overall it could be made to look quite thematic; with a central well defended keep surrounded by lesser defended buildings and plenty of open spaces/roads.

i tend to build a work house, doesn't need to be fancy and it might be a bit of a walk, but that's what you have to put up with when you want the aesthetics to work.

Edit because i am terrible at spelling and grammar

You can put the roof tile half-off the wall of the house, that way the window is covered and the bench is not exposed anymore. I've done this plenty of times. Bench is also fine on the other side of the wall if there is a whole roof tile over it ;)

Originally posted by blprice61:

Originally posted by avatar.zero:

That destroys the workbench.

Not if you leave the highest part (post in rear left corner) above ground

That's crafty

Originally posted by knighttemplar1960:

raise ground over the work bench

That destroys the workbench.

Originally posted by avatar.zero:

Originally posted by knighttemplar1960:

raise ground over the work bench

That destroys the workbench.

Not if you leave the highest part (post in rear left corner) above ground

Originally posted by Pyro Penguin:

"workbench is too exposed"
even when there's a roof over it and 3 sides of it are touching walls, i wish they would just remove the requirement for it to be indoors

On the minimap, up in the right hand corner of the screen, there is a small arrow which indicates WIND DIRECTION... If the "open" (4th side) of your protective structure is facing into the wind whatsoever, the workbench will still be considered "exposed"

Checking the wind direction should always be the first thing you do before setting up a workbench (outdoors) with roof and walls, rotate the workbench where the wind is hitting the back and make sure you place walls there and then a roof on top. ("open" end facing downwind)

Another way to determine wind direction is to look at the "streaks" in the air floating by.

Originally posted by Nefrarya:

I know it doesn't help with the aesthetics (I feel you), but the information here can be helpful when you can't figure out why the workbench is still exposed:
https://valheim.fandom.com/wiki/Cover

👍 👍

Not really a house without proper walls. More of a gazebo.

Consider a veranda instead.

You only have to have the work bench accessible (and covered) if you want to use it to repair or create basic tools. An exposed workbench allows you to build structures inside it's radius. If you want the aesthetics you can dig a shallow trench, put a work bench inside the trench, raise ground over the work bench, use the hoe to flatten the dirt, and then use the cultivator to plant grass on the dirt.

"workbench is too exposed"
even when there's a roof over it and 3 sides of it are touching walls, i wish they would just remove the requirement for it to be indoors

I know it doesn't help with the aesthetics (I feel you), but the information here can be helpful when you can't figure out why the workbench is still exposed:
https://valheim.fandom.com/wiki/Cover

Just put a cross piece on the half wall to frame out the opening and it will work like a full wall.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2660632610

Like this window here. If I put a workbench or bed in front of it, it will work just fine.