Items
Better Circlets
If you can handle high graphics, Yuril Rings, HD Misc, HD Sacks Rexture, HD Urns Retex, High Quality Food and Ingredients, Realistic Instruments, Super Realistic Ore Textures, and Unique Booze Bottles are all solid graphics mods.
Landscape Changes - HiRes Legible Road Signs
Locations Vanilla - Immersive College of Winterhold
Magic
Harvest Overhaul
Radiant and Unique Potions and Poisons Graphics Mod
Acquisitive Soul Gems
Wrath of Nature
Forgotten Magic
Starting Spell Choice If you like the mage playstyle, I really like this mod but it did not work for me without the Live Another Life mod for some reason.
If you want some silly magic stuff to add, I recommend Glowtastic, Conjure Rideable Etheral Horse, Master Time and Space, and Weather Master
Misc.
Conjurable Chest and Crafting Furniture
Guards guard the player from thugs (No longer available on the Nexus)
More Craftables
More Salt Please
Models and Textures (Graphics Mods)
Book Covers Skyrim
Enhanced Night Skyrim I LOVE THIS MOD
Insanitys City Banner Replacer
Skill Interface Re-Texture I LOVE THIS ONE TOO, SUCH SEXY GRAPHICS
If you can handle high graphics, the mod author aMidian has a ton of good stuff. Also, I recommend Bellaches HD Dragons.
I recommend under the New Lands category Falskaar but decided not to install it. I MAY still install it depending on the progress of the stream.
NPC
Lawrens RNG Guards
Non-Essential Killable Children (lol)
I recommend Interesting NPCs if your computer can handle extra NPCs. Solid mod but takes forever to download. I also like the "Populated" series but my computer can't handle the extra NPCs and I get crashes.
OverhaulsASIS
Deadly Dragons
T3nd0s Skyrim Redone (SkyRE)
If your computer can handle it, Project Reality - Climates of Tamriel is really good, but other mods often need compatibility patches)
I recommend and use the "Unofficial Patch" series, there's a bunch of mods for it. I also have some compatibility patches with some of my mods.
Quests and Adventures
Civil War Overhaul
Recruit More Blades
The Choice is Yours
The Paathurnax Dilemma (WARNING, THIS HAS GAME SPOILERS, IT MAKES PART OF THE MAIN STORY SUCK LESS IF YOU CHOOSE A CERTAIN OPTION)
User Interfaces (Out of all of the mod categories, these mods are some of the most simple, yet most useful)
A Quality World Map
A Thinner Compass
Better Dialogue Controls
Categorized Favorites Menu (Oni Edition)
EzE's Colored Map Markers
iHUD
Lockpick Graduation by Lilyu
More HotKeys Please
Race Menu
SkyUI (THIS IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT MOD TO HAVE IF YOU PLAN ON MODDING)
World Map with Hold Borders
Utilities - Auto Unequip Ammo and Auto Unequip Helmet
Visuals and Graphics
Glowing Ore Veins
I recommend Enhanced Blood Textures, Footprints, and the Static Mesh Improvement Mod if your computer can handle it
Weapons - Immersive Weapons