Don't store important items outside of storages in your house!

Shole

If you made that mistake I am sure you saw some weapons or armor gone missing. This happens a lot, weapons just fall through the ground and you can't recover them so store them in the chests and boxes. I had to learn this the hard way XD anyone else?

Majoron

Yeah, I did this in Fallout 3, only realising my mistake later.

Sean-Bean

Nope. I always check the UESP for information on safe containers before leaving anything anywhere. Besides, I'm a hoarder by heart, so it's not like I leave stuff willingly...

War

Shame things can disappear, it's really fun to decorate your house! Back when I played Oblivion, I spent a lot of time just stuffing my home full of decorations I found over the course of my adventures.

Sadly, with Skyrim there doesn't seem to be as many decorative items to nab.

Quadryc

I usually end up selling what I can't fit in my inventory or giving it to a follower - even if the items stayed in a chest outside of playerhomes, I'd likely forget I even stored my items there.