I know I can move an object around on the screen with the "E" key. I make that object move around the air like it's nothing, but I can't figure out how to rotate that object while it's in the air. In order for me to orient an object correctly, I've been kicking it around on the floor to I get it in the right orientation and then using the E key to move it.

I would like to be able to raise an object up with the E key, and then spin it around on different axises.

Is this possible?

Is there a mod for it?

i would like to do that aswell but i dont know how the flip do it

Yes, there must be a mod out there somewhere. If you can't spin items while using the use key, it makes it next to impossible to decorate your house.

I normally bump it into tables and walls and such to position it somewhat.
But it never gets just as I wanted.

One of many features removed from previous games...the only way to rotate an object is when viewing it in the menu

There was a mod for this for Fallout and Oblivion, so I am sure there will be one for this game.

However, in the meantime, what I do is hold the item up then move my character. It helps to be in Walking mode for this. Also, I have noticed that if I put an object down and pick it up again, it will move on it's axis.

However, bottom line, precise placement of items in these games is not easy. Plus, even if you ever get it where you want it, it is too easy to bump it off the shelf. I gave up trying to decorate my homes after Morrowind.

In previous games I was able to pick an item up by clicking on it where I wanted to grab it. It was very area specific and allowed for decent manipulation of the time. In Skyrim it seems that there is one central grab point for every item other than bodies. It took me forever to set a butterfly jar upright because when I pick it up it always grabs the jar in the middle and it rotates until it is flat. I had to move it around hitting it up against things until I worked it into a standing position. Of course this technique makes setting a number of things close together nearly impossible. I don't understand how Bethesda can't grasp that people like to decorate their homes and to make these things easier to do. I have to applaud them for finally including decent book shelves, storage plaques, display cases, and mannequins. But they should have made it so the manipulation and lock down of smaller items was easy to do. Things like that allow players to customize their game and add hours to game play thus prolonging the life of the game.

Gentlemen, I believe I found the mod were looking for. http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=2475#content
Decorator's Assistant