This is a simple list of mods off the skyrim workshop can make your skyrim look really nice! Luckily, you can get almost all of them from the Steam Workshop. I only use 2 EASY manual installation nexus mods. I have really tried making a compatible, low count, list of mods to make skyrim ENJOYABLE!
Nexus Website Manual Mods:
Realistic Water 2 (RW2) - (Does Not work with Pure Waters. Choose one or the other.)
http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/...
DYNAVISION: Dynamic Depth of Field Mod (Need to get SkyUI Mod + SKyrim Script Extender [SKE]) WORTH IT!
http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/...
SKSE: For Dynavision and SkyUI
http://skse.silverlock.org/
Skyrim - Steam Workshop Mods:
Dense Vegetation
Real Rain Extended
Alternative Lighting 2
HD Plants + Herbs
Better Embers
Deeper Snow (More Snow)
HQ Snow Texture
Real Glaciers 2
The Hunting Game - (More profitable, viable, and worthwhile hunting experience)
Towns and Villages Enhanced - (However many you would like)
Towns and Villages Enhanced - Villages Redux
SkyUI (Need to get SKyrim Script Extender [SKE]) WORTH IT!
Immersive Patrols Vanilla
Faster Vanilla Horses
Realistic Piercing Arrows
Improved Interior Lighting
Pure Waters (ONLY if you don't want to get Realistic Water 2 from nexus)
Sounds of Skyrim - Civilization
Sounds of Skyrim - The Dungeons
Sounds of Skyrim - The Wilds
Enhanced Blood Textures 3.6b
Unofficial Skyrim Patch (Optional)