The houses within the village have stone walls and wooden roofs. The roofs are supported by wooden columns, with the main column, or shastan , being decorated with carvings. Traditionally, upon entering a Shughni house, a person is expected to greet the shastan, if no one is home. Otherwise, the master of the house will be offended because reverence was not shown to the spirits of his ancestors. Recently, more Shughni are beginning to build separate and elegantly decorated houses.
Shughni life is based on agriculture, with grains and legumes being the main crops.
When the terrain allows, the Shughni plow, plant, and harvest with mechanical equipment. However, remote areas still require the traditional ox and plow methods. Cattle, sheep, and goats are also vital to Shughni economy. Dried fruit is a popular supplement to a diet that consists mainly of grain and milk products and, occasionally, meat. The Shughni are known for their hand-crafted textiles, such as rugs and woolen cloth.