House Building Plans – Before we proceed further to the land for constructing a house, we make a plan or sketch of it. Having an idea about what we want and how we want it enhances the result and saves cost and time. So before building your dream house, it’s important to prepare an outline with measurements. Building a house involves numerous processes such as planning, drafting, designing and layout, space division, preparing tender schedule and budgeting etc. Therefore before executing any project you need to ready your plan.
Are you planning an extension, new kitchen or bathroom, or finally getting round to landscaping the garden? Or maybe you’ve just moved into a new house and are planning to embark on several renovation projects? Whether you’re doing everything yourself or turning to the pros, there’s plenty of professional home and interior design software that’s readily available, user friendly, affordable, and in many cases, free.
Regardless of what home project you’re working on, you’ll want to communicate your ideas with everyone involved as accurately as possible, and a room planner will help you do just that. It’s the most accurate way of fleshing out your ideas visually, says Cory Powell from DBS Bathrooms, who talks us through some of the best free design software currently available to home designers and interior decorators.
Dreaming up a new home has never been more fun…
1. SketchUp
Website: https://www.sketchup.com/
Does it have a free trial? Yes
Lowest priced plan: $119 / yr for SketchUp Shop
SketchUp is famous for its intuitive ease of use.
It’s a 3D design tool that can help draft floor plans and model 3D versions to help visualize how a space may look from different viewpoints.
It supports the importing of reference images and documents that can paint a holistic picture of a given space. Moreover, it can incorporate light rendering to help demonstrate a more photorealistic feel to the 3D model and image exports.
SketchUp comes with a 3D object warehouse that helps make it easy to develop floor plans and 3D models quickly. It also has integration capabilities, cloud storage, and mobile viewing – all making it a great versatile tool.
Why buy?
SketchUp is a fully stacked tool that’s suitable for novice casual users and professionals. If 3D modeling is a must, then this tool is the perfect choice compared to alternatives.
2. Autodesk Civil 3D
Website: https://www.autodesk.com/products/civil-3d/overview
Does it have a free trial? Yes
Lowest priced plan: $ 2,205 / year
Autodesk’s Civil 3D is primarily designed for professionals and widely used in construction companies to develop civil engineering design blueprints.
However, the tool is also useful for developing floor plants and rendering them into 3D models. It’s a great tool if the core output isn’t detailed floor plans, but one needs to support a more intricate blueprint for architects and construction firms to use.
The tool can help with drafting and annotation. It’s useful in a myriad of analyses, such as elevation surveying and geospatial analysis.
Autodesk Civil 3D was designed with professionals in mind and boasts strong integration capabilities with best-in-class tools such as Revit, AutoCAD, Navisworks, and other AutoDesk products.
Why buy?
If one’s already a user of other AutoDesk software, then Civil 3D is worth the purchase for the seamless integration it offers. It’s a great tool if the output requires transferring over models and designs between different software. Else, a cheaper alternative is suitable for creating floor plans.
3. AutoCAD Architecture
Website: https://www.autodesk.ca/en/products/autocad/included-toolsets/autocad-architecture
Does it have a free trial? Yes
Lowest priced plan: $2,100 / year
AutoCAD Architecture is a purpose-built tool in the AutoCAD suite to help architects and other professionals render realistic objects into their floor plans.
This helps them create more realistic floor plans that can be rendered in 3D to determine the spatial composition of a space.
The tool comes with a standard set of features such as documentation and annotation functionality. It also boasts an extensive object database (doors, walls, windows, furniture, etc.) that allows one to create realistic renders. Moreover, there are different styles and palettes one can use, and it supports the import of Revit grids to aid in modeling.
Why buy?
AutoCAD’s Architecture tool is a suitable investment due to its targeted development for architects to use. It also integrates smoothly with the rest of the AutoCAD suite of tools which is useful for professionals. The only downside to this tool is the hefty price tag, and it’s better value for architects. There are plenty of cheaper alternatives if one’s looking for basic floor plan software.
Civil 3D
Product Name: AutoDesk Civil 3D
G2 Star Rating: 4.2 out of 5.0 stars
Number of Reviews: 113
Civil 3D from AutoDesk is a BIM solution designed for civil engineering design and construction companies, but its features can technically be used to create a 3D house plan. However, because Civil 3D provides users with a set of surveying and civil engineering tools, house plans will most likely not produce the detailed floor plans that more granular design companies prefer.
Image courtesy of AutoDesk Civil 3D
Free option:
- The student version of AutoDesk’s Civil 3D is free for students for three years.
Paid option:
Civil 3D’s license can either be purchased as a monthly or yearly subscription
- Monthly: $870
- One year: $2,155
- Two years: $4,310
- Three years: $6,465
Features:
- Elevation surveying and analysis
- Property type labeling
- Construction drafting and annotation
- Geospatial analysis
- Integration with Revit, Navisworks, AutoCAD and AutoDesk products
What users like:
“As far as I know, it is one of the best software for drawings. It helps structural engineers and architects point out specific details [in] layouts and plans. [Helps deliver] more design alternatives in less time.”
— Civil 3D review by a user in civil engineering
What users dislike:
“Everything is driven by styles, so it takes a long time to dig in deep to get the content and data to display correctly.”
— Civil 3D review by Eric D.
Recommendations to others considering the product:
“I am creating floor plans for hotels, libraries, and schools. I’ve realized Civil 3D is not universal but the fact that it’s under AutoDesk allows it to be compatible with all of AutoDesk’s other products. That’s the beauty of it; if you can’t get certain things in one software, you can get it in another and transfer it.”
— Civil 3D review by Saad S.
Floorplanner
Floorplanner lets you design and decorate your space in 2D and 3D, which can be done online and without having to download any software. While its interior decorating function is an excellent feature, the strength of this tool lies in its functionality as a floor planner. Then, once the floor plan is completed, you can switch view and decorate the space in 3D mode.
It’s simple to use and easy to get the hang of, so if you’re after something that doesn’t require a steep learning curve, Floorplanner is a good choice.
Conclusions
Floorplanner
Floorplanner lets you design and decorate your space in 2D and 3D, which can be done online and without having to download any software. While its interior decorating function is an excellent feature, the strength of this tool lies in its functionality as a floor planner. Then, once the floor plan is completed, you can switch view and decorate the space in 3D mode.
It’s simple to use and easy to get the hang of, so if you’re after something that doesn’t require a steep learning curve, Floorplanner is a good choice.