What is house design? It’s a question that may have been on the mind of those who aren’t familiar with this terminology. In fact, it’s likely that you personally have never stopped to think about it as someone without any background in construction.
House design is the act of envisioning how to use the space inside your home. It involves taking into account aspects like how you live, budget, and inspiration toward what you want to see in your home. A large part of the design process is preparing the right software for house design.
Designing a house in 2D software is a lot different from in 3D. It’s much easier to make changes in 2D software because the perspective isn’t there. Software for house design takes the guesswork out of using a normal CAD program. You can save time and energy by utilizing a good tool for designing your home.
1. SketchUp
SketchUp is the most comprehensive free 3D design software you’ll find on the web, says Cory. This powerful home design tool is immersive enough to make it seem like you are moving through your future home while being flexible enough to make it feel as if you’re working with pen and paper.
The free version is perfect for hobbyists, while the pro version is more suited to professionals in architecture, construction, engineering, and commercial interior design.
Whether you’re building an extension for your home, a treehouse, or conceptualizing your debut on Grand Designs, the thoroughness of this software will help you bring every aspect of your design to life.
2. Floorplanner
Floorplanner lets you design and decorates 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 views 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.
3. SmartDraw
SmartDraw is another powerful tool in the world of floor planning. It’s easy enough to learn so no one is excluded from using it while being advanced enough to facilitate intricate designs for more advanced designers.
With a seemingly endless selection of furniture, cars, building materials, and thousands of templates and floor plan examples, you’ll be able to explore an infinite amount of possible designs and layouts for your new space. The only downside to this tool is that it’s only free for the first seven days, so if you plan on using it for longer or for multiple projects, it may be worth the upgrade.
4. Planner 5D
Planner 5D is the best-looking home design tool. Like the free version of Sketch Up, this tool is immersive, which means you are able to explore your design with your feet virtually on the ground.
With Planner 5D you’ll be able to start from scratch or use a template that is perfect for throwing together a quick floor plan if you don’t have the time or don’t want to make a complex design. What’s especially great about this software is that it works on iOS, which means you can create plans on your phone or iPad while you’re on the move.
Getting started couldn’t be easier. Start by adjusting the floor shape, size, materials, and colors. Then add furniture and accessories, switch to 3D, and add windows and doors. Add a second floor if you want to, and then the roof. The only downside is that if you want to use the in-app furniture, it can get expensive for anything other than the most basic beds, chairs, or sofas.
All aspects of the design can be changed in terms of color and texture and, when you’re ready to share your plans, they can be printed in a photorealistic format.
5. Lands Design
If you want to design a landscape for your home, Lands Design is as real as it gets. We like that you can try for free what the professional landscapers use, and plans are available in both 2D and 3D in your trial subscription.
Pros
- Extensive plant database
- Easy to download and get started
- Choose between four plant representations: elevations, conceptual, detailed, and realistic
Cons
- Free version only applicable for first 90 days
- Training available, but uses actual CAD tools, so expect learning curve
- Requires Rhino software (downloadable on site)
Lands Design was created by Asuni CAD in 1993. It is a landscaping software designed for professionals in the landscaping industry. Although the professional version has a hefty subscription price, individuals can try it for free for 90 days.
Lands Design allows you to turn your 2D layout into a 3D design for visualization, or you can create a 2D version from a 3D version, and add plant photos, dimensions, and tags. What really makes Lands Design our top choice as best for landscaping design, however, is that the software has an extensive plant database in both 2D and 3D. It has over 1,800 species you can use to create designs based on soil type, wind resistance, and fruitification.
The program allows you to choose one of four plan representations; select from elevations, conceptual, detailed, and realistic. You can also add elements such as irrigation and hardscapes. Since the software supports other platforms, you can import or export from other libraries on the internet when they are compatible and easily integrate them into your design plans.
6. TurboFloorPlan Home & Landscape Deluxe Mac 2021
While some of the software on this list is cloud-based, meaning you do not install it directly on your computer but instead access it remotely from virtually any device, other options are software programs you purchase outright, often in either Mac or PC versions. We chose TurboFloorPlan Home & Landscape Deluxe Mac 2021 as best for Mac because it is the most intuitive, easy to use, and feature-rich of all the software we reviewed that has versions designed specifically for the Mac operating system.
It is a good option for beginners, too, because it has more user-friendly tools like QuickStart™ that simplify creating custom home designs. We also love that it has an automatic cost estimator and interior/exterior lighting simulations.Pros
- Allows you to scan and trace your own floor plans
- Provides automatic room cost adjustments
- Building Green Tips provide eco-friendly advice as you design
Cons
- Limited kitchen design tools
- No kitchen wizard
TurboFloorPlan was created by the TurboCad Design group, which is part of IMSI/Design. The company is considered the global leader in retail CAD (Computer-Aided Design) and was founded in 1988. When it comes to home design software for professionals, this is the company to which many architects and designers turn.
Although TurboCad has a variety of products for professionals, it also provides more affordable products, such as TurboFloorPlan for Mac lovers and homeowners who simply want to create plans for remodeling or redecorating with no experience required. On the Mac, the software is unlike normal CAD products; it’s more intuitive and user-friendly.
TurboFloorPlan Home & Landscape Deluxe Mac 2021 allows you to drag and drop thousands of symbols as you create and provides precise auto-dimensions for 2D/3D design. The program’s estimator provides a way for you to keep a running tally of prices and square footage in real-time as you draw. It can provide the cost for separate rooms, landscaping, or the entire house. It also provides eco-friendly advice as you design.
7. RoomSketcher
We think creating home designs should be easy and fun. This is why we created the RoomSketcher App – an incredibly easy-to-use, intuitive, and comprehensive home design software.
The RoomSketcher App is packed with loads of great features to meet your home design needs. Whether you want to play around with the furniture arrangements, plan a home remodel, negotiate with a contractor, or you are providing home designs for clients, RoomSketcher is for you.
All the RoomSketcher features are easy to use and understand, so you can get started straight away. The drag-and-drop user interface makes drawing walls and adding windows, doors, and furnishings simple. Try different wall and furniture layouts easily, change the colors and finishes on walls, ceilings, and floors and view them in 3D! Our Live 3D feature, allows you to fly over and walk around your floor plan as if you are actually there. Once your home design is complete, share and collaborate on it easily with friends and family or your client and contractor. There’s no better or easier way to visualize a home design project!
Loved by thousands of interior designers, home improvement specialists, and personal users all over the world, RoomSketcher is the perfect home design software for your needs. Get started creating your home design today with RoomSketcher!
Conclusion
Nowadays, the convenience of having a good home design program in your computer is quite helpful in giving you ideas in planning your house, especially in the case when you are living in small apartment and cannot actually move things around like when you are in building or when you are about to build your dream home.