It’s time to renovate your home and you’re wondering what it would take to achieve results like those featured in interior design magazines.
The best way to get such outcomes obviously involves hiring an interior design professional.
But if that’s not possible right now or you’d simply like to test out your DIY skills, a couple of apps will come to the rescue. Here are a few of the best interior design applications and the things you’ll be able to achieve by employing each before contacting a home renovation contractor.
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SketchUp
According to many, SketchUp can be considered the most comprehensive home design app that gives you access to various customisation opportunities.
This is a professional-level software that has a number of plans. There is a free version, ideal for hobby enthusiasts and individuals who will just need it every once in a while to carry out a renovation.
With SketchUp, you can visualise your upcoming home upgrade in 3D. Using the app produces a really immersive experience, making you feel as if you’re walking through the rooms of your brand new home. And since the app is cloud-based, you’ll have access to your projects from any location that has internet connectivity.
Floorplanner
Coming up with the perfect layout can be considered one of the most challenging home renovation aspects. Luckily, apps like Floorplanner can make the task a little bit simpler.
Like SketchUp, Floorplanner comes with a free version that’s great for the needs of amateurs.
You can start out in 2D to create a layout and determine what floor plan is going to suit your flat best. When you have the layout figured out, switch to the app’s 3D mode. It’s the one that makes decorating and experimenting with various interior design concepts so fun.
If you have an actual blueprint that you’d like to base your layout on, you can have that uploaded and used as the foundation of your home upgrades.
Floorplanner has an extensive library of over 150,000 items you can place in your rooms. The app’s room wizard gives you a step-by-step guide that allows you to make the most of the design opportunity.
HomeByMe
This app’s name is pretty self-explanatory. HomeByMe is a powerful tool that DIY enthusiasts can employ to customise and visualise just about every aspect of their upcoming home upgrade project.
There are a few really cool things that set HomeByMe apart from the other interior design apps in the list.
For a start, you can draw inspiration from the projects that others have uploaded. An extensive library of images gives you many fun ideas to explore and even bring inside your home. Also, you can ask the HomeByMe community for some feedback when you’ve created your visualisation.
With a free version for personal use, HomeByMe has a number of great functionalities worth testing out. A few of the most impressive features include 2D and 3D rendering, the ability to “furnish” your project with items made by actual brands on the market, HD imaging capabilities and cloud-based storage.
Planner 5D
Planner 5D is advertised as an advanced home design tool. You can use 2D and 3D visualisation features to come up with a layout and start exploring décor choices. Editing and customisation capabilities are virtually limitless because you’ll get access to a massive material, colour and texture library.
With the render feature, you can capture a realistic image of the project you’ve been working on. The shadowing and other accurate details paint a very clear picture and give you clarity about the suitability of the choices you’ve made for your space. Planner 5D also makes it very easy to share that rendered image with others and get some feedback.
You can start designing for free or upgrade to a more comprehensive paid plan. Because this app is especially created for the needs of amateurs, it comes with a shallow learning curve. Intuitive and well-organised, it’s a great choice for those who don’t know where to get started.
Roomstyler
It’s time to remodel and design your home with Roomstyler. More than just an app, Roomstyler is labelled an interior design community that you can join to find inspiration and some guidance.
A massive library of popular designs can be explored by anyone in need of some inspiration.
Roomstyler also gives you access to a 3D room planner, a chance to start from scratch or import your work file, an extensive materials library, as well as a chance to draw your own sketches and personalise most of the presets in the library.
You can access all of the Roomstyler functionalities for free and you don’t even have to sign up for an account in order to test it out.
Final Verdict
These are some of the most extensive and powerful home décor apps available to amateurs for free right now. A few other honourable mentions include Housecraft, Houzz, SmartDraw and Roomie.
Obviously, you need a good eye for detail and some understanding of core home renovation concepts in order to employ apps in the most extensive and adequate way.
If you’re clueless about what you’re looking for, chances are that you’ll just end up wasting your time.
Don’t feel discouraged and it is okay to look for a professional home interior design company. They can work on the conceptualisation of your home renovation together. Find one that also provides professional 3D visualisation tools to give you full clarity and allow you to get comfortable with a renovation concept before the actual work commences.
