When you work with a small team of part-time contractors that can’t be always around, you need a helping hand to get the job done. On my last project I was constantly juggling between my sketchbook and iPhone trying to collect notes about materials, accessories, paint finishes and even magazines for inspiration. That’s why Best Apps for Interior Designers is an invaluable collection of 50+ apps that will help you in your everyday job.
Table of Contents
Best Apps For Interior Designers
- 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.
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Whether you’re building an extension for your home, a treehouse, or conceptualising your debut on Grand Designs, the thoroughness of this software will help you bring every aspect of your design to life.
START DESIGNING WITH SKETCHUP
Best Free Home and Interior Design Tools, Apps and Software
- 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.
START DESIGNING WITH FLOORPLANNER
Best Free Home and Interior Design Tools, Apps and Software
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- 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.
START DESIGNING WITH SMARTDRAW
best free home and interior design tools, apps and software
- 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 which 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 colours. 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 colour and texture and, when you’re ready to share your plans, it can be printed in a photorealistic format.
START DESIGNING WITH PLANNER 5D
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Best Free Home and Interior Design Tools, Apps and Software
- HomeByMe
HomeByMe is one of Cory’s favourite home design tools. As far as we can tell, it’s genuinely free throughout and so are all its features. The way it works, is brands add their products to its catalogue, which means you’ll be using actual products to furnish and decorate your home. The perks of this is that you’ll be able to plan your design through to the very end and have access to the actual furniture and decorations you used to create your space imaginatively.
Like with Planner 5D, you’re able to switch from 2D to 3D after you’ve finished your floor plan and designed the look and feel of each room. Or, you can start with the décor and hit ‘summary’ and the software will produce a floor plan with all your furniture and appliances in the right places.
START DESIGNING WITH HOMEBYME
Best Free Home and Interior Design Tools, Apps and Software
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- Roomstyler 3D Home Planner
There’s a lot to like about Roomstyler. Like HomeByMe, it’s very easy to use. In fact, it’s so intuitive that there’s almost no need for the tutorial video’s available. Which is another plus for this software. Of all the home design tools, this one has a tutorial video available for every question you might have about the tool.
The greatest perk about this software is that you can create a custom room in a matter of minutes. This app also allows you to furnish your space using products from real brands, meaning you’ll be decorating your plans with items you can purchase when you’re ready for your design to materialise.
START DESIGNING WITH ROOMSTYLER
Best Free Home and Interior Design Tools, Apps and Software
You’ll often find that some of your favourite brands and retailers have their own room 3D room planners online, which offers even more scope to visualise your space, and enables you to ‘try before you buy’. Take a look at our top picks below…
- DFS room planner
A sofa is one of the most important investments you’ll make for your home, so while browsing for your new sofa at DFS, you can also redesign your room – it’s ideal if you’re redecorating or moving into a new home. You can use a 2D view or 3D view and from there, choose a room shape, input measurements, and decide on a wall colour and floor covering. You can even add accessories to enhance the space, plus play around with decor to complement your chosen sofa.
Best interior design apps free
- Chairish
Available for iOS; free
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If you’d like to buy or sell high-quality, preowned decor, Chairish is a one-stop shop. Sellers can upload photos of furniture via the app, and then Chairish’s curators decide which items to sell. The company takes care of payment, shipping, and returns for most sales. Listing items is free, and the seller keeps 80 percent of the final sale. Buyers can look forward to finds from Knoll, Herman Miller, Christian Liaigre, Ligne Roset, and B&B Italia, among other brands.
- Decaso
Available for iOS; free
A newer venture from the cofounder of Chairish, Decaso offers high-end furniture and decor from vetted dealers. Expect to see top-notch items from such respected names as Studio Van den Akker and Fat Chance Los Angeles.
- Invaluable
Available for iOS; free
Browse lots from live auctions around the world without leaving your desk, armchair, or bed. Invaluable allows you to place advance absentee bids and bid in real-time at live and online auctions.
- Hutch
Available for iOS and Android; free
This app merges the worlds of rendering and shopping, virtually outfitting rooms from photos users upload and allowing them to shop the look directly. Says Ben Broca, cofounder and head of product and technology, “Our photo technology recognizes the structure of the user’s space and places products in it. It’s similar to what Snapchat filters do to your face, but for furniture shopping.”
COLOR & PAINTING INTERIOR DESIGN APPS
- Color911
Available for iOS; $4
Create and save color palettes for your next decorating project with the Color911 app. Color specialist Amy Wax has generated more than 80 downloadable color themes, but you can also create a palette based on a photograph taken on your device and organize favorite colors into folders, then share with friends or designers by email.
- Color Capture
Available for iOS and Android; free
Spot a brilliant color while out that you’d love in your home? This app from Benjamin Moore allows you to snap a photo, and its technology will spit out suggested paint options to match it. Though some users say the colors skew dark, it’s a useful starting point, and the grouped color format will give suggestions for pairing colors.
Conclusion
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