Interior design programs are a great assistant for those who do their own design.
In one of the previous articles, we discussed the issue of. I dare to assume that you have completed the points from this article and are ready to move on - start visualization.
There are a million and one interior design programs to do this. Conventionally, they can be divided into professional and amateur. We will start by looking at amateur programs, and at the end I will talk about the features of professional programs.
Amateurs are those who:
- easy to learn (i.e. amateur, although the designers themselves do not neglect them);
- distributed free of charge;
- most popular.
I will also give examples of the final result of using this or that program and talk about the advantages and disadvantages.
So, let's go!
Features of using interior design programs
Work in all interior design programs is based on general principles. What opportunities does the program provide? How to work with her? 
- Draw a floor plan of the apartment (specifying the plan parameters in numbers). It's much more convenient and faster than drawing by hand.
- Choose materials, their color and texture.
- Arrange interior items (appliances, furniture, lamps), changing their shape and size.
- Make a rendering (i.e. visualization of what was drawn in 3D volume) and look at the fruits of your creativity in the finished version.
- Calculate the approximate cost of materials (estimate). This feature is not available in all programs.
To understand what will be discussed below, familiarize yourself with some specific terms. Believe me, you will need them.
Interface- This appearance and program menu.
Library - this is a database of interior elements (furniture, lamps, etc.) that you can add to the interior when modeling your apartment.
Plugin– this is an additional component for the main program, which is needed to expand the capabilities of the program (downloaded separately and connected to the program).
Rendering is a function that visualizes what is drawn in 3D volume (usually with shadows, close to realism).
Interior design programs: review of the best
If you want to create a stylish and truly designer interior yourself, then you will be interested in getting acquainted with the comprehensive course "". As for the programs, I would like to point out right away that almost all of them require a fairly decent computer. Otherwise, all your creativity will hang during rendering.
So, let's get down to business and look at the advantages and disadvantages of different types of design programs.
Planoplan.
Pros.
In my opinion, this is the best program that is available for free and is easy to learn. Moreover, some professionals also use it. Pros:
Minuses.
- To work, you need a network connection (Internet) and if it is slow, then everything will freeze in best case scenario, and in the worst case, your project simply will not be saved. Need to try:-)
- The first 3 plans are free. Subsequent ones – 10 rubles. The first 3 renders are free, the next ones are 10 rubles. In general, everything together will not cost more than 150-400 rubles, but this is still a plus.
Sweet Home 3D. 
Pros: many parameters and settings.
Minuses: you need to spend time studying the not so convenient and cluttered menu.
PRO100. 
This is a furniture design program, but it can also do interior modeling.
Pros.
- A user-friendly interface that allows you to master the program in 1-2 days and create your own interior in 2 hours.
- Ability to create your own furniture libraries (a definite plus for more professional use)
- Simple computer requirements: Pentium 1500MHz processor or higher
512MB RAM
Minuses.
- The main disadvantage is the poor realism of the picture
- The program is paid, but it is quite possible to download a torrent or install a licensed demo version.
SketchUp
This is a program from Google. It is also used by hobbyists and designers. Although designers use other programs to create photorealistic images.
Pros.
- Intuitive interface
- Built-in integration with other Google services, which will allow you to calculate room lighting depending on your location.
- The program's capabilities are wide: you can design not only interior design, but also landscape design
Minuses.
- I would not call this program very convenient, since it does not have help. But on YouTube you can find many video tutorials on this topic.
- If you master it at the proper level, it is not fast.
- There are no “chips” like in Sweet Home
- A bunch of plugins are required for full functionality.
Other amateur programs for interior design
There are also very simple online programs. They are completely for a beginner: Autodesk HomeStyler (interface on English language) and its analogue Planner 5D. There is also IKEA Home Planner (as you understand, the library of this program includes only IKEA furniture). Try them if you are too lazy to understand programs :-) 
Professional programs for interior design
Here the choice is no longer so great. I will tell you which ones I personally used, and which ones I still use. So, here we go:
AutoCAD
This is a program for drawing and developing technical documentation. Manufacturer: Autodesk. The interface is very easy and convenient. Rumor has it that you can do 3D in it, but the quality is not the best, and the work is very, very labor-intensive. That is, the ratio of effort expended and result will clearly not satisfy a professional designer.
I myself worked with this program, but purely to develop documentation (drawings) for builders. I can say that for some reasons I liked Archikad more :)
ArchiCAD
The ArchiCAD program is also a professional program for working with a design project, but from a different manufacturer (Graphisoft). The advantages of this program are that, for example, when drawing walls in 2D, you can easily press a button and see the same walls in 3D. In one click! This is very convenient, especially if you do not have spatial imagination (well, or you do, but you want to make sure that your And Denia). Time spent on drawing walls, windows, etc. more than in AutoCAD, but the result is worth it: a 3D picture in one click, wall layouts in 2 clicks (while in AutoCAD you need to draw all this yourself). Well, and many other useful things that will come in handy in interior design.
Now I am working (creating drawings) in this program, and I am more than satisfied with the result. It takes much more time to master this program than AutoCAD, especially if you want to make more or less realistic visualizations, and not just see the geometry of an object in 3D.
3dsMax
Probably everyone has heard about this program, because this is what designers call it in the first place. Apparently, this is due to the fact that it does not make some boring drawings, but photorealistic pictures that customers like so much. The manufacturer is the same as AutoCAD - Autodesk.
Unlike Archikad, images created in Max can reach such a degree of realism that not even every professional can distinguish this picture from a photo. That is, the possibilities are so high that it is no longer possible to compare with Archikad. However, drawings are not made in it - only interior visualization.
It takes a huge amount of time to master this program. Personally, I consider it the most difficult to master, but the result is worth it :)
Other professional interior design programs
In general, a designer needs one program for drawing and one for visualization. I have already listed the best ones. But there is still a very necessary program, and one replacement program:
- Photoshop— necessary for a designer to create collages. It can be replaced with other programs, but read the article “” about them.
- SketchUp— I already wrote about him above. I will only add that there are designers who use this particular program. In addition, it is free and there are now many additions to it on the Internet (for example, furniture libraries are growing rapidly).
Results
To summarize, I would say that the best interior design program for a beginner (that is, for those who are doing renovations for themselves and don’t want to bother too much) is the very first option - Planoplan.
And for those who are mastering the profession of designer - Archikad. In the first couple of days, he will help you make drawings and good visualization.
And remember, in order to get a truly functional and beautiful room, you first need to decide on the style, as well as (warm, cold, neutral). And if you want to learn how to create beautiful interior yourself, then it will help you.
The way your design will become amazingly beautiful!
Your guide to the world of design,
You can create the interior of a house or a separate room using a pen and a sheet of paper. But in this way it is impossible in full show all your ideas, especially if you are not a very good artist. It is unlikely that you will be able to draw a layout of even one room. But we have good news! In this article, we will introduce you to specialized applications with which you can “playfully” create the design of any room.
Autodesk Homestyler
The Autodesk Homestyler system is quite simple. It involves dragging items onto a size grid. Thus, you can place any elements - from furniture to holes in the wall. Once you have installed the item, click on its image and edit the exact size and shape. If you click on “Room Plan”, a control panel will appear in which you can adjust various data (type of room, its exact dimensions and a lot of other information).
Available big choice furniture so that the user can create the most accurate plan for his dream home. Unfortunately, interior items cannot be changed, but thanks to the huge selection various elements It’s still possible to choose the most suitable ones. The finished project can be saved or printed. You can also export the DWG file into a 2D or 3D image.
For users who want to immediately determine approximate cost created interior, there is a Shopping section. Listed here various materials and their prices. However, please note that these prices are approximate and the list of materials is incomplete.
As a nice bonus, Autodesk Homestyler offers a wide range of tools for creating landscaping designs around your home: gravel, grass, water and more. There is a Russian language.
Floorplanner
With Floorplanner, users of all skill levels can create the perfect room outline. This application uses the snap tool to draw different corners of rooms or curved walls. Once the walls are drawn, they can be moved, increasing the space, or, conversely, making the room smaller.
The application has a large selection of types of windows and doors, after placing which you can then change them to your liking. Furniture can be detailed to give it the desired dimensions.
Floorplanner allows you to print ready-made interiors and share them on in social networks. You can post the project on Facebook or Twitter, send it by email, or place it on the pages of your website. Therefore, this application is ideal for designers.
In Floorplanner you can develop a plan not only with a top view. The application allows you to create projects in three dimensions. However, it should be taken into account that all changes can be made only in two-dimensional mode, and then, if necessary, transformed into three-dimensional. You can quickly switch between modes to see what your changes look like in “reality.”
Roomle
Roomle allows you to export finished projects interior in JPG format files. Therefore, if you wish, you can always print the created floor plan, change every detail, and present any size in both the English and metric measurement systems.
The application allows you to easily move between 2D and 3D modes. In three-dimensional mode, you can view the created environment from an “overhead” or “first-person” view. This allows you to evaluate the finished project as accurately as possible.
The set of elements is small, but with flexible settings you can easily change their sizes. So you don't need a lot of items. The scheduler interface is convenient and easy to learn. Walls are “built” very quickly, and you can move or remove them with one click.
This is a very good planner that allows you to use a variety of options to create the perfect home or office design. Unfortunately, there is no Russian language.
IKEA Home Planner
The IKEA Home Planner app offers a limited selection of objects that you can place to create your kitchen or dining room. The planner already has a certain set of elements, but you can also add your own to get a more accurate design solution. Although the selection of items is limited, changes in size are allowed. This allows you to develop a plan taking into account the dimensions of the apartment.
3D visualization works just fine, and you can immediately see all the details of the room from the inside. Using the control panel, you can “walk” through the created room to evaluate the work done. The placement of furnishing elements is carried out in 3D, and the change and control of dimensions is carried out in 2D.
This is still a new development and it is likely that new features will appear over time. But currently they are not available, and therefore Home Planner has rather limited capabilities. The program is more of a marketing tool than a real planner. This is the most inconvenient scheduler from the review. There is no Russian language.
Conclusion
Specialized programs make it possible to provide for any detail - from the size of the window to the location of sockets and switches. You can, for example, place on the plan different types windows to see which one suits you best. Make several design options and print them out to show them to the master. This will help him understand more precisely what you want. This kind of program will also be useful for those who would like to engage in design development themselves. With their help you can create unique interior for any client. If you use these applications correctly, finding the right design solution will not be difficult.
For good repair In an apartment, you need to think through everything, how the walls will be combined with the floor, with the interior details. Often you don’t have a good picture in your head of how everything will look when the renovation is completed. Special programs for interior modeling will help you make repairs more thoughtfully and thus better. In them you can simulate your room, apartment or even house in detail, using many textures.
Sweet Home 3D
A free and quite functional program for creating an interior. In terms of the number of possibilities, Sweet Home 3D cannot be compared with its professional counterparts, but the built-in editor is enough to satisfy any creative impulse. The main advantage of this program is that it is free, which more than compensates for some of its shortcomings.
The Sweet Home 3D working window is divided into four areas. In the first, the user can select the type of room being designed. The choice determines the set of editable parameters, the list of items available for adding, as well as the types of windows and doors. The second area contains a 2D drawing of the room. The user can use Drag’n’drop to move the objects he needs from other windows onto this drawing. The third window is a 3D image of what happened as a result of planning. The fourth area is a list of items.
Objects can be changed - edited sizes, raised and lowered, placed one object on top of another. Many features, unfortunately, cannot compensate for some obvious shortcomings. The room cannot be textured with wallpaper, floor coverings cannot be added, and there are no trellises. As a result, the created interior looks unprocessed even after lengthy editing.
All additional texture libraries are available on the official website www.sweethome3d.com
StolPlit 3D
A program for creating an interior from the furniture factory "StolPlit". Unlike the previous program, StolPlit 3D allows you to change the interior of a virtual room as you please. The user can not only create and freely arrange furniture, but also “virtually paste” wallpaper and work with floor coverings. Otherwise, the functions are the same - you create a room and begin to arrange furniture, edit its characteristics, and place some objects on top of others.
After everything is carefully planned, the interesting part comes - the user can get all the necessary information about the created project. To do this, you just need to show the saved file to one of the factory employees. A specialist will be able to comment on the project, advise something, change something, but the main thing is that the interior file can become an order list. It is extremely convenient if you often use the services of the StolPlit factory, or want to become their clients.
The program is available in two modes: as a browser add-on or as a standalone program. Both options have their advantages.
Interior creation from IKEA
IKEA also has a similar program that allows you to create and change the interior. It is not distinguished by functionality, rather, on the contrary - if Sweet Home 3D and StolPlit 3D could virtually create absolutely any room in your home, then the program from IKEA is aimed exclusively at arranging the kitchen. Of course, you can use a virtual kitchen as a layout of any other room, but the general specifics of the program are reflected in the list of objects available for adding. If you are exclusively interested in the kitchen interior and its arrangement, and you are a regular customer.
IKEA - then this program is for you.
The created interior in the form of a project can be added to the server (then you can simply come to the store and order all the items present in your project) or saved on your hard drive/removable media. However, in the latter case, it will be impossible to place an order for the project - for some unknown reason, IKEA computers cannot load projects from a flash drive or disk.
Conclusion
Functionally, StolPlit 3D is the leader; this program is closest to its professional counterparts. But there is also a minus - the interior is limited to the assortment of the furniture factory of the same name. IKEA software has a much wider selection of furniture, but works exclusively with kitchens. Well, Sweet Home 3D has a slightly smaller assortment, a little fewer options(there are no functions for adding wallpaper or flooring), but this program does not limit you in anything - your imagination, and only your imagination!
Have you started a renovation, have a client appeared, or are you just interested in playing with the interior? Interior designer programs will help. We have described more than 20 of them. Some can be used on a computer, others are available as applications on a tablet or phone.
The era of drawing an interior sketch on whatman paper is over. And it was replaced by computer programs. The benefits of them are obvious both for certified designers themselves and for their clients.
The former can “draw” and change the interior without traces of a pencil wiped with an eraser; for the latter, such visualization helps to imagine what the interior will look like.
Designers who have received this specialty in universities (we hope it was useful) need the help of computer programs. But how do you figure out what programs are needed for an interior designer?
There are many of them. Some are paid, others are shareware, and in others you can work without paying anything to the developer. There are those that show the design on a plane, and many programs are able to present the sketch in 3D format, remaining on the printout.
Let's consider best programs for interior designers. Do you have a favorite program? Which? And is it easy for you to work in it?
1. ArchiCAD
The program is suitable for professional designers and architects, as it has a whole range of various options - from floor plans to construction documentation and specifications.
Shareware. The trial period of use is one month. Then you need to purchase a license to operate all the functionality. Currently, the rights to the programs belong to Grasshopper.
Advantages: all parts of the project are not separate, but interconnected. If changes are made to one of them, it will immediately appear on in general terms, in section, in views where this part is involved.
Flaws: no multi-pass. That is, the created project cannot be created in several versions at once. Complex geometry is also too tough for the program. You can use the help of other software - but is it necessary?
Website: http://www.graphisoft.ru/
2. Sweet Home 3D
The interior design program Sweet Home 3D is suitable not so much for professional designers as for ordinary users. Russified, simple interface (options). There are elements: furniture, interior items. They are dragged with the mouse onto the room plan.
The program is free.
Advantages: with it it’s easy to create a design project, and even in volume.
Flaws: only those objects that are provided by the program can be used in the layout. There are practically no variations in shapes, sizes, and accessories. However, by going to the official website, the missing catalogs can be downloaded.
Website http://www.sweethome3d.com/ru/
3. IKEA Home Planner
Program from famous company, offering everything for the home. To get even closer to customers, IKEA created it.
Even beginners can handle the program. There is a room, there is furniture, decorative items (though from IKEA). So gradually, step by step, you can plan any room in the house: kitchen, living quarters, hallway, bathroom, regardless of their size.
The program is free.
Advantages: you can not only arrange everything as if it were “live”, but also calculate the approximate cost of the furnishings.
Flaws: no freedom of choice. Everything that is in a potential room can be chosen only from the company’s products.
4. Interior design 3D
A program for apartment design and renovation planning with wide functionality. The catalog of objects includes more than 50 pieces of furniture, over 120 options for finishing walls and floors, choosing colors and apartment layouts.
Clear interface in Russian. You can install and remove partitions, move furniture.
After reading the demo version, you will need to buy a licensed version if you like the program.
Advantages: You can choose the sizes of furniture and rooms. Expand, rotate the resulting sketch, print. Easy to use. In stock standard layouts. There is a “virtual visit” option, when you can “walk” through an apartment or house. One of the few free programs for interior design in Russian, albeit conditionally.
Flaws: Only items that have already been programmed can be used. And, as often happens, you want more, better and, of course, for free.
5. Google Sketchup
The program is designed for beginning interior designers. There are two versions - paid (Google Sketchup Pro) and free. The first has more options and wider functionality.
But even in the free version you can create a high-quality interior design in 3D format, changing the layout, color, arranging furniture, varying the size.
There is a free and paid version of the program. Designers, those who use it, how do you like the free version?
Advantages: You can add markings and dimensions to already made objects. In the program you can design not only a living space, but also a car, furniture, landscape design, an airplane, a street - everything that exists in space in three dimensions. The created project can be sent to the Internet.
Flaws: There are few objects in the free version. However, they can be downloaded from the World Wide Web. Simple lines and shapes are available, but flat shapes can easily be transformed into three-dimensional ones.
6.FloorPlan 3D
A professional program for interior design - suitable for planning any interior with the ability to virtually move through rooms and offices. Possibility of rotation for better viewing of the project. Can be picked up Decoration Materials for walls, floors, stairs, ceilings, choose doors, windows.
IN new version interesting options have been added: broken lines, terraces, gates, attics, paths, fences, fences, balconies, etc. You can do landscape design.
The program is shareware. A little time is given for familiarization, then you are offered to buy a license key.
Advantages: incredible realism of the sketch, ease of use, wide possibilities. Don't have time to develop a plan? The library has ready-made layouts and standard interiors. They can be taken as a basis and brought to a presentable look.
Flaws: takes up a lot of space on the computer, the latter must have a good RAM. Program for beginners. Professionals are unlikely to learn anything new.
7. Astron Design
The planning program from Astron allows you to set the parameters of rooms, select the color of decoration for walls, ceilings, floors, select and place furniture, decorative items, and indicate the location of windows and doors.
However, Astron Design can hardly be called a full-fledged interior design program. This is more of a planner for arranging furniture in a room with given parameters.
The program is free.
Advantages: wide possibilities, realistic picture. Updated catalog of objects and furniture in the new version.
Flaws: poor color range. The project is demonstrated in 2D format, that is, flat, like a regular drawing.
You can download it by entering the program name in the search.
8. PRO100
Software from Russian developers. In it you can not only create design projects for a house or apartment, but also design interiors and furniture. The service is easy to understand and can be used by both beginners and beginners.
But no one said that it should always be difficult for professionals, right? The main thing is to realize the idea and idea and present it in printed form or on a tablet to the client.
Shareware program. The demo version has limited functionality, but it is enough for an amateur. The licensed version is not expensive.
Advantages: objects can be moved, the project can be rotated for review, and options for layouts and items can be found in the library. It is possible to apply dimensions to the room.
Flaws: The program sometimes “plays” with textures on its own. They suddenly stretch or contract.
9. Home Plan Pro
Home Plan Pro interior design software allows you to as soon as possible create a plan for a house, office or apartment, using modifications of doors, windows, furniture, and decorative objects. The good news is that there are quite a lot of these objects, so you can create an attractive interior design.
The program is simple, and it is precisely this simplicity that makes it unattractive for professional designers.
The program is shareware. You have to pay for the license.
Advantages: the finished project can be sent by email or fax directly from the program, or printed.
Flaws: interface in English. According to professionals, it is not worth the money - it is too simple.
10.Apartama
This is not a program, but an online service for creating interior design in 3D modeling. It also contains ready-made projects so you can get an idea, and a decent amount of all kinds of objects and finishing materials.
You can create a project specification, print it, send it to email address. Once you’ve finished working on the design, you can take a virtual tour of the property.
Advantages: furniture, finishing materials, and decorative items are sourced from online stores, so they are always relevant and the choice is constantly expanding. Here, you can immediately calculate the cost of redevelopment with the furnishings, and change something if necessary.
Flaws: This is an online service and requires an Internet connection to work. Therefore, you won’t be able to sit in the countryside, in the forest and get creative without a network.
11. Planoplan
Another online service for creating an interior. The catalog contains real furniture, not something created by programmers. You can create a drawing of an apartment as a background and drag and drop images onto it. The layout can be your own or standard.
In objects you can change the texture, color, add matte or gloss, change the scale, and some spatial parameters. There is a PRO account, which has wider capabilities.
There is no need to pay for use.
Advantages: The program is full of real objects, and the picture quality is pleasing. And its demo version can be downloaded for free.
Flaws: The service works online only.
12.KitchenDraw
This is a narrow-profile service. However, ease of use deserves a mention. From the name it is clear that only kitchen design is possible. But her options are not limited to this.
In the program you can make a 3D kitchen, as well as prepare estimates, reports, calculate the cost taking into account VAT, discounts, and exchange rate fluctuations.
13. AutoCad
This program is for those who like to draw the old fashioned way - on whatman paper, using a ruler, pencil and compass. Now this is possible in AutoCad.
Create vector plans and images using simple lines: arcs, straight lines, curves, shading, etc.
14. 3D Max
This program is specifically for professional designers. The picture turns out clear and realistic. Therefore, the customer will be able to see what his home will ultimately look like. The designer is given complete freedom of action.
But it is worth considering that the sketch takes a long time to create, so you need to be patient. If the result is worth the wait, you can be patient, don’t you agree?
Advice for designers: It would be nice to accompany the picture with drawings, an estimate, or simply a description of the sketch on paper. This will be useful to both the customer and the person who will manage the repair.
15. VisiCon
In this program, you can not only change the layout of an apartment or room, but also its creation itself. In the tasks you can enter the number of rooms, the layout of the home, the purpose of the room.
The plan is created in a three-dimensional image, variations of textures (including your own) and colors, selection and placement of furniture and decorative items are available.
Shareware program. In the simplified, also known as demo version, limited functionality is possible. VisiCon Pro is a licensed, more complete version of the program.
16.Room Arranger
Using this program, you can create a project for an entire office, home or a separate room, furnish it with furniture, add accessories, and choose the color of the finish. You can move walls and erect partitions.
The service's capabilities also allow you to design a landscape design or garden.
Shareware program. 30 days free use
Advantages: program is Russified, 3D format, virtual walk.
Flaws: The graphics are far from realistic. For a virtual review, you need another program - the so-called 3D viewer. The developers of Room Arranger recommend Cortona3D Viewer.
Beautiful, functional online service to create the layout of a house, office, apartment, residential and non-residential premises With realistic graphics. To decorate the rooms, objects that exist in reality are offered. You can later buy them.
The created project can be sent to email, publish it on one of the social networks or on the website.
Advantages: furniture arrangement in 2D and 3D, virtual walk. You can build walls yourself, giving the room any shape, so the service is also suitable for those who build own house or a dacha.
Flaws: You can only work if you have an Internet connection.
To work, you need to log in through your FB account or register in the usual way.
Advantages: Real picture, three-dimensional image.
Flaws: There is no Russian version, but artists should understand each other without words, do you agree?
Another clear and fun online service for creating interior design. You can enter your layout plan and operate with it. To work you need to register.
The smallest details down to the heating system, stairs, flooring and space for partitions.
Advantages: three-dimensional format, virtual viewing of the apartment from the inside. The dimensions of the partitions and walls are immediately visible on the monitor.
Flaws: visualization of the picture suffers. English speaking service. But even without knowledge of the language, you can understand the functioning of the resource.
Having figured out what programs interior designers use, let's move on to applications.
Interior design programs aren't just for Macs, desktops, and laptops. Owners of tablets, smartphones, and iPads can now download one of the applications listed below to their gadget.
And immerse yourself in the delightful world of concrete, wallpaper, paint and furniture. Next we will talk about applications.
20. Photo Measure Lite
In this application, you don't need to draw a room plan. Enter its dimensions and insert furniture and decor.
The originality of the application is that you can come to the store with a tablet or smartphone, photograph objects of interest: furniture, plumbing fixtures, kitchen sink or a stove, washing machine And so on. Write down the parameters. And then add a picture, indicating the parameters, to the room plan.
It will be visually clear whether what you like is suitable or not. Of course, you can draw everything by hand. But progress is a fascinating thing.
The application may also be of some interest to designers. Arriving at a client’s home, you can “transfer” what you see into your pocket equipment and bring the project to fruition at home or in the office.
21. HomeStyler Interior Design
An application that will be interesting for both amateurs and professionals. The beauty of it is that it already contains many projects created by other users. Once inspired by ideas, it is easier to generate a new design masterpiece.
The application is almost no different from computer program. There is an apartment plan, you can upload your photo and work with it. The arrangement of furniture is carried out not on a plane, but in a three-dimensional image.
22. Master-Design Interior
This application was created by programmers to help designers. Wherever you are, dear professionals, you can manage your project, creating kitchens, bedrooms, children's rooms, living rooms. You choose the layout, sizes, furniture from the catalog and arrange it.
The free version doesn't have as many options as we would like. But they are quite enough to create a draft design. And if you want to work in the application constantly, you can purchase unlimited.
23. Interior design
This application provides a wide range of creativity for designers and owners of houses and apartments. But this is rather a collection of ideas rather than an algorithm for creating your own interior.
But it contains bedrooms and kitchens, children's and living rooms, balconies, hallways, and bathrooms. As a source of inspiration, the application has a right to exist.
24. Home Design 3D
But in this application you can already create interior projects. Moreover, there is a choice of both two-dimensional and three-dimensional formats. And you can switch from one format to another without losing what you created through backbreaking labor.
In the free version, you can create a design and save only as screenshots. But having acquired full version, the user has the opportunity to enjoy all the options, wide choice objects and functionality.
Pleasant surprise from the app developers– high detail of the interior and objects located in it, colorful graphics, accurate rendering of textures, realistic lighting with shadows.
25. Planner 5D
This application almost completely replicates a full-fledged program. There is a creation function detailed plan room or site design, you can design a swimming pool, the facade of a house and such functional elements as windows, stairs, partitions, curtain design.
To help the user there is a rich catalog of various objects: from furniture and objects to textures and shades.
The 3D graphics are mesmerizing. The resulting interior looks very realistic. You can even recreate the interior of an apartment or house from the movie. Interesting feature, don't you think?
Conclusion
Of course, we did not talk about all programs. It is even possible that some were not mentioned.
What do you think about the programs and applications we reviewed? What programs do you use as a professional designer or home owner? Please have your say in the comments.
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We also recommend that you familiarize yourself with our selection of the 20 best books on interior design - only useful literature that is worth your attention.
In any work you need to start with planning. Only with a pre-calculated and thoughtful project will you get a high-quality result.
Before finishing and furnishing the room, you need to think in detail about what the design and interior will be like in the end. To do this, it is useful to use apartment design programs. There are several dozen applications of this kind - with a variety of functionality.
Is it possible to use programs for apartment design without experience or design education?
Yes, most of these applications have intuitive functionality. Complex functions can be understood using instructions. On average, it will take you a few hours to master the basic functionality.
Even a person without education (design, architecture) can use some programs for planning apartment design. The main thing is to have a sense of taste and imagine what you want to get in the end.
What can you design?
In apartment design programs you can design:
- apartment layout (location of premises, interior walls, door and window openings, direction and radius of opening doors and windows);
- places of laying and location of communication elements (electrical panels, pipes, meters, shut-off and control valves, valves);
- interior - furniture, curtains, lighting, finishing materials, decorative little things (like paintings, figurines).
Parts of the plan can be shown in the required scale and accompanied by actual dimensions.
Free programs for apartment design
There are many free design applications (more than a dozen). They differ from paid programs:
- less functionality;
- a smaller set of objects (pieces of furniture, interior);
- ease of use.
Free programs are suitable for non-professionals - people who are planning the interior for their apartment. It can also be used by designers and foremen who work in the low- and mid-price segment, where there is no complex tasks and no highly detailed design development is required.
Astron Design
The program allows you to design the layout of a room (taking into account the dimensions to scale, the location of partitions, windows and doors) and “furnish” it with furniture. The database of objects is extensive, but they are not diverse.
Astron Design is intended only for planning the interior furnishings of rooms - it has no other functions. The interface is in Russian, intuitive, reminiscent of the Paint interface.
SketchUp
There is a paid version (with expanded functionality and a database of objects) and a free version.
An application with extensive functionality: used for interior and exterior planning, designing three-dimensional models land plots, cars, roads and other objects. The project can be carried out in real color, either in simple colors(shades of gray and black).
In the free version, the user can design the design of premises (layout, colors, types of surfaces, furniture and decor) using the built-in database. It is worth considering that it is not extensive: there are more objects in the paid SketchUp program. The database can be further expanded by downloading objects from the Internet.
An important difference: in SketchUp you can label the dimensions of individual objects.
Sweet Home 3D
Suitable for fast work or for users with low computer literacy. Allows you to simulate three-dimensional interior projects with a top view.
The basic list of objects is small and suitable for a rough sketch (to plan the location and size of furniture in rooms). You can design the layout (including balconies, bathrooms, doors and windows), surface colors and arrangement of furniture.
Ikea Home Planner and Ikea Kitchen Planner
Free Ikea Home Planner app - from the Dutch furniture manufacturer. The object database contains only furniture and decor from Ikea.
The database is quite extensive, but only includes large items. Allows you to “arrange” furniture and plan color scheme.
Selected pieces of furniture can be saved and purchased at Ikea.
There is a separate Ikea Kitchen Planner program - only for planning kitchen design. Features an extended base kitchen furniture and interior items.
The projects turn out to be simple, with low realism, but the details are recognizable and allow you to get a full understanding of how the interior will look in reality.
Homestyler
Application from the developers of AutoCAD and 3Ds Max. In it you can create an interior from scratch, use ready-made diagram, or a finished project. Includes separate databases of objects by brand, for different rooms(bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, dining room, and so on), as well as a separate base with decorative items.
You can model a highly detailed, realistic and three-dimensional project. The list of finishing options, colors and furniture items is large, and includes models from different manufacturers. Homestyler allows you to add selected items to your shopping list.
Planoplan
The application is available in 3 versions: free (with a limited database of objects), online (via the website) and paid.
Planoplan contains a large database of furniture items from real stores(mainly from well-known Western companies, some of which are represented in Russian speaking countries). Allows you to simulate projects with different styles (loft, classic, retro, Scandinavian style, and so on).
The functionality of even the free version is extensive, so you can understand all the parameters - there are video instructions on the developers’ website.
Among the useful functions:
- a virtual tour that can be viewed on a smartphone (you create a project, and then you can “immerse” yourself in the created interior);
- natural light planning (the program will show how light falls from the window at different times of the day, and how the shadow of objects moves).
Pro100
Paid professional application with demo version. In demo mode, limited functionality and a small database of objects are available, which is enough for a simple layout.
You can create a project in either a hand-drawn or realistic style. In addition to planning and arranging furniture, you can independently draw an object with the required form, size and texture. This is relevant if the interior will be made to order, and standard solutions from the database do not fit.
Pro100 does not require a powerful PC to run: a 1.5 GHz processor and 512 MB RAM are enough. This sets the program apart from its analogues, which are demanding on hardware.
Planner 5D
Russian-language application from Russian developers. You can open ready-made projects (layouts with already arranged furniture), customize them to fit your apartment, or edit them: change colors, layout, location and pieces of furniture. The project can be viewed both from above and from the side.
Planner 5D has a mobile application. The database of objects is large and is updated periodically. Includes both simple objects furniture, and furniture for different styles interior
You can design not only the interior, but also the layout of a plot of land or a swimming pool.
StolPlit 3D
Free application of the Russian network furniture stores"Stolplit" (created following the example of Ikea Home Planner). There is an online version (on the website) and a PC application. The database contains only furniture items that the company produces. You can change their size and color.
The finished project can be turned into a shopping list and the selected items can be ordered.
HomeByMe
The application allows you to design the interior and layout of a plot of land. The object database contains a large list of models with modern design, different styles.
First, the project must be created in 2D, then it must be given volume.
Apartama
A free online service that allows you to create new 3D projects, download and edit ready-made ones. Ready plan can be printed or emailed. There is a virtual tour function.
The detailing is simple, top view of the plan. The database of objects is formed from catalogs of online stores, with the cost of furniture items.
Paid programs for apartment design
Paid applications are actively used by designers and architects, and less often by repair crews who deal with interior decoration.
Such programs differ from free ones in their extensive functionality and expanded base of elements. If in a free app the user can get a plan not too High Quality and detailing, in the paid version it is possible to create a project that will convey details down to the smallest detail.
ArchiCAD
A professional application for architects and designers from a Russian developer. Allows you to think through not only the design, but also the floor plan with construction documentation (which can be given to builders when building a house from scratch). The project can be viewed from different angles (top, side, section).
The program has many functions, the database of objects is large, with objects of different styles.
AutoCad
One of the essential applications for designers and architects. In AutoCad, you can create a layout using simple lines, resulting in a vector plan. Realistic, detailed images cannot be created, but a vector drawing can be opened in another program for modification.
Sweet Home 3D
A relatively complex professional application with extensive functionality. Through Sweet Home 3D you can design a layout with the cardinal directions, location and dimensions of furniture (from an extensive database of objects). You can plan the design of houses with several floors and additional premises(basement, swimming pool, garage).
The furniture set is large, but includes simple models. The finished project looks simple and minimalistic. The view can be 2D - from above, as well as three-dimensional.
Chief Architect
An intermediate step between complex professional applications and simple amateur programs. The interface is simple, but contains a large number of settings. In the object database - items produced furniture factories(Western and American), as well as a large selection of windows and doors.
The formats of the finished projects are compatible with professional CAD processing programs.
You can design not only apartments, but also buildings with a height of up to 30 floors inclusive.
Room Arranger
A relatively simple (for a paid) application with clear functionality and a user-friendly interface. The catalog of objects is not huge and can be expanded (models are downloaded from the official website).
3D viewing of the plan is only possible through an additional application. The standard version allows you to create a layout with a top view, in two dimensions.
Room Arranger is no better than most free programs. It is “saved” by a clear and convenient interface, low cost (less than $20, while others professional programs cost hundreds of dollars) and small size applications (8 MB).
3ds Max
One of the most frequently used professional designers and program architects. Allows you to create not drawings and minimalistic sketches, but realistic, highly detailed images, close in quality to photographs.
Produced by the same company that produces AutoCAD and Archicad (Autodesk).
- difficulty of mastering: to master the functionality and understand the settings, you will have to spend several weeks of daily study;
- time-consuming creation of 1 sketch (due to high detail);
- You cannot make a drawing in the same program (it may be needed by workers who will repair or redesign the premises).
FloorPlan 3D
An application for projects that do not require realism and maximum detail. In FloorPlan 3D you can create a schematic top view (to understand which pieces of furniture will take up how much space and where they will stand), and a virtual tour with a realistic display.
A simple interface that you can understand without instructions or lessons. Allows you to work with ready-made layouts and typical interiors, which can be edited.
Suitable for beginners who are learning professional design, or for designers who are looking for a simple tool for simple tasks.
VisiCon
VisiCon is an application from Russian developers, a simplified analogue of FloorPlan. Simple interface, relatively little functionality. The database of objects is average and can be supplemented with new models (posted on the official website). VisiCon is only used for interior planning (not used for exteriors and landscapes).
Suitable for creating simple projects with little detail. Relevant for designers who are planning a simple renovation.
Home Plan Pro
Home Plan Pro allows you to create interior and exterior layouts, with side and top views. Separately, you can plan a realistic project and a drawing with dimensions.
There is a free version with limited functionality. Interface in English.
KitchenDraw
KitchenDraw is intended for kitchen design only. You can plan the arrangement of furniture, household appliances, lighting points, decor (curtains, vases, dishes).
The project is drawn up in 3D. In addition to the photo, you can prepare an estimate and calculate the cost of the furnishings set.
Roomle
English-language online service with a simple interface. The database of objects is extensive, including not only furniture, but also different types of coverings, stairs, and small parts like heating and decorative elements. Top view of the plan, there is a virtual tour function.
Roomstyler
English-language online service, available after “regular” registration or login via Facebook. Allows you to create a layout with a top view. The database of objects is large, with modern pieces of furniture and floor coverings.
Roomtodo
A convenient online service for creating a three-dimensional layout with a top view. Allows you to plan the furnishings for all rooms, including bathrooms. The database contains only furniture items from Western online stores that can be ordered immediately.
You can create a project in 2D with a top view, in 3D, there is a virtual tour.
Home Design 3D
In Home Design 3D you can design two- and three-dimensional layouts. There is a free version in which almost all the functionality is available, but you cannot save finished projects. Highly detailed interior items, including detailed structures and lighting with realistic shadows.
The functionality is relatively simple, suitable for working with simple projects.
Interior design 3D
Application from Russian developers with a free demo version. You can plan the interior in 3D format, with virtual tour. The layout is realistic, of average quality and detail.
The base is relatively small: several dozen pieces of furniture, a little more than 100 finishing options. You can plan a project with a top view, in a simplified format, with dimensions.
Photo Measure Lite
Application for tablets and smartphones. You can take a photo of the furniture in the store, write down the dimensions, and then transfer the object into the project. You can also photograph the room and then plan the interior. This way you can “try on” whether the object will fit in the room or not.
Photo Measure Lite is suitable for work on the road when it is impossible to process the project in detail on a computer. It is important to use the program while shopping or when going to an apartment that needs to be furnished.
Master-Design Interior
A simple application for quick work with minimalistic results. Allows you to design two-dimensional plans with a side or top view, indicating dimensions.
The program can simulate the interior of a kitchen, bedroom, office, bathroom or living room.
