best interior design presentation software

Find anything you save across the site in your account

26 Interior Design Software Programs to Download in 2024

By Meaghan O'Neill and Kelsey Mulvey

All products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Behind every gorgeous home tour or commercial project is powerful interior design software to help turn a designer’s vision into a reality. It doesn’t matter if you’re running a 200-person firm or starting your business from scratch , one thing’s for sure: Utilizing the right interior design app or program can deliver top-notch results and streamline your company’s day-to-day operations. Sometimes the best interior design program can bring your ideas to life with easy-to-use drawing tools and great furnishing options. Other times, intuitive software will be paramount for ensuring your clients, contractors, and vendors are on the same page. And since keeping tabs of your administrative tasks is just as important as creating a beautiful space, you’ll also need software to manage proposals, purchase orders, and invoices.

Don't miss the AD PRO-exclusive workshop—Photo Finish: How to Showcase Your Project

That said, there are a lot of interior design programs to choose from, so finding the right systems for your needs will require time, patience, and research. After all, each piece of interior design software has a certain specialization—be it room design, photo editing, or project management—plus some platforms might be created with larger or smaller firms in mind.

So where to begin? Read on to discover the top interior design apps and room design software that should be on every decorator’s radar. Whether you’re on the hunt for computer-aided design (CAD) tools or a client management app, there’s something here for everyone.

Design software

AutoCAD LT is one of the most popular interior design programs today, used by decorators, architects, engineers, construction professionals, and more. This reliable software allows professionals to design, draft, and document precise drawings with 2D geometry. However, what makes this interior design software best-in-class is its ability to simply (and securely) share and annotate illustrations across several platforms. An integrated AutoCAD web application with a simplified interface—all without a space-hogging software installation—lets you work on sketches online from almost any computer. (All you need to do is enter your login credentials and you can begin to work on your design projects.)

With the mobile app, users can view, edit, annotate, and create drawings anytime, even offline, on a smartphone or tablet. And, thanks to its share and trace settings, you can circulate a project with the rest of your team or offer feedback without accidentally altering an existing drawing. AutoCAD LT is compatible with both Mac and Windows operating systems, and the most recent version also offers cloud connectivity, an updated measurement functionality, and faster performance time. AutoCAD LT offers a free, 15-day trial, followed by a monthly fee of $60. Designers who are looking to lower their bottom line can save up to 32% on AutoCAD LT by purchasing an annual membership for $490, or three-year membership for $1,470.

Thanks to SketchUp Pro , design professionals can enjoy the freedom of sketching a project by hand and the convenience of looking at a lifelike rendering. While the interior design software prides itself on its fast, easy 3D modeling—it has an entire “warehouse” of premade 3D furnishings and is compatible with virtual reality platforms like Oculus Rift, Microsoft HoloLens2 as well as Meta Quest 2, 3, and Pro—its 2D features are equally impressive. A handful of line, shape, and freehand drawing tools—not to mention visual aids like snappings and dotted guidelines—make it simple to create detailed scaled layouts just as they’re imagined. In addition to its classic desktop interface, SketchUp also offers a web tool, platforms compatible with mobile and iPad viewing, and unlimited cloud storage through its parent company Trimble, so you can easily store, collaborate, and share work. And, once you’ve completed your rendering, SketchUp Pro will generate a report, so all stakeholders can stay in the loop. SketchUp Pro is available for an annual fee of $349, but if you’re on a budget, a free version of the software offers a more lightweight, web-based option.

The latest versions of TurboCAD offer professional software for experienced 2D and 3D CAD users. Available for both Mac and Windows operating systems, TurboCAD bills itself as a leader in CAD software, with photorealistic surface modeling and lighting that allow one to create powerful presentations. Architects who want to take their projects to new heights might enjoy the software’s new gambrel roof properties as well as its updated visualize materials, which now include brick, marble and stone, among others.

The architectural design suite is also powered with mechanical design and modification tools, enabling users to do everything from prototype with 3D printers to draft up furniture designs. (TurboCAD’s new clash detection feature will alert users of design discrepancies like intersecting or overlapping parts.) External database connectivity and file compatibility with AutoCAD means your team can integrate and collaborate at a high level with ease.

Though this room design software has a wide breadth of programs to cater to specific technical offerings ranging from woodworking to landscape design, its setup wizard, context-sensitive help, and flexible user experience will give you the support you need. TurboCAD users will have a permanent license—download it once and it’s yours forever—and an array of pricing options will allow you to select interior design software that fits comfortably within your budget.

If you’re ready to take full artistic control of your renderings, Autodesk’s 3ds Max will allow you to experience your proposed work in beautiful, high-tech detail. The interior design software delivers superb graphics for 3D animations and models, as well as games and images. Use the tool sets to create high-quality renderings , and perfect every interior and object down to the last detail. (Autodesk’s material editor allows you to adjust texture, finishes, and color, making your designs look more photorealistic in the process.) The integrated, interactive Arnold renderer enables users to view accurate and detailed previews while they work. When it comes to productivity, automated processes can quickly build complex surfaces like landscapes and cityscapes, so you can spend more time being creative and less time managing minutia. This software costs $235 per month and is only compatible with Windows operating systems.

Looking for interior design software that can seamlessly transition from sketches to construction? Consider Autodesk Revit . Once you’ve completed a conceptual design, Revit will translate your sketch into building information modeling (BIM). That way your project’s MEPs, structural engineers, and construction team can have a roadmap for accomplishing the task at hand. Revit also offers 2D and 3D visualizations and uses scanning tools to import existing or as-built configurations—not to mention evaluate alternative plans through its Generative Design feature. The interior design software’s 2024 update can help you work smarter, too. A new My Insights tab on the dashboard that will aggregate usage data—keeping tabs of your most common commands and keystrokes—and offer advice on how to save time during your workflow. Revit is compatible with Windows only, but can be run on Mac OS using Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion. Currently, Revit is available in a subscription format—starting at $355 per month—but solopreneurs on a budget can pay as they go through the software’s Flex program.

In addition to its compelling modeling and graphic components, collaboration across multidisciplinary teams is a key component of Revit . Using cloud worksharing and BIM Collaborate Pro , which is available for an additional monthly fee of $120, Revit connects teams for higher-quality collaboration with minimum IT intervention. Not only do multiple stakeholders have easy access to the most updated plans, but you can also resolve clashes and discrepancies quickly while staying compliant with the latest industry standards.

Among the most popular choices in architectural rendering software, Archicad , which is developed by Graphisoft, offers robust tools, an intuitive interface, and a BIM application that allows you to focus on creating beautiful designs instead of keeping up with the tedious logistics. In its most recent version, Archicad 27, users can enjoy updated rendering solutions, built-in energy evaluation tools, and an intelligent tracker that can determine your project’s dimensions and values without busting out an old-school calculator. As every designer or architect knows, plans change, and Archicad’s new Design Options solution makes it possible to evaluate and share design alternatives with fellow stakeholders swiftly.

Meanwhile, the Solibri-powered quality assurance lets you focus on the work you enjoy most: creating well-designed spaces. And, thanks to Archicad’s native support, you can export FBX files to augmented reality or virtual reality applications to really make your project shine.

Archicad 27 is available for both Mac and Windows operating systems, plus it’s available for full perpetual, term-based, and educational licenses. (That way, you can find a tier that matches your budget and needs.)

If all you need is a streamlined tool to give shape to the plans circulating in your head, Homestyler may be the best room design software for you. With this program, you can easily build floor plans in 2D and 3D designs with accurate measurements. After you’ve mastered the nuts and bolts, head over to the Homestyler library, where you can spruce up the rendering with furniture, art, and accessories—all of which use a 1:1 scale. Not only does Homestyler’s library feature over 300,000 pieces, but there are also home decor products from real brands’ catalogs. Once you are done with the finishing touches, Homestyler will produce photorealistic images, virtual tours, and videos for you and your clients to “walk” through. Plus, a coordinating app that’s available on both iOS and Android will allow you to design on the go. While the basic platform is free of charge, users can upgrade to a Pro, Master, or Team account for a monthly fee of $3, $6, and $20, respectively. If you’re just starting your interior design business and are on a budget—or simply want an easy-to-learn tool that gets the job done—this could be the application for you.

As an all-in-one, cloud-based design platform, Infurnia allows architects, interior designers, clients, and vendors to collaborate and interact during the design process. Detailed floor plans with advanced tiling and roofing, false ceiling, and customizable cabinet tools are available to help you outline your projects in detail. Plus, plans created in 2D can be instantly converted to accurate 3D designs, while drafting tools can be used to add doors, windows, and beams to match your client’s site. Decorate with furniture from Infurnia’s partners’ catalog, or create your own library of materials, wallpapers, hardware, appliances, furnishings, and more. While Infurnia’s software is less robust than some other options, this software is pretty straightforward, so you can customize and share projects with ease. A monthly fee of $125 will come with 100 render credits and licenses for two users; however, designers with a growing team can purchase additional licenses for a monthly rate of $50 per person.

With Live Home 3D Pro , you can efficiently create precise layouts and furnish rooms—or an entire building. Once 2D plans are drafted (import and trace blueprints or draw from scratch), you can easily shift gears to see your plans come alive in its 3D mode. The desktop version offers advanced drawing tools, elevation views, a materials library with thousands of furnishings and appliances, customized materials, and lighting editors. Geopositioning and daylighting options help determine siting and lighting decisions, and video walk-throughs can be generated and exported as Ultra HD files. At $50 for the Mac or Windows-powered desktop program—and a free home design app with optional, in-app purchases—industry professionals on a budget will enjoy this introduction to interior design software that can handle some additional complexity.

Adobe’s Substance 3D suite allows designers to create and add precise digital textures and materials to their projects. Substance 3D Painter has a host of smart materials and parametric brushes to turn any surface into a canvas, while Substance 3D Designer allows creatives to plan and manipulate materials down to the last detail. Or, if you prefer to use real-life items as inspiration, Substance 3D Sampler makes it possible to turn items into 3D models, materials, or lights. And, once you’re done mastering your materials, Substance 3D Stager is there to create photorealistic scenes to bring your textures to life. For projects that require detailed references, the 3D texturing suite offered in Substance can’t be beat. (Plus, anyone with an Adobe Creative Cloud will find a lot of synergy between this software and their other go-to platforms.) Compatible with both Mac and Windows operating systems, the full Adobe Substance 3D Suite costs $50 a month whereas a pared-back alternative with fewer programs can be purchased for $20 per month.

Launched by a team of architects-turned-software developers, Morpholio ’s applications include digital tools for sketching, journaling, and presenting creative work. The company divided its popular room design software—which is available for iOS and iPadOS—into three separate entities. Find ample inspiration with Morpholio Board, which connects to your Pinterest, allows you to create custom boards, and provides plenty of palettes and furniture ideas. (Or, if you’d like to take your brainstorming to a tablet, Morpholio’s Journal allows you to sketch freehand and annotate your best ideas.) Ready to give a project your signature touch? Morpholio Trace offers a streamlined creative experience, complete with a moveable 3D viewer, custom palette maker, instant scaling functionality, and an AR perspective finder. Currently, Morpholio’s Board, Trace, and Journal platforms are all free to download at Apple’s App Store, with in-app upgrades for an additional fee.

Cofounded in 2018 by Hilah Stahl, who struggled to find the proper interior design tools to decorate her first New York City apartment, Spoak is an online destination that is loved by DIY enthusiasts, budding interior designers, and students alike. With its signature Project Editor and rendering tool called Viz, Spoak offers one place to create mood boards and mock-ups. However, Spoak has more to offer than its room design software. Young designers can learn from Spoak’s classes and resources, which teaches the basics about design styles, patterns, and industry jargon. Professionals who are ready to go out on their own can build a design profile, join industry events, and gain access to over 50 trade discounts . (Plus, once you’ve scored a dream design gig, you can use the software to submit invoices, set a budget, and track spending.) Currently, Spoak offers four platform tiers—Play, Plus, Pro, and Premium—which range in a monthly fee of $10, $20, $35, and $100, respectively.

Whether you are a novice who is just dipping their toe into the world of interior design or a homeowner who wants to be very hands-on in their upcoming remodel, Planner 5D is an easy, intuitive way for amateurs to create their dream home. Compatible with Mac and Windows operating systems—not to mention iOS and Android through its corresponding app—the Planner 5D interface is so simple that the company claims you can use it without any tutorials or instructions. The room design software allows you to create floor plans and layouts in 2D, but you can switch to a 3D view to edit your space from every angle. Make the space unique by editing the colors, patterns, and materials as well as furnishing it with the platform’s 5,000-plus item catalog. After you’ve added all the bells and whistles, you can tinker with the 3D rendering’s lighting and shadows to make your project sing. Budding designers can use Planner 5D’s Basic tier for free, while a Pro version that features 360-degree panorama views and 4K renderings is available for a fee.

Photography software

Whether you snap hundreds of photos a day to file away for inspiration or need to edit professional photographs of your design work, most interior design firms will benefit from the use of Adobe Photoshop . One of the oldest and arguably the most prominent photo software on the market is also recognized as the industry leader for enhancing and organizing photos. With Photoshop, you can adjust clarity, color, and tone, manipulate effects, or add graphics to your imagery. If you’ve got great pictures and want to take them to the next level, Photoshop is a must-have. As part of Adobe’s Creative Cloud of services, it is available as a subscription service at varying price points.

For an easy-to-use photography software that doesn’t have Photoshop’s abundance of features, try Adobe Express . Available in both web and app formats, this platform can take on basic tasks like cropping or removing a photo’s background. Social-media savvy designers will also find a lot to love about the software’s templates, which can lay the foundation for an aesthetically-pleasing Instagram story. Or, if you want to make something that doesn’t exist just yet, use Adobe’s AI feature to turn your words into striking images as well as add or remove elements with a simple prompt. Adobe Express does have a free version with limited capabilities, or you can subscribe to a Premium or Teams membership for $10 and $6.49 per person each month.

If you’re obsessed with color (and who isn’t?) and use photography to jog your memory or get inspired, Adobe Capture can unlock a new world from your mobile device. This powerful app transforms images into color themes, patterns, materials, and vector-based shapes. Carry those assets into other Adobe desktop and mobile apps—such as Photoshop and Illustrator—to use them across a multitude of creative endeavors and platforms. Part of Adobe’s Creative Cloud suite, Capture will allow you to edit color themes in order to make customizable palettes, generate realistic PBR materials and textures, create geometric patterns, and replicate shapes or fonts. The app also offers custom brushes that can be used in other applications, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and Fresco. Though Capture is created with several industries in mind, it’s one of the best interior design apps because it can help you find inspiration, connect with clients, and work on projects in a whole new way.

Compatible with both iOS and Android devices, a free Creative Cloud membership will grant you two gigabytes of storage; however, you can always upgrade to a paid subscription should you need more space for your design inspiration.

Grow your business in 2024 with the AD PRO Directory

Project management software

Designing a large-scale project is by no means an easy feat, but Materio is here to help. Specifically made for professional interior designers who consistently work on projects of 3,000 square feet or more, the cloud-based platform can simplify big undertakings with automated workflows and interactive floor plans. Though it can be easy for critical information to get lost in translation, Materio keeps specs, selections, and costs organized so everything has its place. (The software tracks project changes throughout the day and sends regular debriefs to all key stakeholders.)

Materio knows that sticking to a budget is crucial, and its Visual Estimation makes outlining the scope (and costs) of a project a breeze. Even better, scheduling and selection flow directly from the Visual Estimation, so you won’t have to worry about duplicating any line items or losing any big decisions. Materio’s offerings start at $95 per month for a Starter membership, while Pro subscriptions can cost $495 per month.

FileMaker isn’t specifically tailored to the design industry, but it can be an invaluable platform for anyone who wants to create a custom operational database. With an intuitive interface, users can effortlessly design custom apps for their unique business needs—no extensive coding required. With its latest version, you can enjoy more hosting capabilities, updated security, and room to scale your business.

In fact, AD PRO Directory designer Betsy Burnham uses it to generate purchase orders and invoices, house her team’s time cards as well as store and track data on all items for each project. “It’s great because it’s not only super functional and always being updated with new and improved features, but it also looks great,” she says. “Because it’s custom, we have control over which font is used and what our invoices look like. I mean, we’re designers—aesthetics are a priority.”

Though FileMaker might require some trial and error, ample education resources and community assistance will help you turn your operational app into everything you want. Designers can choose between the Essentials tier for a monthly fee of $21 per person or a Standard that will cost members $43 every pay period.

From receiving a client’s seal of approval to staying updated on supply chain delays, monitoring all the home decor for a project can often feel like its very own job. That’s where Programa comes in. Once you pull furniture and accessories with the Web Clipper or add frequently used items to your team’s Product Library, you can share your proposal with your clients, who can easily accept or reject changes from Programa’s dashboard. Keep contractors and clients in the loop by sharing live schedule updates and specifications without the lengthy and superfluous attachments. That said, purchase orders are just one of this platform’s offerings: The interior design software also makes it possible to set deadlines, assign tasks, and request quotes. Programa allows you to add your firm’s logo to give all your software a user-friendly, professional edge. Start with a free, seven-day trial, followed by a monthly fee of $39 per person.

When you’re serious about taking your design business to the next level, you’ll need a solid project-management system to ensure your team is on the same page. That’s what’s so great about Gather , a cloud-based platform that enables teams of all sizes to share inspiration, communicate, and create top-notch deliverables. Gathering inspiration is quick and easy, thanks to a clipper tool that allows you to save items from vendor websites to your secure library. This interior design software features a robust searching and filtering system, so your team will never have to look too far for the assets it requires. Pricing for Gather starts at $165 per month for five team members, and will increase based on your business’s needs.

From seemingly endless inspiration to a treasure trove of ready-to-work professionals, Houzz is a homeowner’s one-stop site for all their renovation needs. Fittingly, Houzz Pro offers that same versatility to interior designers who want to streamline their business. Once you’ve used the software’s mood board feature, designers can build plans in 2D and tour in a realistic 3D view. (You can also create professional, detailed proposals that your clients can approve from the comfort of their couch.) Use a product clipper to add home decor from your favorite online vendors to your tear sheets, purchase orders, and invoices. Speaking of invoices, not only does Houzz Pro make it easy to turn proposals into invoices, but you can also allow clients to pay via credit card or wire transfer so you don’t have to wait for a check to clear. And since this platform is compatible with other services like Quickbooks, Gmail, and Google Calendar, Houzz Pro will fit nicely into your established routine.

If you want to spend more time on creative endeavors and less time managing business operations, this option can help you streamline functions for as little as $85 per month. Though Houzz Pro is a web-powered platform, its accompanying app will help you keep tabs on your upcoming projects on the go.

All interior design projects start with a good idea—and, for AD100 designer Lauren Geremia , Miro . While the software is billed as a visual project manager—bringing detailed projects and processes to a user-friendly interface both individuals and employees can understand—Geremia treats Miro’s Online Whiteboard as a way to organize thoughts and design inspiration.

“The program has been a gateway platform to get me working more efficiently across many projects, and has given me such an elevation on my process that we have been able to dial in our working styles and creative approach for the better,” she explains. “The digital mood board allows us to stay organized and work on a computer, but we’re able to scan physical photos and samples.”

That said, if you want to take Miro beyond the inspiration phase, the web-based program’s auto-generated mind maps and diagrams and summarize and streamline a bevy of notes and feedback. With over 300 premade workflow templates and an option to create lively video walkthroughs with Talktrack, Miro makes it easy to onboard new employees and set them up for success. (Miro also integrates with over a hundred other platforms like Zoom, Slack, and Sketch, so it’ll remain a key part of everyone’s daily routine.) Solopreneurs can save with Miro’s Free tier, while designers who are growing their business might want to opt into the Business upgrade for a monthly fee of $16.

Built specifically for professional interior designers, Mydoma Studio is designed to help simplify and streamline their workflows, so they can spend less time doing administrative work and more time doing what they love. From building design boards, to creating 3D renderings, to curating and storing favorite projects, Mydoma Studio can help unleash a designer’s creative muscle; however, its user-friendly workflow process makes this interior design software program a must for many. Through Mydoma Studio you can embed your design packages onto your website so potential clients can easily add one of your services to their carts. Once you’ve snagged a new client, you can automate a discovery call or quickly set up a project template that reflects your workflow. (A central hub makes it possible for you and your client to gain easy access to everything from contracts to project specs.) Mydoma also integrates with QuickBooks, Zapier, Calendly, and Stripe, and can generate customized reports that help you understand your conversions, accounting, and more. Monthly prices vary from $49 for solopreneurs to $99 for a professional team.

ClickUp was built to support any industry, but for interior designers this software can really rock. Design-specific templates are geared specifically for the biz, and the program’s time-tracking tools integrate with multiple other apps. Most notably, ClickUp’s comprehensive project management software can help you organize everything at a super-high level, from workflow and business goals to time management and task lists. Collaborate across a broad range of teams using the outstanding tools for process, task, and time management; track and celebrate big business milestones; and create detailed reports. Plus, integrations with Google, Slack, Dropbox, Outlook, and more bring all your digital tools under one umbrella. If you want to get serious about maximizing productivity, this program offers an endlessly customizable way to take total control. ClickUp offers a Free Forever plan; however, users can always upgrade and unlock more features for a fee.

With over 30 years and several product generations under its belt, Studio Designer is a comprehensive service for all your business needs. The service’s Studio Capture feature gathers items from all your favorite vendors’ websites, so you can easily propose and order them for your clients. (Just a few clicks will collect various images, plus product details and pricing.) From there you can create proposals, invoice all your project’s items, and track your team’s progress with ease. Studio Designer’s dedicated portal offers seamless communication with your clients, while its time billing functionality will make it easy to track your billable hours. And, thanks to its robust accounting system, you can easily accept ACH and credit card payments. Studio Designer’s Essentials tier costs $69 per month, while its popular Enterprise upgrade goes for $79 per month.

Anyone who wants to focus on their business’s overall growth should consider signing up for Design Manager . Similar to other project management platforms, this service is able to do everything from purchasing and tracking orders, to logging every step of your project’s progress, to simplifying your accounting books. However, what sets this interior design software apart from the rest is its industry-specific reports.

Since its founding in 1984, Design Manager has perfected its reporting feature, offering great insights on project status and scheduling, material references, retainer analysis, and more. That way you can have a big-picture look at your firm’s unique trajectory. “The one-on-one support has been immensely valuable to our studio,” adds AD100 designer Julie Hillman . “We are excited to see the upcoming update such as saving invoices into the system so documents are in one place.” Currently, Design Manager charges a monthly fee of $74 per user, so you can add on more members as your team grows.

Frequently Asked Questions

Though the right room design software can be invaluable to your business, you don’t have to spend a small fortune on an app or program. While several options like SketchUp and Planner 5D have lightweight, pared-back options for free, many platforms cost under $100 per month. Or, if you are looking to save, a few systems like Autodesk AutoCAD LT will offer a generous discount if you purchase an annual or multiyear subscriptions upfront.

While professional interior designers use a breadth of platforms, computer-aided design (or CAD) software continues to be some of the most sought-after programs. “It’s a widely used program for 2D and 3D drawings across architectural and interior design,” Burnham shares. “Many years ago, one of my early team members taught me the basics of CAD and the rest I learned by doing. To this day, I draw my own furniture plans and the exercise is what connects me to each project.” That said, most design businesses don’t operate on CAD software alone. For example, Burnham shares that her firm also uses SketchUp, Photoshop, and a task-based service like Asana.

From touring in-progress projects to attending industry events, a professional interior designer’s day is seldom spent at a desk. Fortunately, it’s possible to design and manage on the go with app versions of popular interior design programs like Autodesk AutoCAD LT, Houzz Pro, and Adobe Express, among others. If your go-to interior design software doesn’t have an app version, don’t worry: Since many programs are cloud and web-based, you can also use your smartphone’s browser to access your platform—anytime, anywhere.

Explore More Exclusive Features From AD PRO

9 Design Trends AD Editors Spotted at Milan Design Week 2024

Step Inside the Kips Bay Decorator Show House New York 2024

How to Nail Your Project Photography—Register Now for the AD PRO Workshop

Why Jake Arnold Doesn’t Text Clients

See Every Room Inside the San Francisco Decorator Showcase 2024

Max Azria’s Manse Hits the Market, an Edward Fickett House Lists, and More Real Estate News

The Case for the All-Red Room

Join the AD PRO Directory , our list of trusted design professionals.

By Sarah Archer

By Danine Alati

By Elizabeth Stamp

By Anna Elise Anderson

Best interior design software 2024

These are the best interior design software programs for sprucing up your space.

With the best interior design software you can create detailed plans for your future renovations, and pick out the best styles to suit your home. Perfect for those who love to organize down to the finest detail, these programs have every feature you could imagine in order to help you decorate. Plus, with software compatible with both Windows and Mac, there’s bound to be an appropriate program for you. 

This program has all the tools we looked for, but so do several others – the difference is in how it executes them. Virtual Architect Ultimate is intuitive, smooth and easy enough for anyone to master.

One important thing to look out for when assessing the best interior design software programs is how intuitive they are to use. If you’re a complete newbie to software of this type, then look out for programs with walk-throughs and wizards, as these will make your experience much more enjoyable. If you’re a seasoned pro already, then look out for things that make your life easier, whether that’s cost-estimating sheets or improved rendering quality. 

The best interior design software programs are extremely versatile, with the ability to kit out different rooms in your house, from your kitchen to your bedroom. One sought-after feature within these programs is a vast prop library so you can let your imagination run wild; that’s why we made Virtual Architect our top choice, as it has over 7,500 objects to try out in your space. If you’re feeling inspired to change your whole house or apartment, then why not check out our guides to the best home design software and the best landscape design software too.  

1. Virtual Architect: Best interior design software overall

Why you can trust Top Ten Reviews Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test .

Virtual Architect Interior Design

Our expert review:

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid.

The primary reason we chose Virtual Architect Ultimate as our top pick is it’s extraordinarily easy to learn to use, even if you’ve never used design software before. Its exhaustive array of design tools allow you to drag and drop objects where you want them, import photos and floor plans, and add furniture, plants, appliances, electronics and more.

Its object library contains more than 7,500 items – the largest library of any interior design program we reviewed. In case you can’t find what you’re looking for in Virtual Architect Ultimate’s library, you have a couple options. It is compatible with the SketchUp database, which houses literally thousands more objects, including furniture, lighting, appliances and more. You can also design custom objects yourself. The software has designer tools for things like cabinets, fireplaces, windows and stairs. All in all, it’s one of the most versatile interior design programs we’ve ever reviewed. In addition, the application has other useful tools, including a cost estimator and a materials list. Together, these two features give you a good idea of what it will take to bring your design from the digital world into the physical world. You can also export your finished designs in DXF and DWG formats, which are used by architects and contractors.

• Read our Virtual Architect review

2. Floorplanner: Best interior design software for simpler designs

Floorplanner

Floorplanner comes from the same stable as Roomstyler 3D, looks similar and does more. It looks and feels very simple but there's plenty here for power users too: it's easy to adjust the dimensions of objects you've dragged into the library, it can automatically generate a list of the products you've used in your design and you can toggle textures or details on and off if things are starting to look a little cluttered on screen. 

The 3D mode is very good, with multiple adjustable cameras and a fun presentation mode that swoops from camera to camera – great for larger, multi-room projects or for showing off to other people. 

The pricing is a little complicated for our taste: in addition to three subscription levels (Free, $5 per month and $29 per month) you can buy credits to upgrade individual projects. This upgrading gives you access to more models and export options. Complex pricing aside, Floorplanner is an excellent app for designing interiors and outside spaces. It's fast, easy to use and very flexible. 

• Read our Floorplanner review

3. Planner 5D: Best interior design software for additional features

Planner 5D is free to use... but it isn't completely free: if you want to create high-quality renders they cost more. Renders are sold in bundles: $9.99 for 20 HD images and $49.99 for 200. You'll also need to take out a subscription if you want to unlock the full catalog of objects; if you do, you'll get a few more renders thrown in too. 

Planner 5D is very easy to use, and we particularly liked its 3D mode: it's fast, intuitive and gives you a real sense of how your interior design will look, and its WASD controls remind us of playing video games. It lacks the advanced lighting controls of some other apps, but it produces good results. You can then render the scene into an image at 640 x 480, or 900 x 675 if you've paid for HD images. The catalog has a good range of items and you can edit their dimensions to match items you've already chosen.

• Read our 5D Planner review

4. SketchUp: best interior design software for an extensive library

There's sure to be something to suit everyone with SketchUp. They have both free and paid for versions available, so if you're not on a professional design level just yet, you can still get creative and reap the many benefits this software has to offer. 

Their free web version allows you to get started with designing in an instant, and still boasts an impressive range of tools and access to a seemingly endless library of models and furniture. If you need something more advanced, such as in a professional capacity or for a full-scale project, then you'll be sure to make the most of the features SketchUp Pro has to offer, even if the price is slightly eye-watering.

Paying the extra cash really does open up a world of creative possibilities when it comes to SketchUp Pro. From real-time shadows which can reflect the season and time of day, to virtual reality (VR integration), the attention to detail is exquisite and well-beyond the web-based service in terms of realistic rendering.  

5. Planoplan: Best interior design software for beginners 

Specifications

Planoplan is available as a web app or as a download for Windows or Mac. Stick with the download option: it runs much faster and much more smoothly. The app is very easy to use, with good templates and very impressive results when you create lifelike rendered images, but the pricing is confusing: there are different levels of subscription starting at $10 per month, but each level limits how many renders and VR panoramas you can create; once you hit the limit you’ll need to spend more money to unlock more rendering.

Planoplan doesn’t have the advanced features of some rivals such as cost calculators or outdoor design, but it’s a very straightforward and effective interior design app and we think it’s particularly good for beginners. Some other apps can be quite intimidating with lots of on-screen clutter, but Planoplan Editor strikes the balance between delivering the tools you need and keeping things simple and straightforward. There’s a free trial that enables you to give it a whirl and see if it’s the app for you.

6. HomeByMe: Best for visualizing the end result

HomeByMe Interior Design Software

One of the things interior design apps can do very well is help you see exactly how a design will look: it's much easier to see whether a particular scheme or layout works if you can see a realistic image. That image may include branded items from the catalog, which includes photorealistic models of big-name products such as Smeg kitchen appliances. 

The images HomeByMe produces are exceptionally good and extremely realistic, but they're also limited: if you're a free customer you only get to make three before it's time to pay for a subscription or one-time upgrade. We also encountered localization issues where, despite choosing English as our app language, all the item information was in French.

These issues take the shine off an app that would otherwise be a five-star proposition: its images really are spectacular, with a level of detail that goes right down to putting apples in a fruit bowl and good control over the lighting. If you're selling designs for other people, those images will more than justify the subscription. 

• Read our HomeByMe review

7. Roomstyler 3D Home Planner: Best free app

Roomstyler 3D Home Planner

Roomstyler is a free browser-based app that enables you to quickly create rooms and add furniture to them – real furniture, based on scans of actual products. That's a blessing and a curse. A blessing because it means it's effectively one big furniture ad so you don't need to pay for it; and a curse because the branded items are stuck with their correct dimensions, so you can't use them as generic, resizable items. The catalog is very good and there are some good textures for walls and floors including nearly 140 different carpet colors and over 160 kinds of wooden floor.

The app works in 2D for planning, and there's a little 3D view in the top right corner. You can adjust the camera location, tilt and lens type, and when you're happy you can then take a 3D image to see exactly how the results will look. It takes a bit of trial and error to get this right: our first few images set the camera too high so the view of the room was blocked by its own ceiling. 

• Read our Roomstyler 3D Home Planner review

8. Easyhome Homestyler: Best interior design software on a budget

Easyhome Homestyler

There's a lot to like about Easyhome Homestyler, which has an extensive library of furniture rendered in realistic 3D. The interface is nice and simple, the toolset includes a materials brush that you can use to copy textures from one place to another and when you do your planning in 2D there's a little 3D window that you can use to keep an eye on how your design will look. You can also work in 3D mode if you prefer.

Some of the catalog is a little showy for our taste but there are are still lots of good generic items you can use in a variety of styles. It's a shame that the app suffers from noticeable lag sometimes, however, and it can be difficult to select items when things start to get a little crowded. 

• Read our Easyhome Homestyler review

9. IKEA Home Planner: Best interior design software for IKEA projects

IKEA Home Planner

If you can't stand Scandinavian design then of course this is not the app for you. However, you don't necessarily need to be planning a trip to IKEA to benefit from this app: it's a very easy and effective way to create and fit out rooms of all kinds and to try different design ideas to see what works. It's particularly good for small spaces as you can make sure there will be enough room to open cupboard doors and other items.

As you'd expect, the app enables you to automatically create an IKEA shopping list from your finished design, but unlike the main IKEA website it doesn't tell you where you'll find the items in your local store or whether they're even in stock. 

• Read our IKEA Home Planner review

10. Smartdraw Online Edition: A fully-fledged CAD app

Smartdraw Online Edition

SmartDraw isn't just an interior design app. It's an any kind of design app, as happy doing organization charts, flowcharts and technical drawings as it is putting accessories in alcoves. That means it looks and feels quite different from dedicated interior design apps: because they're simpler they also look and feel a lot less scary. We think SmartDraw is probably overkill for beginners who don't have experience of using CAD apps.

SmartDraw is strictly two-dimensional, which means there's no 3D mode where you can walk through a model of your design. Where it shines is in creating complex floor plans, so for example if you're planning a kitchen remodel it's very easy to create a floorplan you can then give to your contractor or work from yourself. 

• Read our Smartdraw Online Edition review

Are interior design software programs in 3D?

Many of the best interior design software programs are either in 3D or have modes where your 2D design will come to life in 3D. That makes them perfect for getting a true experience of what your plans will look like in reality, as well as helping you figure out exactly how different objects and pieces of furniture will work together. 

Our top pick software program, Virtual Architect, actually benefits from its 2D planning mode to 3D viewing mode transition, as it helps those with less architectural experience on their renovation journey. 

Plotting your ideas in 2D will be easier than modeling in 3D, which is why we think it’s a great choice if you’re just starting out. In another top choice, Easyhome styler, there’s a little 3D window at the top of your screen as you design in 2D, so your ideas come to life in real-time; a pretty handy thing to have if you want a peek at your end result.

What's the best interior design app for me?

Of course, the best interior design app for you is entirely dependent on the kind of space you want to design, which features you’d find helpful, and how experienced you are with the process already. The kind of app that will be suitable for a professional will be very different from the kind of program needed for experimenting with wallpaper choices, for example, so have a clear idea in your head of what you want before you dive in. 

Once you have gathered your thoughts then make sure all the features you want are present in any particular interior design software you come across. For example, if a realistic rendering is all-important to you, then get an idea of exactly how your designs might look before you spend any of your cash to avoid disappointment. 

Best interior design app for iPad

If you'd rather draw up your design on iPad there are lots of apps to choose from – many of them run on iPhone too but even the biggest phone screen is a bit small to do your designs justice. 

The best-rated iOS app is Home Design 3D Gold . It's very easy to use and enables you to create 2D and 3D floor plans, and it has a good library of furniture, plants and other items as well as good decorative options.

Something you can do on iPad but not on a computer is take advantage of augmented reality. Provided you have a fairly recent iPad running the latest iPadOS, you can overlay your design on real rooms to get a better feel for how it'll all look. It's a really fun and useful use of AR technology.

Home Design 3D Gold is $11.99 but there's a free, cut down version called Home Design 3D for free. It doesn't have the bells and whistles of the paid version but it covers the essentials very well.

How much does interior design software cost?

Due to the number of interior design apps with free and paid-for versions, the pricing system for these programs can be a little confusing. On some programs, key features will require payment even when you’ve already paid for the app itself. Others use a points model, which means that a certain number of points will qualify you for realistic 3D renders of your design, for example. When you’ve used up your points, you’ll need to buy more. 

There are interior design software programs that you can access for free if you want to try the process before you buy. These can still offer a good experience, but for photo-quality renders and other features like walkthroughs, you can expect to pay between $9.99 to $24.99 a month. 

What should you look for in interior design software?

There are three crucial things to cross off your checklist when it comes to interior design software. The first is how quickly and easily the app you’ve chosen is able to create accurate rooms. This will allow you to get on with your designing without fuss, and get on with the fun part of the whole process, actually working on your interiors.

Secondly, you’ll want to focus on the options for decorating the room you’ve just created. Is there an array of colors or are you stuck with a smaller, less appealing range? You should also check out the different types of wood and floor coverings, so you can actually get as creative as you want to, and try out the look of materials before you buy them in person.

And finally, you’ll want to be sure there’s a wide enough library of fixtures, fittings and furnishings to create realistic-looking interiors. Different software programs will vary massively when it comes to this factor, with some having limited options while others give you the opportunity to tweak everything about your rooms. Look out for the specifics on claims about vast prop libraries too as these may actually come with hidden fees and subscriptions in order to access them. 

What software do they use on HGTV? 

Any fans of the HGTV channel will know that many shows, such as Fixer Upper , use interior design software before they begin their major home improvements. SketchUp is a popular program used on these shows, which is unsurprising, given the vast library of props and models it has to play around with. The great news for any fans of the show who want to try it out themselves is that there’s a free version of SketchUp available to use on their web browser. And if you like it, you could upgrade to one of their paid-for programs to get the full experience. 

Which interior design software allows you to import photos? 

The fun and creativity of using interior design software reaches new levels when you’re able to import photos of your own home, and even your own family members to the process. It adds to the realistic element of your entire project and can help you envision how your renovation will pan out. One of the standout features of our top pick Virtual Architect is the fact that it allows you to do just that, and play around with the images once they’re imported. Whether you’re designing a new kitchen or living room, being able to compare the space with pictures of your current home or insert your family members into the scene itself will be extremely useful to see what’s working and what’s not.  

Get the Top Ten Reviews Newsletter

Sign up to receive the latest news, reviews, buying guides and deals direct to your inbox

Sophie is Home Editor at Top Ten Reviews. Starting off her career in print journalism, Sophie then moved to digital and now specializes in lifestyle, home interiors and social media. While she has scooped awards for her journalism, Sophie likes to whip up a storm in the kitchen when she's not writing.

Black + Decker BEMW472BH Electric Lawn Mower review: a corded electric lawn mower with easier steering

Toro Flex-Force Power System 60V Max 22in Recycler Lawn Mower review

EGO TR4204 Power+ 42in T6 Lawn Tractor review: a battery-powered riding lawn mower that can handle slopes and 1.5 acres on a single charge

Most Popular

Best interior design software of 2024

Tools for perfect places and spaces

• Best overall
• Best architectural
• Best indoor/outdoor
• Best browser-based
• Best mobile
• How we test

1. Best overall 2. Best architectural 3. Best indoor/outdoor 4. Best browser-based 5. Best mobile 6. FAQs 7. How we test

The best interior design software is tailor-made for crafting homes and indoor spaces. And our team tested out the top 2D and 3D software for interior design to see which ones measure up.

For us, great interior design software makes it really easy to fully express a creative vision in a digital space. Similar to the best architecture software or the best 3D modeling software we reviewed, interior design software boast tools capable of mocking-up rooms, houses, and buildings in 2D and 3D, often with photorealistic assets and textures. 

Our team of reviewers got creative with software for interior design for home designers who just need inspiration and professionals demanding accurate layouts and blueprints - and these are the ones we recommend. As part of our review process, we compared the design experience, tool-sets, and extras like stock asset libraries,  to find the best interior design software for hobbyists, home designers, and professional designers. 

For more inspiration, we reviewed the best landscape design software for crafting exquisite exterior spaces. 

The best interior design software of 2024 in full:

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Below you'll find full write-ups for each of the entries on our best interior design software list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.

The best interior design software overall

1. Floorplanner

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

Floorplanner is an online interior design app for individuals and companies, letting you redesign everything from a single room to an entire floor, or even a whole building. You can also plan out how your furniture will fit in your new home. 

This is a web-based home interior design tool, so you can achieve dazzling designs through the browser. There's also online collaboration for editing and presenting projects in the cloud.

In our hands-on review, we felt the best home design software "is an excellent online service, designed to help you create rooms and furnish them with great accuracy. Working with it is fluid and easy, and we didn’t observe any discernible glitches. The fact there’s a free option means many amateur designer will happily use it to configure a room, but there are limitations to that option."

Working in Floorplanner is fluid and simple - allowing you to create and furnish rooms with real accuracy. Best of all, if your needs are modest, using the program is free. 

That makes it ideal for amateur designers or those learning the art of interior design. If you find the free account too limiting, there are several subscription options available to you. Business pricing starts at $59 a month for teams. Individual pricing starts at $5. You’ll also find a credit system. As you earn credits, you can unlock extra features not typically associated with your plan.

It's all browser-based designing, however, so needs a constant inter connection. There is an Android app available, but this is designed for presenting designs created on the website. 

Read our full Floorplanner review .

• ^ Back to the top

The best interior design software for architects

2. Chief Architect Home Designer Suite

Home Designer Suite delivers professional-style interior design software - which makes it powerful but also increases the learning curve. It’s not too steep as to be unnavigable, although it might overwhelm first-timers. Stick with it.

If you’re looking for meticulous planning, precise editing and customizing tools, and everything else, right down to the material required for specific jobs, this is the best interior design software for you. 

We praised the home design software in our review for its "highly detailed customisation options while at the same time, automating many processes to ease the creation process. It’s a great balance that help you create detailed environments quickly and easily."

The interior design program is very full featured. You have full control over pretty much everything, including landscaping your dream garden. Despite its apparent complexity, there are many automatic tools that do a lot of the work for you, enabling you to focus on the details, to turn a design into a house.

Available for both Mac and Windows, you have in your digital hands everything you need to build the home of your dreams.

Read our full Home Designer Suite review .

The best interior design software for indoor/outdoor spaces

3. NCH Software DreamPlan

DreamPlan is the best home design software if you want powerful tools and simplicity of use. 

The interior design program, out for Windows and Mac, helps you create buildings on multiple levels, furnish them with a library of 3D models, and customize homes inside and out. Yes, that even includes landscape design. It’s built to let you easily make modifications and alterations.

But, in our review, what we really liked about one of the best home design software tools is that it's "designed to make it easy to make modifications, and even goes out of its way to help you understand the app’s inner workings."

Trace Mode will be especially handy for those with existing floorplans. These can be imported into the home design software and turned into a 3D model.   

DreamPlan features commercial and home licensing options - priced at $50 and $40 respectively, but check for regular discounts. So, it has a powerful enough toolset to use on a professional basis. But it’s intuitive enough for beginners. 

For those just starting out with the best interior design software, the built-in video tutorials help you understand the inner workings of the app - just look for the subtle blue camera icon. 

Read our full DreamPlan review .

The best browser-based interior design software

4. HomeByMe

HomeByMe is one of the best interior design apps for when the ideas are racing. It’s browser-based - even mobile browsers are supported - and has Android and iOS apps, so you can map out thoughts for your home whenever and wherever inspiration strikes.

Since the interior design tool is cloud-only, you’ll need to stay connected to use it. During our time with the home design software, we were impressed that "HomeByMe offers a very affordable service with a myriad of options. We particularly appreciated the fact that the free plan doesn’t appear to limit your design options, and lets you work on up to three different projects." 

However, we were less impressed with the time it took to render low-res images. Worse, we found the free account pastes a giant watermark all across the image, rendering the effect pointless. HD images are rendered in minutes, and don’t have that watermark.

The platform offers three packages: free, one-time purchase, and monthly subscription. It’s a good way to see which works for you, as the free plan doesn’t appear to limit your design options, and lets you work on up to five projects. 

The limit on the number of HD photorealistic images (1920x1080px) is somewhat compensated by offering an unlimited number of lower quality ones (640x360px). You can also place real-world, branded products in your rooms for extra realism. 

HomeByMe has a lot to offer. If you’re not too fussed about those images, you can explore and create very complex designs with ease.

Read our full HomeByMe review .

The best interior design software for mobile

5. MagicPlan

MagicPlan is one of the best interior software kits for busy creatives and contractors. 

When we reviewed the home design app, we liked its "easy to use features, an interesting AR option, and an original way of generating estimates for work needed to be done. The monthly subscriptions could pay for themselves if designing if your business, and it also offers you two free projects for casual users to explore as well." 

Like HomeByMe, it lets you build designs from your browser, or within the Android and iOS apps. The free solution lets you design two projects. A monthly subscription is needed to unlock MagicPlan’s full capabilities.

You’ll find three tools in one: Sketch, Report, and Estimate. Essentially, tiered subscription packages that offer additional features. 

Sketch lets you create interior designs - and, for home users, that’s likely enough. Professional designers will appreciate the inclusion of reporting and estimating tools. Enterprise licensing is also available. 

One of the best interior design software tools here is the AR-enabled ‘Scan with Camera’. This lets you scan and measure the room you’re in - although we suspect this augmented reality feature would function a lot better in an unfurnished space. 

Read our full MagicPlan review .

Best interior design software: FAQs

What is interior design software.

Interior design software or home design software helps you visualize a space, allowing you to experiment with decor, design, furniture, and more. It's also an excellent tool for demonstrating design concepts and sharing ideas with clients, colleagues, and friends. Many of them are designed with simplicity in mind - you'll find the top tools are delightfully intuitive to use. 

Beyond stunning aesthetics, these roomplanner apps also offer advantages for designers and real estate professionals in a real-world environment. The best software for interior design can now create an accurate model of your space simply by scanning the room with a camera or phone.

While there are professional home interior design programs, most room planner apps won't let you professionally draw up the sort of plans that will pass a local authority inspection. Think of them as a sort of home-centered mock-up sites - blank canvases to sketch out ideas, share thoughts and collaborate online, or experiment with new forms and designs.  

How to choose the best interior design software for you

When selecting which interior design software is best for you, start by assessing your needs. If you’re designing the layout and decor of your own home or making simple edits to an existing file, free interior design software and browser-based programs will likely meet all your needs.

The best design software for interior designers and more demanding enthusiasts typically offer advanced features, like you'll find in programs and apps like MagicPlan and Chief Architect. Time and cost-savings mean the software will pay for itself. However, the easy user interface of both make them a good choice for beginners looking to develop their skills. 

For prototyping and product design, check the specs, because some 3D home decor software is compatible with the best 3D printers . 

Time is a considerable factor. Even some of the best interior design software takes a long time to render concepts, especially when using photorealistic images. It’s a natural price to pay for high-resolution 3D designs. For some, speed may trump quality.

Check the system requirements for the software  In certain cases, highly professional interior design computer programs require high-performance computers. In this case, you may need a machine comparable to the best laptops for architecture students or the best laptops for engineering students .  These are build to smoothly run complex CAD designs. 

Check the price (and pricing model), too. Some options, like HomeByMe, offer free, paid-for, and subscription versions of its home design software. Others offer only one pricing model, so choose the one that best suits your creative budget.

How we test the best interior design software

We've tested a massive range of creative apps, including the best digital art and drawing software and the best graphic design software . But whether we're testing out the top tools for 3D design or the best software for interior decorating, we follow the same fair and rigorous review process. 

When testing the best interior design software for homes, we’re looking to see how easy the experience is, how powerful the tools are, and how well the software performs. Designing in 3D can often take its toll on computers, after all. 

Asset library sizes are a factor — interior design tools should make your creative ideas a reality, not just a loose approximation. We’re also reviewing these design apps based on use. Unlike consumer software, professional-grade tools offer more advanced features, but might also have steeper learning curves and more expensive pricing models. So, we assessed how well the interior design program delivers for its intended market - whether they're professionals or personal users. 

Essentially, when we test the very best interior design software for ourselves, we expect to see it work for its intended audience — whether they're professional interior designers or creative enthusiasts. 

During our tests across the best home design software tools, we first set up an account with the relevant software platform, whether as a download or online service. We then tested each app using a handful of files to see how the software for interior design could be used for creating indoor spaces from scratch, bearing in mind issues such as ease-of-use, professional viability, and performance.

Get in touch

• Want to find out about commercial or marketing opportunities? Click here
• Out of date info, errors, complaints or broken links? Give us a nudge
• Got a suggestion for a product or service provider? Message us directly
• You've reached the end of the page. Jump back up to the top ^

Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!

Steve has been writing about technology since 2003. Starting with Digital Creative Arts, he's since added his tech expertise at titles such as iCreate, MacFormat, MacWorld, MacLife, and TechRadar. His focus is on the creative arts, like website builders, image manipulation, and filmmaking software, but he hasn’t shied away from more business-oriented software either. He uses many of the apps he writes about in his personal and professional life. Steve loves how computers have enabled everyone to delve into creative possibilities, and is always delighted to share his knowledge, expertise, and experience with readers.

• Mark Pickavance
• John Loeffler Components Editor
• Steve Clark B2B Editor - Creative & Hardware

Webflow announces acquisition of Intellimize - expanding beyond visual development to become an integrated Website Experience Platform

Square Online review 2024: Top ecommerce platform pros, cons, and features tested

Why legitimizing Shadow IT open doors to cloud innovation

Most Popular

• 2 Another major pharmacy chain shuts following possible cyberattack
• 3 Prime Video has a hit new horror show with 100% on Rotten Tomatoes
• 4 Scientists design super-battery made with cheap, readily affordable chemical element, Na — Salt-based cell has surprisingly good energy density and charges in seconds
• 5 Tesla EVs could get a massive range boost from new battery tech that promises a 373-mile range from a 10-minute charge
• 2 Tesla EVs could get a massive range boost from new battery tech that promises a 373-mile range from a 10-minute charge
• 3 Love records, hate wires? This little black box lets you stream vinyl to your smart speakers
• 4 Hisense’s new 5,000 nits mini-LED TV is so bright you may need to wear shades
• 5 'If I buy cheap, I buy twice’: Loewe explains why its new OLED TV deal with LG helps it make a repairable premium TV that can last you much longer

8 Best Home & Interior Design Software 2024 (Some are Free!)

Written by: 3DSourced

January 12, 2024

The best home and interior design software are a must-have for anyone with an interest in these areas. With the top software, there’s no longer any need to spend hours upon hours creating designs by hand and then having to start over if you’ve made a mistake.

In this guide, we rank the best home design software and the best interior design software for 2024. We’ll carefully assess each software’s main features, usability and price to help you find the home and interior design software that best suits you.

Quick Overview

Best free software.

• SketchUp : Overall Best Free Software
• FloorPlanner : Free Home Design Software with Over 150,000 Items
• HomeStyler : Best For Mobile Use
• HomeByMe : Best Free Software For Beginners

Best Paid Software

• Dreamplan : Best 3D Interior Design Software for Small Projects
• Virtual Architect Ultimate : Best Home Design Software for Hobbyists
• FloorPlan 2020 Home & Landscape Pro with Custom Workshop Pro : Best For Mac
• Chief Architect Premier : Best For Professionals

Best Free Home Design Software

1. sketchup – overall best free home design software.

Free version and paid version available.

You can create just about anything you can imagine with this software.

Web-based, so great for beginners and hobbyists.

Active user community.

Sketchup studio is pretty expensive.

SketchUp is a 3D design software specifically made for professionals working in home design, interior design and architecture. There is both a free version, which is easily the best free home and interior design software, as well as a paid version which is also among the best commercial software.

You can create just about anything you can imagine with this software, all with professional grade quality. It has an extensive photo library called the 3D Warehouse, where you can access user-generated and manufacturer-produced models to bring your models to life.

One of the nice things about the free version of this 3D home design software is that it’s web-based, meaning beginners and hobbyists can easily create home and interior designs without downloading any software. It also means you can easily access your designs and collaborate with colleagues online.

With 10GB of Trimble Connect cloud storage, you can work on projects without running out of space. There’s also the SketchUp Viewer app, which allows you to easily view your projects on a smartphone.

Another benefit of SketchUp is the active user community. If you have any questions about the software of home and interior design in general, you can post in the forum and expect an answer within a couple of hours. If you’re interested, we also have a ranking of the best architecture software .

As well as the free 3D home design software, there’s SketchUp Pro which costs $299 a year and boasts features like 2D design documentation, experience reality headset viewing and access to plugins for extending the software’s desktop functionality.

There’s also SketchUp Studio, which costs $1,199 a year and has even more advanced features, such as building energy analysis, HVAC sizing and thermal comfort analysis.

2. FloorPlanner – Free Home Design Software with Over 150,000 Items

Has some really fantastic features.

Great for experimentation.

Multiple export options.

The free version is pretty limited.

This is one of the most popular home and interior design software around, with 25 million users around the world, and best of all it lets you build your floor plan online for free!

FloorPlanner has some really fantastic features that explain why it’s the go-to choice for so many designers. For starters, the incredibly user-friendly software allows you to draw 2D floor plans in minutes with the drawing and drag and drop tools.

Once you’re happy, you can easily switch to 3D view with one click, and you even explore your plans from a first-person perspective.

FloorPlanner is also great for experimentation. It ensures designs are automatically kept in sale and keeps walls and rooms connected, so you can easily make edits and fix mistakes. There’s also a huge library of over 150,000 3D items for both interior and exterior that you can simply drag onto your designs.

As a cloud-based free 3D interior design software, FloorPlanner allows you to easily share your plans with colleagues. You can also export both 2D and 3D images in JPEG, PGN and PDF files.

Beyond the free FloorPlanner BASIC plan, there are various paid options that are ideal for professionals and businesses. In fact, FloorPlanner provides specific features and plans for interior design, real estate, and retail.

3. HomeStyler – Best Free Home Design Software for Mobile Use

Realistic-looking designs.

Best known for its home design mobile app.

Relatively slow to use.

HomeStyler is slightly different from most of the other software on this list as while it’s available on desktop, it’s best known for its home design mobile app that’s available on iOS and Android.

Unlike many home and interior design mobile apps, HomeStyler doesn’t have an unprofessional, cartoonish appearance. The designs look very realistic, while the home design app allows you to quickly create 2D and 3D home plans and blueprints from the palm of your hand.

This free home design app has a library with thousands of real furniture products, painting, and flooring, and you can also import your own models via photos. This means you can furnish your models with furniture from famous brands, and once you’re done you can walkthrough your design in photorealistic 720 degree panorama view.

As well as the free version, there are Pro and Master versions of HomeStyler, costing $238.80 and $478.80 per year, respectively. These have advanced features like unlimited HD and 4K rendering, watermark removal and render retouch.

4. HomeByMe – Best Free Interior Design Software for Beginners

A very modern house design software.

Intuitive drawing tool to help you easily build house plans.

Images are watermarked.

HomeByMe is another free software that lets you design your home and its interior. Developed by 3DVIA, this is a very modern house design software with an active Twitter page that showcases some of the impressive projects completed using the program.

This free online interior design software has an intuitive drawing tool to help you easily build house plans. You can then furnish and decorate your model using the range of branded products from HomeByMe’s catalog. Once you’re done, the software produces a highly realistic image of your finished design.

You can use this 3D interior design software without forking out any cash and the free version comes with three projects and three realistic renderings. There are also One Time Pack and Unlimited Plans, for $17.60 and $35.15 (monthly) respectively, that comes with additional features.

HomeByMe also has an interesting unique selling point – the ability to have the software’s own workers help with your work. You can send in a floor plan and have the team convert it into a 3D project from $19.70, and you can also have them decorate the interiors of rooms from $91.50.

Best Paid Home Design Software

5. dreamplan – best 3d interior design software for small projects.

• Price: $29.99

Cheap, easy to use, and has all you need to model a house.

Has remodeling and redesigning functionality.

The visuals are a little dated.

If you’re a hobbyist working on a small project, such as a studio, then Dreamplan could be just the software for you. While the visuals may look a little dated compared to some more expensive software, Dreamplan is cheap, easy to use and has all you need to model a building, create floor plans and design interiors.

This 3D home design software software has some great interior design features. For example, you can plan home decor with 3D furniture, fixtures, appliances and other decorations, and you can add blueprint symbols to your 2D floor plan.

Dreamplan home design software also has remodeling and redesigning functionality, so you can transform existing rooms and import image files to create custom textures for wallpaper, floors and more. You can also try colors and textures before you commit.

There is an extensive built-in library of appliances, beds, chairs, doors and more, as well as a textures library with a variety of designs.

As well as being a 3D interior design software, Dreamplan can also be used for home design, landscape design, decking design and even pool design.

6. Virtual Architect Ultimate – Best Home Design Software for Hobbyists

• Price: $79.99

intuitive and user-friendly interface.

Can fully visualize every aspect of your project before investing time and money in the real thing.

Steep learning curve.

Virtual Architect Ultimate , officially Virtual Architect Ultimate Home Design with Landscaping and Decks 9.0, is a powerful, wizard-driven 3D home design software. From home design and interior design to garden design, bathroom design and landscape design, this software does it all.

As a wizard-drive software, Virtual Architect uses a series of processes for adding aspects like doors, windows and even garden pounds to streamline the workflow and save users time. The interface is also very intuitive and user-friendly, allowing you to drag and drop items as you please to build your home from the ground up.

Another brilliant part of this software is that you can upload photos of your current home interior and do a virtual room makeover. This Virtual Architect home design software also has a vast library of common items such as sinks, baths, showers, lighting, fountains and patio furniture, as well as over 7,500 plants!

This 3D home design software software operates in photorealistic 3D and even allows you to generate a virtual walkthrough, so you can fully visualize every aspect of your project before investing time and money in the real thing.

Although there’s a learning curve for new users, Virtual Architect provides technical support and tutorial videos, so it’s accessible to anyone with an interest in home design.

7. FloorPlan 2020 Home & Landscape Pro with Custom Workshop Pro – Best Home Design Software for Mac

• Price: $299.99

Powerful and for professionals.

Extremely intuitive and easy to use.

Packed with powerful features to help you visualize your designs.

Pretty expensive for people on a budget.

This is one of several 3D home design software developed by TurboCAD, and we’ve picked this one as it’s the company’s best all-round program for both home and interior design.

FloorPlan Pro is a powerful, professional software solution that’s available on both Windows and Mac. This program is extremely intuitive and easy to use, as you can simply drag and drop every phase of your home and interior models.

There’s the QuickStart feature that’s a simple way to create custom designs, and you can also scan and trace your own floor plans, so this CAD home designer is perfect for both beginners and pros.

This 3D interior design software is packed with powerful features to help you visualize your designs. For example, it offers 2D and 3D designs with precise auto-dimensions, a range of customizable drawing styles, and a format painter that allows you to easily apply the same style to multiple objects.

For interior design, there’s a library packed with thousands of fixtures and appliances, with many real-life branded products. You can also simulate interior lighting with precision controls for ambient light, shadows, fall off, and radius.

FloorPlan Pro also comes complete with cost estimation tools, including automatic room cost adjustments, so you can budget for every step in the design and build process. It even has “Building Green” design tips to help you design homes and interiors in an environmentally-friendly way.

If this version of FloorPlan is outside of your budget range, there are various cheaper versions of the software that have less features but are still high quality.

8. Chief Architect Premier – Best Home Design Software for Professionals

• Price: $2,695.50

All-in-one home and interior design software that’s made for professionals.

Powerful building and design tools.

There’s a 3D library packed full of architectural objects and tools for accessorizing your designs.

The most expensive one on our list.

Chief Architect Premier is an all-in-one home and interior design software that’s made for professionals. This is an exceptionally high quality program that covers all aspects of residential and light commercial design.

This is a very intuitive home interior design software; as you draw walls and place objects like doors and windows, Chief Architect automatically creates a 3D model, generates a materials list, and helps produce construction documents with site and framing plans, section details and elevations.

You can make use of powerful building and design tools to quickly and efficiently create plans in line with standard building practices. This 3D interior design software has both manual and automatic tools that can be used to create a range of roof styles, stairs, framing, dimensioning, cross-sections and more.

There’s a 3D library packed full of architectural objects and tools for accessorizing your designs, and advanced rendering provides photorealistic and artistic styles like line drawing and watercolor.

Chief Architect has a powerful CAD engine that includes tools for lines, polylines, splines and arcs, allowing you to quickly manipulate objects. There are also brilliant plan sets and construction drawing features, with full virtual tours.

This 3D interior design software also boasts some great interior design tools, including smart cabinets that let you customize any cabinet style, automatic floor and wall plan elevation dimensions, and the ability to export 360 degree panoramic renderings.

As well as the Premier software, there’s also Chief Architect Interiors which is the best interior design software for professionals. This is available for $1,975.50, so you can save some cash if you’re only interested in interiors.

Similar articles you may be interested in:

• Best kitchen design software (Free and Paid)
• Best landscape design software
• Best product design software
• Best CAD software for designing cars
• Best CAD software for designing boats and ships
• The best basement design software

Was this content helpful? Give us your feedback here.

Learn More About 3D Sourced

6 Best Large 3D Printers in 2024 (All Budgets)

5 Best 3D Printers for Miniatures & Terrain in 2024

4 Fastest 3D Printers in 2024 (All Budgets)

The 56+ Coolest Things To 3D Print in 2023

44 Common 3D Print Problems – Troubleshooting Issues 2023

13 Best Free 3D Modeling Software (For Beginners) 2024

11 Best 3D Printers in 2024 (All Budgets)

5 Best 3D Printers For Beginners in 2024

Exceptional value with anycubic’s latest 3d printer deals.

40+ 3D Printing Industry Statistics (2024 Update)

22+ Coolest 3D Printed Robotics Projects (2024 Update)

8 Best DIY 3D Printer Kits in 2024 (From $150!)

3D Printing In Space – Top Projects in 2023

Best 3D Printed Shoes in 2023 (Sneakers, Heels & More)

The Best 3D Printer Buyer's Guide Resource & 3D Printer Reviews

[email protected]

3D Printers 3D Scanners 3D Software Guides Rankings Interviews News

Most Popular

Best 3D Printers Best 3D Scanners Best 3D Modeling Software Best 3D Slicers Best Resin 3D Printers Fastest 3D Printers Best Large 3D Printers

Useful Links

About us About the team How we do our reviews Careers Contact Us

Sign up to our newsletter

Privacy policy

Affiliate disclaimer

Editorial policy

• Project Management

Design Manager Blog

• Accounting (33)
• Business of Design (102)
• Creative Conversations (43)
• Design Manager Tips (44)
• Did You Know (27)
• eco-friendly interior design (1)
• Interior Design (79)
• Lifestyle (24)
• luxury interior design (2)
• New Features (7)
• Productivity (42)
• Social Media (12)
• sustainable interior design (2)
• Technology (22)
• Trade Talk (39)
• Productivity

The Best Apps for Professional Interior Designers: 2022 Edition

7 ways to create luxury interior design on a limited budget.

• Margot LaScala July 31 2023 . 7 min read

Interior designers spend a lot of their time on project sites, visiting showrooms, and tending to other business outside of the office. That’s why the best interior design apps let the pros do great work on the go, which is useful when you’re heading from appointment to appointment. 

This is our 2022-2023 list of the best apps for interior designers, which we first published in 2019 and update annually. These apps will make your life easier and help you take your business to new heights.

Apps for Developing A Concept

(Mood board created in Morpholio Board Pro; Photo Credit: Morpholio)

The Pinterest App brings everything you love about Pinterest into an intuitive mobile interface. Search for inspiration or organize your images into boards that you can selectively share with colleagues and clients. The app is free and is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch operating on iOS 12.0 or later. It is also available for Android . 

The Paper app lets users make color sketches that mimic a variety of art techniques, like pencil and watercolor. What makes this app different from Concepts and Art Set 4 , both great apps for creating art, is that Paper, created by FiftyThree (which has since been acquired by WeTransfer) has a more advanced collage feature that allows you to cut, paste, and combine things like handwritten notes, photos, and text. The app is free to create and share files up to 2 GB and is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Note that it requires iOS 12.0 or later. It does not currently offer a version for Android. 

Morpholio Board Pro

Making our list again this year, Morpholio Board Pro is the best app for creating mood boards and 2D renderings that use real products. The free version will let you create professional-looking mood boards, while the Pro version will also provide shopping lists, cut sheets, and specs for the chosen products, plus a variety of additional tools. Making life that much easier is that the Morpholio Board Pro app can connect to Pinterest. Note that Morpholio Board is part of the Morpholio Suite, which includes other helpful apps such as Morpholio Trace , Morpholio Journal , and Morpholio (a portfolio making app). The Morphio Board app is free for basic use and with upgrades available from $0.99 to $7.99 per month or $11.99 per year for Pro on devices operating on iOS 13.0 or later. The app for iPad includes more features than the iPhone version, as detailed in the app description. It is also available for Android .

By the same makers of Paper and also under the WeTransfer umbrella comes Paste, a new addition to our 2022 list of the best apps for interior designers. With Paste , you can easily create presentations using any of your images, drawings, and moodboards, or mood boards created within the app itself. The accompanying app, Paste Preview, has the same creation tools as the desktop version and allows you to view slides in realtime and share them from anywhere. Using Paste Preview is an easy way of compiling your ideas and creating presentations sleek enough to put in front of clients and other collaborators. You can download it for free using Apple devices with iOS 11.0 or later and Android devices .  

Apps for Mapping & Creating 2D

(Rendered floor plan created in Floorplanner; Photo Credit: Floorplanner)

iHandy Carpenter

The iHandy Carpenter app continues to be a favorite among interior designers. It provides a virtual carpenter’s toolbox, including a surface level, plumb bob, and steel ruler. It costs $1.99 and is available for all iPhones operating on iOS 6 or higher.

The MagicPlan app takes photos of your space and converts them into floor plans with impressive accuracy, making this a must-have app for interior designers. Down the line, you may want to make your own drawings in Autocad (the Autocad app can help), but the MagicPlan floor plans are a great starting point. You can use the app’s most basic components for free, but there are a variety of fee levels to access additional features. It is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch operating on iOS 14.0 or later. Google Play offers a version for Android . 

Floorplanner

The Floorplanner app is a new edition to our list of best apps for interior designers this year. While the app is capable of creating both 2D plans and 3D renderings, its best use is for creating presentation-ready rendered floor plans. Users can draw rooms and walls using a drag and drop method or by entering dimensions directly to produce accurate scale drawings. Unlike Autocad, lines automatically connect to help avoid hard to catch mistakes that will create trouble in producing 2D and 3D renderings of the basic plans. One of the downsides is that the app is only available for Android . 

Apps for Visualizing 3D

(3D model created in SketchUp for iPad; Photo Credit: Floorplanner)

Home Design 3D Gold

Despite the influx of new 3D drawing and rendering apps, The Home Design 3D Gold app makes our list again this year, as it’s one of the highest-rated apps in the Apple App Store. Users can draw spaces directly in the app in either 2D or 3D, then extrude walls, change thickness, and add doors and windows with remarkable ease. Once a space is built, you can add finishes and furniture from the app’s digital warehouse of over 1,000 furniture pieces. Once your design is complete, create photo-realistic renderings directly from your device in seconds that rival those made in Rhinoceros and Revit, with realistic light and shadow renderings based on customizable settings. It costs $8.99 and is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch operating on iOS 11.4 or later. It is also available for Android .

HomeStyler Interior Design

In the HomeStyler Interior Design app, you can use a picture of your actual space and begin populating that space with different furniture from the app’s warehouse and play around with different color schemes, all in photorealistic finishes. The basic version of the app is free with upgrades available from $5.99 to $9.99 per month and is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch operating on iOS 10.0 or later. It is also available for Android .

SketchUp for iPad

New to our list is the SketchUp app, which offers a great value (functionality for a low price) and its integration with several other softwares. Its new app for iPad offers many of the same features as SketchUp for desktop with additional tools such as Apple pencil drawing, which allows you to turn sketches into 3D forms. With the SketchUp app, creating detailed and professional, commercial grade 3D drawings and renderings for single rooms to enormous, multifloor complexes is possible while on the go. It is available for iPad operating on iOS 15 or later for a free 7 day trial and is then $119 for a yearly subscription.

Apps for Delving Into Design

Adobe capture.

The Adobe Capture app has so many useful functions, making it an essential element of any interior designer’s app folder. This app can take a photo and identify its patterns, convert its shapes to vector drawings, and organize its color themes. It is the perfect tool for taking inspiration images to the design phase. It is free and available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch operating on iOS 14 or later. It is also available for Android .

Apps for Managing Your Business

(Design Manager app; Photo Credit: Design Manager)

Design Manager

We wouldn’t put our own product on this list if we didn’t think it belonged here, but we think there is no better app for interior design project management and accounting upkeep than Design Manager’s sleek, easy-to-use offering . The Design Manager app offers users the ability to tap into their account portals and access any information they need to pull up at a moment’s notice. What's more, the app makes it super simple to take pictures and add items, swipe through an item gallery with professional formatting for client meetings, and to quickly add contacts. Of course, we can’t fail to mention the time tracker function, which works like a stop/start timer that converts minutes into billable time, all saved to your account portal. It’s free with a Design Manager account and is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch that operate on iOS 11.0 or later. It is also accessible for Android devices - see instructions here . 

In our new normal, no professional can go without Zoom . For interior designers, remaining virtually available by video conference technology was previously a challenge, as they are often on the move. The Zoom app allows users to connect to video calls, whether one-on-one or with multiple participants, using their mobile device. While certain Zoom features require a paid account, the app is free. It is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch that operate on iOS 8.0 or later. It is also available for Android . 

Gusto is an all-in-one Human Resources platform that is ranked the “Best Payroll Software of 2022” by U.S. News , making it the perfect choice for small businesses that choose to outsource HR functions. In fact, the company was originally founded to serve start-ups with plans to scale. Gusto can service hiring and onboarding, payroll, benefits, time and attendance (also trackable using Design Manager), and compliance of your HR functions. Employees can use the Gusto Wallet app to manage their profiles, such as in which personal accounts to distribute paycheck funds and how to direct benefits contributions. It also offers financial tools such as goal setting and tracking.The Gusto wallet app is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch operating on iOS 13.0 or later and is also available for Android .  

The functionality offered by apps for interior designers continues to grow every year. What were once highly specialized and time consuming tasks, such as drawing precise floor plans and producing photorealistic renderings, can be done quickly at a moment’s notice, wherever you may be. The better you can visually communicate your ideas to your clients and collaborators, the faster you can move your projects along while ensuring satisfaction amongst all stakeholders. 

Try the best apps for interior designers in 2022 and see how they can help you grow your business while giving you more free time to do what you enjoy.

Margot LaScala

Topics: Technology , Trade Talk , Productivity

Stay Connected

Related posts, pro cloud updates that streamline project management.

• Greg Palmer, CEO March 29 2022 . 3 min read

10 Mistakes Interior Designers Make on Their Websites

• Margot LaScala January 28 2022 . 7 min read

Getting Started With Design Manager: The Premier Interior Design Software

• Margot LaScala September 15 2021 . 6 min read
• Interior Design Market Calendar
• Our Partners
• Help Center

© Copyright 2024 Design Manager

• Terms of Service
• Privacy Policy

How to Create a Professional Interior Design Presentation in 6 Steps – Cedreo

Interior designers love coming up with fun and interesting ideas for their clients’ homes. However, it’s important not just to have those ideas in mind, but to clearly communicate them to clients through an interior design presentation. When your clients see a detailed representation of the completed project, it’s easier for them to get excited about it and make better design decisions. Better interior design presentations reduce back-and-forth, streamline communication, and help you close more deals. Fortunately, with design software like Cedreo, it’s easier than ever to create professional interior design presentations that wow your clients. Ready to take your interior design projects to the next level and start landing more clients? Check out this 5-minute read with some pro tips for your next interior design presentation.

What’s Included in an Interior Design Presentation?

Depending on your client’s needs, an interior design presentation could include several different elements. Here are a few you should consider adding to your next presentation:

3D floor plan

While 2D floor plans are traditionally included in most interior design projects, they can be hard for a lot of clients to understand. 3D floor plans , on the other hand, remove the guesswork and help bring your ideas to life. With Cedreo home design software , you can draw in 2D while instantly seeing the 3D plan view.

Showing your clients 3D plans will help them understand the size, layout, and flow of the space. This is especially helpful once you add furnishings.

Furniture plan

A furniture plan includes furniture with accurate measurements that show the exact space around each piece. Adding furniture to your 3D plans helps clients visualize the actual shape, color, and texture of each piece in combination with the rest of the decor. With Cedreo design software, you can quickly switch out furniture pieces based on feedback from your clients.

Material samples

Samples are an important part of design presentations. Try adding them to a mood board so your clients can see, touch, and feel the different materials. Most clients appreciate seeing physical samples ofs tile, paint swatches, furniture fabric, and wood finishes.

Before even starting a project, you should have gotten a target budget from your clients. If it’s a large project, it’s best to break down the cost per room and/or each aspect of the design. You can also show the different costs based on what options they choose.

Realistic 3D renderings are becoming more and more important in modern interior design presentations. These show a 3D view of your project complete with details like interior lighting, sunlight, shadows, and textures.

Although they used to be expensive and complicated to create, with Cedreo, you can get photorealistic renderings of your design with just one click.

3 Types of Interior Design Presentations

Depending on what stage of the project you’re in, presentations can take on a variety of forms. Here are some of the most common types of project presentations:

Mood Boards

Mood boards are a collage of images, samples, and plans that show certain design ideas for your client’s project. They’re a great place to start, as they give you an easy way to present the style and “flow” of your ideas. You can create a physical mood board with a simple foam board and samples, clippings, or images of ideas you’d like to pursue. Alternatively, you can use basic graphic design software to make a digital mood board. Although you might be tempted to fill the mood board with every option available, it’s best to keep it simple and uncluttered. If needed, you can create several complete mood boards and let your clients choose which they like best. This type of presentation is an important step that helps you determine your client’s preferences before moving on to sketching the design in detail.

Hand-drawn sketches used to be the cornerstone of interior design presentations. However, they are quickly being replaced by more advanced 3D renderings (see the next section). If you’re able to create professional sketches to showcase specific details of the project, that can be a nice way to impress your clients with your skills and attention to detail. Just keep in mind that a poorly drawn sketch can actually lead to clients feeling more confused than enlightened. That’s why most modern designers use a digital tool like Cedreo to create realistic 3D renderings.

3D Renderings

Photorealistic 3D rendering presentations are how you really seal the deal. Presentations like these help you stand out as a design professional. They’re a big step towards making clients happy, because you can show them exactly what the finished project will look like. This gives your clients clear expectations and saves you both from unnecessary frustration. To create high quality renderings you need a program like Cedreo 3D design software . Fortunately, Cedreo is easy to use. That means even with no previous experience you can quickly create top-quality renderings.

Of all the types of interior design presentations, 3D renderings are the most powerful, because they:

• Show your client exactly how the end project will look
• Lead to faster design decisions
• Are easy to create and present thanks to Cedreo interior design software

Learn more about how to use Cedreo to create interior design renderings .

6 Steps to Create a Professional Interior Design Presentation

Whether you’re new to the design business or you’re a design pro looking to expand your portfolio, you can create a professional interior design presentation in just six steps. Pro Advice! These steps are easiest with an interior design tool like Cedreo.

1. Sketch your initial design concept

Start by putting some of your initial design concepts down on paper. Draw a basic layout of the space and make note of its dimensions (this will help you in step 2). Sketch out ideas you might have for each area. Then add any other comments that you should keep in mind while creating the rest of your presentation.

2. Draw a 3D floor plan

The next part of the design process is to create the floor plan. A floor plan is essentially the container for all your creative ideas, so this is an important step.

Most design programs make you follow extra steps in order to produce 3D home plans. But with Cedreo, as you draw your layout in 2D, you instantly see the 3D view of the plan. This gives you immediate design feedback that comes in handy as you start to decorate the space.

3. Choose a design atmosphere

At this point, you’ve already spoken with your client to determine their tastes and styles. Before you start furnishing a space, it’s important to have this clearly in mind. You can select a pre-made design atmosphere that lets you “set the mood” for a particular design. Choose from visual styles like contemporary, modern, or charming. Then, instead of having to sift through thousands of pieces of furniture, decor, and materials, you’ll only see the ones that fall under your selected style.

4. Furnish and decorate each room

Whether you’re going with a specific design atmosphere or want the flexibility to choose each piece yourself, Cedreo has what you need. Cedreo’s extensive design library gives you 7,000+ pieces of furniture and decorations to choose from. That means you have the flexibility to find the right combination of pieces to fit your client’s tastes. And if you’re running short on time, Cedreo also gives you pre-made product packs for different rooms types. Choose one of these and you can decorate a room with the click of a button.

5. Customize surfacing and materials

Now it’s time to fine-tune the details. If you already presented your clients with a mood board, you probably have an idea of what textures, colors, and materials they like. Customize your 3D plans with those materials. Use Cedreo, and you’ll be able to choose from thousands of different surface materials like fabrics, wood, tile, paint, and more. Then just drag-and-drop the materials to virtually any surface of the home. This gives you more power to customize every aspect of the space from flooring to furniture.

6. Adjust light settings

Now that you’ve got all the details of your design concept in place, it’s time to prepare for the 3D renderings. An important part of that is controlling the lighting. Showing a space with an accurate mix of both artificial and natural light is essential for providing clients with a realistic visual of their space. But doing something like this in a normal CAD program is highly technical and difficult.

If you’re using Cedreo for this step, you can let the software manage the interior lighting and sun orientation automatically. And if you want to control the lighting manually, it takes just a few seconds. Once the lighting and point of view are set, submit your design for rendering and in just 5 minutes, it’ll be ready for your client.

Share and collect feedback

Once you’ve got your renderings, it’s time to share them with your team and clients. Just download the 2D plans, 3D plans, and 3D renderings in popular image formats. These are easy to send to your clients or even add to a digital mood board. Choose the Enterprise Plan with Cedreo for streamlined collaboration, and you can share designs with your team inside the platform. Once you receive feedback, make any final adjustments to the design. Since Cedreo is cloud-based, anywhere you have a laptop and internet connection you can quickly update the plans online and download the latest version for your clients.

Ready to Create Better Interior Design Presentations?

Ready to take your interior design presentation to the next level? There’s no better place to start than with Cedreo home design software. It’s engineered to save designers like you loads of time. Make your clients happy and close more deals. Start using Cedreo today !

These articles might be of interest to you:

Explore the articles covering the latest Cedreo’s features, keep up-to-date on 3D home design news, and hear more about what our clients have to say.

Mistakes to Avoid When Creating Interior Design Presentations

How to create stunning interior design presentation boards

How to create successful architecture presentation boards

Top 7 Design Tools for Professional Interior Designers

Looking to level up your design skills? Here are the programs professionals use.

Technology has revolutionized how interior designers visualize and present creative concepts. There are many tools for interior designers, and having the right software can be a game-changer, offering innovative solutions to bring your designs to life. In today's digital world, having advanced tools at your fingertips is essential for staying ahead in the competitive interior design landscape.

From enabling users to create detailed floor plans and crafting immersive 2d and 3d home designs, we've curated a list of the top seven professional interior design software tools that cater to the needs of professionals like you. So, whether you're looking to streamline your workflow, impress clients, or explore the potential of modern technology, these programs are sure to enhance your design arsenal.

Planner 5D Pro

Planner 5D Pro is the ultimate tool for designers seeking seamless organization and enhanced visibility. You can create a branded profile, share your portfolio and communicate directly with clients. With access to advanced AI-powered tools like Smart Wizard , Design Generator , and Scan Room , you can focus on what matters most - creating innovative design solutions for your clients.

As a Pro member, you can also access additional benefits such as 4K renders , virtual walkthroughs, and the ability to craft custom mood boards. Plus, gain access to invaluable project management tools, a built-in CRM system , and direct chat functionality with clients, all designed to elevate your design process and enhance client satisfaction. With your branded profile prominently featured in the designer directory , Planner 5D Pro ensures newfound visibility, enabling prospective clients to discover your services effortlessly.

• Auto-recognition:  Upload floor plans and convert them into 3D renderings
• Scan Room:  Capture accurate room layouts with your iPhone.
• Smart Wizard:  Speed up the design process with automated room layouts and furniture arrangements for instant design inspiration.
• 360 Panorama:  Offer clients an immersive experience for visualizing their interiors with augmented reality.
• 3D Visualizations:  Generate life-like 3D renderings to help clients fully envision their spaces.
• Intuitive interface:  Effortlessly draw up detailed plans with intuitive controls, drag-and-drop interface and extensive object library.
• Advanced features:  Built-in CRM system, project management tools, and direct chat with clients
• Collaboration:   Collaborate with team members and clients in real time.

Compatibility:

• Supported on the web, Windows and macOS operating systems
• Mobile app available for iOS and Android devices

Sketchup PRO

SketchUp Pro is a powerful 3D modeling software that offers a user-friendly platform for creating professional-grade design options. With its intuitive interface, extensive object libraries, and advanced tools, SketchUp Pro is the go-to choice for architects, interior designers, and construction professionals.

This robust software offers a suite of features tailored for professionals in the design realm: an expansive 3D model library, precise drawing tools, and an intuitive interface that supports an efficient design process. You can use its powerful rendering capabilities to create realistic images of your projects, communicating design intent clearly and effectively. 

• Intuitive interface:  Easily create complex designs with SketchUp Pro's simple drag-and-drop interface.
• Extensive object libraries:  Access a vast library of 3D models, textures, and materials to bring your designs to life.
• Advanced tools:  SketchUp Pro offers everything you need for detailed designs, from advanced lighting and rendering options to precise measurement tools.
• Collaboration:  Collaborate with team members and clients in real-time, making sharing ideas and making changes on the go easier.
• Dimensioning:  Quickly add dimensions and annotations to your designs for accurate measurements and documentation.
• Supported on Windows and macOS operating systems

Houzz Pro is a comprehensive solution tailored specifically to the needs of home renovation and design professionals who need a room design simulator. This integrated platform is well-suited for a broad range of devices, optimizing the experience for users whether they're on desktop computers, tablets, or smartphones.

Its comprehensive suite of features simplifies the complex process of designing and remodeling spaces. These include project budgets, timelines, client communication, and team collaboration management. In addition to these features, Houzz PRO offers a convenient way to manage project invoicing and payments, making it a one-stop solution for designers and remodelers.

• Project tracker:  Download tear sheets, reports and images to keep track of your project.
• 3D Visualization software:  Impress with stunning visuals that bring your design proposals to the forefront.
• Moodboards:  Create visual impact and share your vision with clients. 
• Marketplace integration:  Easily incorporate actual products from a comprehensive marketplace into your designs.
• Quickbooks Integration:  Sync your project details seamlessly without losing any important receipts.

Foyr is an intuitive design platform that provides architects and designers with robust tools to bring their visions to life. Known for its user-friendly interface and platform versatility, Foyr ensures that design professionals can access their projects whenever inspiration strikes.

Foyr is a powerful platform designed to revolutionize how interior designers conceptualize, visualize, and execute their projects. Interior designers use Foyr as a comprehensive tool to streamline their workflow, from initial ideation to final implementation. With Foyr, you can access various features and functionalities tailored to your needs, ultimately enhancing efficiency, creativity, and client satisfaction.

• Advanced rendering capabilities : Creating stunning 3D visualizations of design concepts with unparalleled realism. 
• Vast library of items:   Access furniture, decor items, materials, and finishes to experiment with different styles, layouts, and color schemes.
• Collaboration:  Foyr facilitates seamless collaboration and communication between designers and clients through its intuitive interface and sharing capabilities. 
• Project management tools:  Stay organized, track progress, and meet deadlines effectively, streamlining the entire design process from start to finish. 
• Supported on web browsers and standalone applications for Windows and Mac.

Spoak 

Spoak is a new addition to the professional interior design software landscape. It is an easy-to-use interior visualization tool for professionals and hobbyists undertaking interior design projects. You have a great selection of project management tools and a browser extension to save inspiring images for your projects across the web.

Like a blend of Etsy, Pinterest, and Photoshop, Spoak lets you create inspiring mood boards and color palettes for your projects. Upload and create floor plans with elevations and furniture layouts, and keep track of expenses and orders.

• Project planner:  Organize all project details and present them to clients.
• Budget tracker:  Manage and track spending and orders. 
• Invoicing:  Send and manage invoices. 
• Online portfolio:  Show off design style and projects.
• Design shop:  Create a personalized storefront for selling designs and creative services. 
• Supported on web browsers across desktop, tablet and mobile. 

Cedreo is a specialized software designed to assist interior designers, architects, and home builders create realistic 3D visualizations and floor plans for residential and commercial projects. Download and present professional 2D drawings and photorealistic 3D renderings.

You can generate detailed project proposals, including cost estimates and a list of materials, streamlining the design process from concept to implementation. Draw and customize interior and exterior spaces with an extensive library of decor items, furniture and fabrics.

• 3D Items library : Choose from over 7,000+ customizable furnishings, decorations and materials.
• Collaboration:  Share designs and get client feedback, gather and make revisions. 
• Project management tools:  Generate detailed project proposals, cost estimates and material lists, streamlining the design process from concept to implementation. 
• Photorealistic 3D renderings:  Create life-like images of your designs.
• Supported on web, Windows and Mac 

Rayon is a collaborative design software for architects, engineers and professionals in the construction industry. Founded in 2021, it's a relatively new player on the scene, currently used in commercial real estate, housing, interior space planning, furniture manufacturing, and asset management.

With a focus on fast and interactive design, Rayon is perfect for teams working on large-scale projects. It's great for drawing, sharing, commenting, editing and integration with a broad range of formats. 

• User-centric interface:  Fast and easy to use. 
• Multiplayer collaboration:  Collaborate and edit design with others at the time. 
• Web app:  Connect and participate with anyone, anywhere.
• Supported on web browsers

Empowering your creative process with robust interior design software programs is a solid investment into your professional future. Each program offers unique features that can cater to various aspects of interior design, from initial planning to the final presentation. Whether you prioritize 3D rendering, real-time collaboration or extensive modeling capabilities, a tool is designed to meet those needs.

Adopting these tools will enhance your efficiency and precision and elevate the service you offer to your clients. Remember, as technology evolves, so should your toolkit. Embrace the possibilities and start crafting those impeccable spaces with today's best interior design programs.

What software do interior designers use?

Interior designers use various software depending on their specific needs and preferences. Some popular options include SketchUp, AutoCAD, ArchiCAD, Planner 5D and Adobe Creative Suite. However, the best software for interior design may vary based on project requirements and personal workflows.

Are these software options suitable for both Mac and Windows users?

Yes, most interior design programs are available for Mac and Windows users. However, it is always best to check the system requirements before purchasing or downloading software to ensure compatibility with your device.

How much does the best interior design software cost?

The cost of interior design software can range from free to thousands of dollars, depending on the features and functionalities offered. Some programs may offer monthly or yearly subscriptions, while others require a one-time purchase. Research and compare different options so you can find the best fit for your budget and needs.

Which home design software is best?

Again, the best home design software will vary depending on individual preferences and project requirements. It is recommended to test different programs or read reviews from other designers to determine which suits your needs the most.

25 Best Interior Design Software (free + paid)

Planner 5D is one of the easiest to use and best looking interior design rendering software around - it’s amateur friendly, making it an excellent starting point.

Interior design tools are everywhere but if you’re just starting and you want to show your client a mock-up of your thoughts then where should you begin?

I’ve compiled a list of the best 25 interior design tools, software and apps that you will be able to virtually pick up and use instantly without a large learning curve.

It doesn’t matter if the client is looking to remodel their kitchen, redesign their whole floor plan or just restyle their living space . These interior design tools can communicate your room layout ideas quickly with a high level of precision with high-quality room designs.

The home design tools you use may not be part of your business plan , but using computer programs for interior design can go a huge way to how you communicate and showcase your skills to clients.

Take a look at some of my best interior design software for interior designers…

What's in the article

1. Planner 5D

Cost: free version, paid for all features

Planner 5D  is generally considered the #1 virtual room designer that not only lets you design the interior but also lets you explore your virtual house as if you were in the floor plan.

Easy-to-use, Planner 5D is also ingrained with drag and drop functions. You can easily build and move walls, add high definition items, and pick the building materials, colours, and sizes of those items. To smooth your design process, you can toggle between 2D and 3D design rendering depending on your preference. Once you are done, you can save the rendered photos of your interior and share them.

What’s also nice about this app is you can use it on iOS and Android devices. That way, if you don’t have much time, you can plan your interior design on the go.

Planner 5D is one of the easiest to use and best looking interior design rendering software around—it’s amateur friendly, making it an excellent starting point. The only downside with this app is that if you want to save photo-realistic rendered photos of your design, you need to pay the appropriate amount. However, unless you are professional, most people won’t need the feature as you can still save regularly rendered photos.

Cost: paid (free trial option)

Cedreo  is an online 3D home design platform used by professional home builders, remodelers and interior designers to create 2D and 3D floor plans, including both the interior and exterior renderings. The software is intuitive and easy to use, and helps users quickly create photorealistic interior designs using its library of 7,000+ customizable pieces of 3D furniture, materials and decorations. 

Designers can quickly show prospective clients exactly what their finished project will look like, and as a result, close more design contracts in less time.  

Cedreo’s platform is 100% cloud-based, so you can meet with clients and make edits to designs and proposals on the fly.

3. Foyr Neo 

Cost: 14 day free trial, then paid

Our absolute favourite interior design software right now is undoubtably Foyr Neo . In terms of easy of use, the available features, and frequency of upgrades – it is 100% worth testing out.

It has a variety of tools dedicated to different interior designing processes like mood boarding , building floor plans , selecting and organizing design elements and visualizing the final output in 3D .

The efficiency and effectiveness with which Foyr Neo’s various tools perform complex tasks like rendering designs and creating 3D walkthroughs will enable you to direct all your attention to the client-facing aspects of your business, thereby helping you delight existing clients and acquire new ones.

In a nutshell, you can focus on growing your interior design business with Foyr Neo helping you manage your administrative, day-to-day operations.

Foyr Neo’s AI-driven, cloud-based rendering system allows you to render your design in photo-realistic details within minutes.

The auto-lighting and auto-material features ensure the perfect selection of design elements, saving valuable time in manual searches for materials.

This one of the most highly rated features by their professional interior designers as it allows to share a near photo quality image of what the room will look like.

4. Floorplanner

Cost: free version, premium option

If you want to design your interior online without having to download any application, then  Floorplanner  is an attractive choice. As the name suggests, the core strength of this software lies within its excellent feature as a floor plan software .

Though rest assured, the app interior design function is also pretty good.  You can flexibly design the floor plans of the house, put objects such as furniture & windows, and view the real-time design both in 2D or 3D.

As free design software, the fundamental features in the app are included. But, should you choose to go premium, you can get the ability to see your design in High Definition (HD) instead of Standard Definition (SD) and add more floor plans or room designs to a single project. Basically, the professional interior designers stuff.

Otherwise, the free version should just be enough for most interior design enthusiasts needs.

5. Sweet Home 3D

With  Sweet Home 3D , you can use a vast amount of objects in the application library to help you better simulate the house’s interior design style. Simply drag and drop the objects that you want, and you are good to go.

There’s also freedom when determining the floor plan of the house—you can even layout an irregular wall shape. No prior technical design skills or knowledge required. You can easily master this software in a short period of time.

To start with, you can choose the available layout design first to build your confidence—similar to Planner 5D, then start building the walls. Else, you can opt to design the layout from scratch too. Afterwards, you can drag and drop objects such as doors, furniture, and windows. Additionally, you can also edit the colours and sizes of objects.

The great thing about this software is that you can draw the walls in a 2D medium, but the simulated 3D will appear in real-time as you draw the wall.

After you’re satisfied with the design you’ve created, you can take a virtual 3D tour to better view every nook and cranny of the virtual interior. If you want to turn them into photos or videos, that’s also doable.

Cost: free for personal use

Roomeon  offers extensive features you can take advantage of. Like the professional interior design software mentioned above, it also provides an array of objects and rotates functions for a decent viewing experience. There are three types of viewing cameras to choose: person camera, free camera, and satellite camera.

As a realtime interior design app, Roomeon lets you create room designs in 3D with ease and quickness. There’s also “Create the Mood” feature useful for simulating how different time of the day affects your interior looks. The design process is easy and intuitive, which makes it a great option for all level of interior designer.

Another great thing about this app is you can furnish your virtual home with furniture from real-life brands such as IKEA and Claude Monet.

7. Sketch Up

Sketch Up  is one of the most powerful interior design tools offering comprehensive 3D capabilities. The flexibility of the software makes you feel like you are drawing by hand. Sketch Up is an online web app, so you don’t need to download it.

You can add objects to your room layouts and customise them. However, you may have to download the objects you want to use first so a good internet connection is needed to run the app smoothly. But overall, it’s quite a handy app.

Sketch Up can be used for free. Nevertheless, with a premium subscription, you can get your hands on additional tools such as Augmented Reality (AR) viewing. This is one of the most common choices in the past for interior designers.

8. Roomstyler

Like Roomeon,  Roomstyler  is a very intuitive app that you can pick up and master relatively easily as an interior designer. There’s a very good playlist of tutorial videos that you can watch but even then, you may not need it since you can learn as you go with ease.

To start using it, simply design your interior from scratch—no need to worry even if there’s no template. You can simply start dropping items like walls & windows and you can see the result instantly both in 2D and 3D. Like always, you can customise them in terms of colours, sizes, or placements.

The option to furnish the interior with real-life products is also another great perk of the app. With this feature, you can more easily imagine how certain appliances you plan to buy will look in your new home.

9. pCon.planner

pCon.planner  is a completely free app for any use—whether for personal designs or business. Despite being 100% free, the vast amount of features that it has can’t be taken lightly. You can find a big amount of objects to make use of inside the app library.

The app is relatively straightforward to use. However, if you find yourself confused about where to start, there is a considerable amount of tutorial videos you can watch beforehand. After you get the hang of the app, you will see it’s listed as one of the best free design software apps as it offers a lot of tools equal to some of the paid apps.

Not just for casual, pCon.planner also provides a great option for commercial uses. For instance, you can load CAD models in various formats like DWG and 3DS to the app with ease.

10. Dream Plan

Cost: free for personal use, paid professional version

DreamPlan  is an excellent low-profile app perfect for personal use. The software comes with a huge array of objects to choose from and has a decent UI. You can also resize and rotate any object to fit your design. If you want, you can include multiple stories or floors to your project and design each interior separately.

When you first open the app, you can opt to view some sample projects and edit them to ‘get your feet wet’. Furthermore, tutorial videos for each of the object’s type are also available. Luckily, the app is simple enough so you don’t have to worry too much about getting stuck.

The free version of the software is not for commercial use, unfortunately. There is a paid version of the app with more features should you want it for business purposes.

11. Homestyler

Cost: free basic version, paid

Homestyler  is a user-friendly app originally created by Autodesk, the software corporation behind AutoCAD. Now owned by Easyhome, Homestyler isn’t a professional design program like AutoCAD, instead, it was created exclusively for home design needs. You can easily make floor plans and angled walls or place numerous objects.

To start building projects, you can pick either to edit some demo projects, pick a design template, or start from scratch. If you are new, you may want to view a demo project instead. You will soon see that the app is truly intuitive and simple to operate.

We regard Homestyler as one of the best free interior design software programs choices for all-around utility . There’s also the pro version if you want to take advantage of the app’s full version.

12. Design a Room

Design a Room  by Armstrong Flooring is an excellent pick if you don’t want the hassle of designing a room from scratch. The way the app works is a bit different from all the other software we mentioned.

To begin designing a room, you can simply upload a photo of your existing room in your house or select one from hundreds of the available template photos. For example, you can choose to edit a dining room with a country style. After that, you can change the flooring, wall paints, or stain of the furniture.

The biggest downside of the program is you can’t customise any of the objects in your room except for floors, wall paints, and stains. However, Design a Room is a great app for those who want to try out a simple new look to their interior.

13. HomeByMe

HomeByMe is an online room planner allowing you to very easily draw 2D plans, get 3D plans and photo-realistic renderings to showcase both old and new properties.

HomeByMe includes a community of users who share their own interior design projects. The software is free for the first projects you plan. You can visualise your design choices in 3D and 2D renderings, and create a shopping list for the things you need to do the design in your home.

14. Infurnia

Infurnia is a web-based interior design software. It brings the power of professional native design software to the web and adds a lot more collaboration & management functionality on top of it. It’s one of the most feature-rich web-based software available in the market.

Infurnia can be used for all phases of an interior design project: from detailed 2D floor plan creation to auto-conversion to 3D; from drag & drop furniture to creating custom designs; from high quality renders to BOQs & production drawings; from web-based design shares to seamless integration with Infurnia’s virtual reality app. Infurnia’s design tools feature smart placement, collision avoidance, and lots of customisation options.

The design features of Infurnia are free to use, however with the paid plan you can get catalogue management, multiple user accounts, access management, custom pricing tools, and more such features.

15. Interior Design 3D

Interior Design 3D is an automatic program for preparing 2D blueprints and 3D house plans. It was designed to ease the drafting process for DIY enthusiasts and beginners in home renovation. That is why it is super intuitive and allows making precise floor plans for rooms, apartments, houses, and offices in little time. 

With this interior design 3D software, you can design a floor layout from scratch, tweak up the existing one, or edit a ready-made template from the program’s collection to the needed dimensions and style. In the editor’s library, you will find everything necessary for planning a complete renovation or construction – all kinds of doors, windows, and staircases; 700+ pieces of customizable furniture, and decorative materials like wallpaper, tile, laminate, etc. 

Once you have finished drawing your 2D blueprint and feel satisfied with the 3D interior design, you can use the Virtual Tour feature to walk around your future home. That way you’ll make sure the place speaks the desired vibe and captures some angles for your contractor to consider. Interior Design 3D is compatible with all Windows PCs – both new and old. Try the program for free and experience its capabilities yourself!

Indema is a game-changer when it comes to running your interior design business. A perfect piece of project management software.

From handling your project management, finances to your product sourcing and human resources (because you’ll be hiring in no time once you start using Indema).

It’s a platform created by designers for designers with the sole goal of making it easier to run and grow your design business and let you spend more time on what you do best, designing. And not on those admin tasks that suck time away from the good stuff.

17. DFS Room Planner

Mainly designed to help you with living room design, the DFS Room Planner is also a great free tool for other rooms too. With an easy 4 steps to designing your space, you can create 3D renderings of key rooms and as it’s by DFS, the emphasis is on making you select the perfect sofa for your home.

18. HGTV Ultimate Home Design

With this complete software for your home and garden, this interior design program will transform your living space.

With powerful tools and endless inspiration built into it, it’s the expert help you could need to get the job done whether for your own home or for your clients’.

With this software you can plan room additions, improvement projects, and even add energy-efficient lighting and appliances. Consistently promoted by interior designers on HGTV.

19. Total 3D Home

Total 3D Home has been designed with those wanting to design the home of their dreams in mind. whilst it is a paid-for program, it’s on the cheaper end so perfect for amateur designers and those looking to embark on big DIY projects. You can further customise your designs too by importing your own images into your renderings, helping you to incorporate pieces you already have and those you’re looking to buy.

20. Live Home 3D

Cost: free basic version, paid pro version

A multi-platform interior design software, Live Home 3D can help anyone create detailed floor plans and 3D renderings. Whether you’re furnishing a room or designing a whole house from scratch, you can easily, quickly, and most importantly, precisely, map out every detail. You can also plan the exterior and adjust the terrain for a fully

21. Home Designer Pro

If you have the funds for a paid interior design software program, then Home Designer Pro is one of the best to splurge on.

Whilst it does have a steep learning curve, this full suite of industry-grade tools comes with a library of tutorials to help you through the teething process.

By the end of it you’ll have the knowledge to create incredibly detailed plans of your entire home or your interior design clients.

22. SmartDraw

This interior design software program centres on floorplans and lets you speedily and easily plan out the rooms in your home in minutes. It effortlessly helps you work out what pieces will and won’t fit in your designs, and you can also add doors, windows, furniture and even appliances to your interactive floor plans.

23. RoomToDo

Simple yet powerful, RoomToDo is a fantastic software program for interior design. With 2D and 3D renderings, you can go on a walkthrough view of your design to see it from all angles, create walls with ease and draw over existing floor plans. It may not be as realistic as some of the paid interior design software offerings out there, but it’s a great choice for those who are looking to design small projects in their own homes or for smaller businesses that are just starting out.

24. Planning Whizz

Cost: basic version for free, paid personalised version on consultation

Planning Whizz lets you share designs via its cloud-based interface making it an excellent interior design software program for interior design businesses to share designs with their clients. With this tool you can plan, visualise and configure all rooms in the home and the handy shopping integration helps you move seamlessly onto the building stage. There is also a personalised branding option where you can add your logo and other touches to you designs too.

25. RoomSketcher

Cost: Free option with limited features, upgrade to unlock the full product

RoomSketcher is the perfect interior design software for anyone looking to design and visualize a home in 3D. With a user-friendly interface and powerful tools, RoomSketcher makes it easy for even the most novice designers to create stunning interior designs.

With RoomSketcher, you can create detailed floor plans, 3D visualizations, and high-quality 2D and 3D renderings. You can also easily customize your design with a wide selection of furniture, textures, and finishes. Whether you’re designing a new home, remodeling an existing one, or just looking to redecorate, RoomSketcher has everything you need to bring your vision to life. One of the standout features of RoomSketcher is its collaboration tools. You can easily share your designs with clients, contractors, and other collaborators, allowing everyone to stay on the same page throughout the design process.

RoomSketcher can be used on both computers and tablets, making it the perfect tool for designers who are always on the go. This means you can easily work on your designs from anywhere, whether at home, in the office, or on the way to meet with a client or contractor.

In short, if you’re looking for easy-to-use and powerful interior design software, RoomSketcher is the best option.

Want to see your favourite interior design tool here? Get in touch to find out how.

Interior Design Software FAQs

What is the best interior design software.

The answer to this question is entirely dependent on what you need that interior design software to do. The best software will change whether you’re an established interior designer, are just starting out, or just want to carry out a DIY project on your own home. There are many excellent free options for those that just want to design the odd individual project, however, if you are going to be managing multiple larger projects a paid program might be better for you. Many paid versions offer free trials, so shop around before buying, but our favourites are Planner 5D and Cedreo.

What software does Joanna Gaines use for interior design?

Joanna Gaines uses SketchUp which is a fantastic tool, especially for professional interior designers, however, it is pricey. If you didn’t want to splurge quite so much but still wanted a sleek, professional software tool then we recommend Cedreo.

What are the most important features of interior design software?

Again, this will be largely down to personal preference and what is most important to you. As a rule of thumb, however, it’s a good idea to look for how easy it is to use (whether straight off the bat or via included tutorials), good customisation options if you’re using the software as a professional, and most importantly, that it’s in your price range.

What are the benefits of using interior design software?

Interior design software simplifies the planning and visualizing process in designing spaces. Instead of imagining how a room might look with certain furniture or paint colors, these tools can produce digital representations, allowing you to experiment with various design elements before implementing them. Such software is beneficial for architects, designers, and even homeowners who wish to experiment with designs themselves. It helps save time, reduces costs associated with making changes after construction or renovation, and promotes better communication between clients and designers.

Is professional training required to use interior design software?

While some advanced features in interior design software may require professional training to fully utilize, most of the basic functions are user-friendly and can be learned with some practice. Many software providers offer detailed tutorials, and plenty of online resources are available to guide users. Some software even have drag-and-drop interfaces that are intuitive to navigate. However, for individuals looking to utilize these tools at a professional level, a comprehensive understanding of design principles coupled with formal training in the software can prove advantageous.

How does interior design software help with client presentations?

Interior design software can create realistic 2D and 3D renderings of proposed design ideas, providing a visual aid that can effectively communicate a designer’s vision to clients. Some software can even create immersive virtual reality walkthroughs, offering clients a unique, interactive way to experience the proposed design. This enhanced visualization capability helps eliminate miscommunication and gives clients a clear understanding of the final outcome, thereby improving client satisfaction and decision-making efficiency.

Can interior design software assist with material and cost estimation?

Yes, many interior design software include features for material and cost estimation. They can calculate the quantity of materials needed for a project, such as paint, wallpaper, flooring, and more. These tools can also estimate the cost of these materials and provide a comprehensive budget overview. This functionality can help designers and their clients make informed decisions about material choices, keeping the project within the desired budget and avoiding unnecessary expenditures.

How does interior design software facilitate collaboration among different stakeholders?

Collaboration is crucial in any design project. Interior design software often provides features that facilitate collaboration, such as cloud storage, multi-user access, and real-time editing. These tools allow various stakeholders, such as clients, architects, and contractors, to access the designs, provide feedback, and make alterations if needed. This encourages transparent and efficient communication among all parties involved, promoting a smoother execution of the project. Some software even integrate with other project management tools to further streamline the process.

About The Author

Freddie Chatt

Related posts, 39 simple interior design blog post ideas that work every time, future of interior design: 16 experts on what interior design may look like, 4 steps to amazing photography for interior designers (diy guide), 51 incredible interior design blogs you absolutely need to read right now.

• Houzz Pro Learn
• Business Management

How to Create a Winning Interior Design Presentation in Four Steps

Read on to learn the four can’t-miss steps of creating better interior design presentations, including tips on project presentation, design process integration, and visual presentation tools such as mood boards or a floor plan.

Introduction

The interior design presentation is a defining moment for any design project. Done well, the client presentation shows a homeowner in stunning and vivid detail that the designer gets them, their style, their budget and how they want their space transformed.

Designers who make an impactful and professional interior design presentation that perfectly aligns their vision with their client’s expectations are more likely to get a ‘yes’ more swiftly than other designers who have focused less on mastering the skill. We've broken down the art of client presentations into 4 main steps with real examples and tips to help you level up your presentation game.

Step 1: Preparing For Your Interior Design Presentation

Think of this step in the interior design process as if you were painting a room: The time spent cleaning, taping and spackling the space is rewarded with the clean lines and smooth strokes that make for a successful conclusion to the project. Similarly, it may take some time to adequately prepare for a design presentation, but this crucial foundational work sets the direction and basis for the entire project journey ahead.

Where to Start

Client meeting.

• The first step to learning about the needs of a client is to meet with them to gain a full understanding of their design preferences, lifestyle, budget, and the space challenges they are seeking to solve.
• Perhaps they have already filled out an initial questionnaire which you can review with them in more detail. Walk the rooms with them if possible, learn about their preferred colors and materials and their vision for the space. And, of course, ask plenty of clarifying questions along the way.

Define an Early Concept

• With the information from your initial meeting at hand, along with accurate measurements of the space and other important details such as a room’s square footage or other exact dimensions, now is the time to define an initial concept and design direction.
• The overarching concept you come up with will inform the next steps of the design process. At this early stage, you may even pull out a journal or notebook to sketch out a rough idea to use as the basis of a more detailed, digital version later. 

Design Development: Crafting a Narrative

• Along with a drawing, write a description of the concept and list the goals to help steer the plan according to your client’s vision and ensure you are on the same page.

Develop Your Design Ideas 

Once the rough idea has been determined, it’s time to start moving forward with translating the multiple concepts and design ideas into a project presentation. This is one of the areas that interior designers most enjoy because it gets the creative juices flowing! Many interior designers find inspiration in past projects, from their product library, and through other favorite design sources.

For a professional interior design presentation, choose design elements and different materials that best fit the initial design concept, like color scheme, floor materials, and other specific details such as fabric swatches. Add in the architectural details and supporting elements such as the furniture plan. Demonstrate the spatial relationships within the space and block out the furniture arrangements.

Step 2: Visual Ideas For Building a Professional Presentation

Now that you’ve worked through the early stages of the process, it’s time to learn how to make an interior design presentation as visually compelling as possible. Putting together an effective interior design presentation requires considering how you will organize your ideas to effectively convey them visually.

Most designers find that pulling all of these design concepts together into a visual presentation helps create a full design picture to aid in the project moving forward. Clients more readily understand what they can see; therefore it’s important to carefully select which interior design presentation tools you’ll use to clearly communicate the concepts and ideas. Here are some factors to consider when choosing client presentation tools.

Physical vs. Digital Design Boards

In today’s reality, not all meetings are held in person. Knowing in advance whether the presentation will be physical or virtual can inform the visualization tool choices. Digital design mockups, floor plans and renderings will save the day for making every detail come alive to bridge the internet divide. Using these digital tools is far less clumsy and awkward than trying to hold up a photo album or mockup board to the camera without bumping the mute button.

There’s more flexibility of choice when presenting face-to-face. More often than not, homeowners expect a design firm to make the best use of the sophisticated digital tools that provide life-like representations of what their future space will look like. Designers presenting in person have the advantage of going hybrid. They may, for example, complement these tech methods with fabric swatches and other design board materials that tap into senses beyond the visual.

Most Common Types of Tangible Client Presentation Boards

 physical design boards.

• Some designers rely on physical mood boards to convey their concepts. Many designers opt for  a simple foam board to tack on photographs and other images as well as physical samples and swatches to demonstrate textures and relate their vision.

 Material Samples

• Flipping through paint colors, caressing furniture fabrics and squaring up tiles can be a delightful part of the home renovation process. Most clients are grateful to be able to touch, feel and see these physical elements for better visualization. Using a sample board to incorporate tangible textures into your interior design presentation can give you an advantage in winning them over. 

Digital Presentation Tools

Interior designers are fortunate to have a host of easy-to-use, effective digital interior design presentation tools available to create presentations that wow. 

Mood Boards

• Room designs can be physically conveyed as we discussed above, but virtual mood boards are an impressive tool that inspire clients with visuals and life-like examples. Designers use software to present mood boards to their clients that are easily shared and simple to rearrange with a keystroke.
• Designers source material samples and the actual lamp, sofa, rug or table they envision for the space from their digital product library and preferred vendors. Learn more about  How to Make an Interior Design Mood Board to dive deeper.

Floor Plans

• A key part of any presentation is the floor plan, whether it is on paper or a screen. They help show architectural details such as the location of windows, doors, and walls, as well as fully furnish the space with furniture pieces, appliances and fixtures.
• Flat, 2D floor plans and blueprints can do the job, but 3D presentations are worth a thousand words, as they are more powerful for first impressions and help more clients see the entire project design in its best light. Designers who use software to make 3D floor plans incorporate all the details of a room into a compelling, life-like rendering that makes it easy for clients to envision the space. See How To Make Stunning Interior Design 3D Floor Plans for more details.

Photographs

• One of the best ways to help clients believe you can create the transformation they are seeking is through utilize the power of imagery. Presenting photorealistic 3D renderings of the proposed project, or example photos from past projects, will help illustrate your skill and boost their confidence in your interior design business’s work.
• Bonus tip: whenever  possible, choose images of the interior design projects most similar to the work they are seeking, whether in scope, budget bracket, type of room or design approach. Check out our piece on How to Make an Interior Design Portfolio to learn more about this complementary presentation skill.

Step 3: Presenting the Vision: How to Impress Design Clients

Now that you have worked through the concepts, gathered all your materials and picked the tools to best convey the design plan, it’s time to tie everything together for an impressive delivery. Consider these interior design presentation tips and strategies to fine tune your delivery.

Tailor Your Presentation

• The scope and content of your presentation will differ depending on your audience. When presenting for the first time to a new client, other designers find it valuable to spend extra time helping them get acquainted with you and the professional design services offered. Cover details of your company values, design approach, makeup of your team, typical scope of projects and any other relevant information.
• For repeat clients, you can start with a brief reminder of these details, as well as draw upon the past work completed for them, being sure to include any references or relation to the requested new project.

Showcase Multiple Concepts

• One size may not fit all. Be prepared with more than one design possibility if you find your first one falling flat, or if your clients express a desire to adjust project scope or compare more options.
• The same holds true for the ways you deliver these concepts. Use multiple methods to help the homeowner visualize and understand the design plan.

Communication Tips

• As the leader of the meeting, set the stage immediately to put clients at ease. Briefly explain the agenda, including at what points you will be seeking feedback. One method that will reassure the homeowner is to pause periodically to ask if they have comments or questions.
• At the same time, avoid getting too bogged down on a single point to ensure there is sufficient time to get through the entire presentation.

The Power of Self-Confidence

• Being self-assured and projecting confidence without talking down to clients signals to them that you are more than qualified for the job, whether you run your own interior design business or represent a larger design firm. Use your communication style to further convey how excited you are about working on their home.
• Dress professionally, but avoid attire that is uncomfortable or inauthentic to who you are - your choice of clothing can have a direct impact on how confident you feel.

Avoiding Game Day Jitters

• While it’s certainly effective to review your agenda one final time prior to your meeting, most designers would recommend allowing yourself a few minutes to clear your head beforehand.
• If you are a caffeine fan, resist the temptation to overload  on it - you want to project innate confidence and your natural grounded energy, without being overshadowed by artificial energy or the infamous caffeine jitters.
• And one final interior design presentation tip: shake off any residual nerves by standing up and stretching beforehand, and consider adopting a power stance or two to prime your presentation confidence, especially if you are going to be sitting down throughout the presentation.

Step 4: Enhancing Your Interior Design Presentation: Advanced Tips and Practices

Successful interior design presentations create a memorable first impression that will stay with clients long after you close your laptop and pack your swatches away for the drive home. Effective presenters forge a connection with homeowners on multiple levels through effective use of detail, visualization, lighting and more. Here are some more tips for making your design meeting an impactful one:

Demonstrate Attention to Detail

• Make your presentation accurate and detailed. Show your clients that you have considered every aspect of the project, both big and small. Little details like including the exact dimensions of a project space can help demonstrate your sharpness.

Consider your Client

• Pick moments during the presentation to show your clients that you have thoughtfully considered their feedback. For example, if a homeowner prefers a kitchen island with a sink built in, make note of that as you are highlighting the feature.
• The same goes for places where you chose a less expensive option to be cognizant of their budget constraints: clients love to know that they have been listened to.

Leverage Your Expertise

• Look for opportunities to mention your past experience and skills in a particular area - this is another opportunity to leverage your design portfolio if relevant.

Fine Tune Along the Way

• Have alternative ideas in your back pocket that you can pull out as examples in cases where a client balks at a particular paint color or room layout, for example. This demonstrates both your versatility and flexibility as a design pro.

Remember Ambiance

• Clients will better connect emotionally to a design concept when visualizations include effects such as lighting or even sound. Tap all the senses you can, including the tactile features discussed above.

Let’s Get Visual

• The more you can show and not tell, the more connected your clients will be to the presentation. Visualization is not only entertaining, it helps homeowners better understand the concepts and vision.

Imprint Your Brand

• Presentations which are consistent with incorporating logos, company colors and other branding details are more pleasing on the eye, and also leave clients with a lasting impression. 

Next Steps: Client Follow up

Before tying a bow on the interior design presentation, set the agenda for what happens next. This may include noting methods for receiving additional feedback and setting a timeline for project signoff. If the clients suggested any major changes during the presentation, let them know when they will receive a revised plan. 

Depending on the project, more measurements and additional details may be needed to determine a final budget. And, make it as easy as possible for clients to approve the plans by providing them a way to sign off with an e-signature. 

Making effective interior design presentations is one of the best routes toward achieving client satisfaction, securing new clients and keeping current ones coming back for more. Impactful presentations are highly visual, pay close attention to the homeowner’s desires and budget, and provide clients a compelling glimpse of what their space will look like at the project’s end. As a result, mood boards play a central role in every interior designer presentation; if you’re ready to step up your presentation game, try Houzz Pro’s mood board software for the most effortless experience in crafting professional mood boards .

Houzz Pro is the all-in-one tool for marketing, project and client management built specifically for remodeling, build, and design professionals.

Join the conversation by commenting or asking a question below. The Houzz team reads every single comment, and we’ll get back to you by email if you need us!

Want advice delivered to your inbox?

Unlock industry insights and updates for contractors and design pros

By signing up, I agree to the Houzz Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and that Houzz may use my information to contact me about relevant content, products, and services.

More From Houzz Pro Learn

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

How to Price Your Interior Design Services

HOUZZ PRO NEWS

5 Houzz Pro Enhancements Designers Love

PRO SUCCESS STORIES

Jennifer Messina’s Top Tips On Building Trustworthy Client-Designer Relationships for the Best Possible Outcome

Get the industry-specific content you really want sent directly to your inbox—just sign up below!

How to Package Your Interior Design Concepts in a Presentation

Presentations are a common tool used in business, particularly sales, marketing and even public relations. But presentations can be a valuable asset for many unexpected industries, including interior design. Representing visual ideas in an interior design presentation can improve the chances of landing an important project. Not only can designers package their ideas and concepts in an engaging visual presentation, but digital interior design presentations also provide potential clients with an idea of what they can expect from a project.

How do you present interior design concepts in a way that closes the deal? After all, an interior designer needs to not only pitch their services but also introduce their ideas and showcase their portfolios. Fortunately, all of those factors can be clearly communicated in a visual presentation designed with PowerPoint-alternative software .

Presentations help designers pitch their services

Much like any other business professional, a designer can use a presentation to pitch their services to potential clients. Sales proposals help demonstrate how a business, product or service can positively influence clients, investors and potential partners. Successful sales proposals and pitch presentations feature straightforward messages, impactful visual elements and specific data that references a company’s strengths.

Designers can use sales proposal presentations to respond to requested proposals, communicate their proposed design concepts and pitch ideas and design strategies to potential clients. By using a sales proposal template , interior designers can benefit from a streamlined creation process. Instead of starting with a series of blank slides, a sales proposal template features perfectly curated slides that already feature all the essential placement and design elements that designers can fill with customized content.

Designers don’t have to stick to the slides included in a sales proposal template. They can also promote their services by customizing any number of pitch deck styles. By personalizing a pitch deck template, creative professionals can impress potential clients and close more deals. Beautiful.ai users can choose between a general pitch deck template or customize one of many PowerPoint makeovers of pitch decks used by some of the world’s most successful brands.

Presentations allow designers to introduce their ideas

How does an interior designer introduce their visual ideas to a client? Creative professionals commonly use mood boards to visually convey their ideas about a new project. These valuable tools, also known as inspiration boards, typically feature representations of color schemes, materials and textures, as well as furniture and décor. Because mood boards are easy to create using presentation software, designers can make multiple versions to offer clients flexibility.

An effective mood board presentation template allows designers to organize their ideas and keep their inspiration in a concise deck they can share with teams, partners and potential clients. Fortunately, creative professionals don’t have to know how to make an interior design presentation board from scratch. With Beautiful.ai’s customizable mood board template , interior designers have everything they need for an effective mood board presentation, including slides for everything from background information to colors to photography.

The mood board presentation template also helps creative professionals add various elements of inspiration to help inform new designs while creating a comprehensive guide to reference throughout the course of a new project. A mood board presentation even allows designers to brainstorm and share their ideas with other stakeholders.

Presentations help designers showcase their portfolios

As any creative professional can attest, a strong and engaging portfolio is a vital element of their success. Potential clients and prospective partners want to see designers’ skills and experiences with their own eyes. Gone are the days when visual artists and designers had to carry around physical portfolios filled with snapshots and visual examples of their work history. By creating a digital portfolio using presentation software, creative professionals can design a memorable visual resume to dazzle clients.

Creating a digital portfolio presentation can be simple for interior designers using PowerPoint-alternative software like Beautiful.ai. The creative portfolio template helps designers showcase their work and skills while highlighting their specific creative styles. The template includes slides perfectly curated to highlight past work and professional skills, as well as connect with potential clients.

By customizing the creative portfolio template, designers can impress potential clients and employers with a readable, eye-catching digital portfolio. Since first impressions are vital in the creative professions, the template helps create a digital portfolio presentation that shines a spotlight on a designer’s best work for the best possible impact.

Samantha Pratt Lile

Samantha is an independent journalist, editor, blogger and content manager. Examples of her published work can be found at sites including the Huffington Post, Thrive Global, and Buzzfeed.

Recommended Articles

5 presentation design trends to try in 2023 , presentation design 101: hottest design trends to keep your slides fresh, part ii: the 10 ‘good design’ principles (with examples from our rebrand), continued..., how do i make a slideshow of pictures.

• svg]:stroke-primary"> 826K
• svg]:stroke-primary"> 622K
• svg]:stroke-primary"> 246K
• svg]:stroke-primary"> 45K

The Best Interior Design Apps, Tools, and Software

By Melissa Tracey

Updated on Feb 22, 2024 5:16 AM EST

13 minute read

Best Overall

Floorplanner, best for floor plans, best for color palettes, adobe color.

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More ›

On home design makeover TV shows, “the big reveal” is always the most anticipated part to see how a space gets transformed. But there’s a way to skip to the end before even beginning with the next house project. The best interior design apps, tools, and software allow users to view the big picture before they do any heavy lifting or spending. That’s right—no need to haul furniture around a room or purchase pricey items that may cause regret later. Instead, users can drag and drop furniture and accessories using special software, swap out wall colors or artwork, or tweak floor plans to get a realistic visualization before committing.

Users don’t have to be interior design pros to take advantage of home design software. Whether a homeowner is tackling a large-scale home improvement project or only one room, many of the best room design apps are perfect for the DIYer. Many of these tools have easy-to-use interfaces and may even offer prompts or tutorials to make using them even more accessible. Users can access these room designer or floor planner programs from smartphones, tablets, and PCs and download photorealistic renderings to take the design from screen to reality. Here, check out our picks for the best interior design apps and tools and find out what to consider when choosing the best software.

• BEST OVERALL: Floorplanner
• BEST FOR FLOOR PLANS: SketchUp
• BEST FOR COLOR PALETTES: Adobe Color
• BEST FOR FLOORING: Carpet One
• BEST FOR GALLERY WALLS: Artfully Walls

What to Consider When Choosing the Best Interior Design Apps, Tools, and Software for You

The options for room planners and home apps are quickly growing. But these tools aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. That’s why it’s important to consider the program’s specific space-planning capabilities, price, and the availability of learning resources, especially if a user is new to home design or desiring more complexity within the plans. The best interior design apps and programs are perfectly geared to the DIYer, novice, or hobbyist looking for tools to make designing their own spaces easier.

Design Functions

The offerings of design and decorating programs vary greatly. Users can carefully consider what all the software is designed to do to help narrow their choices. For example, some software may help select a color palette, while others may be more geared to being a room visualizer that allows users to test out different furniture arrangements and layouts.

Many of the best interior design apps and programs may offer templates or suggested pairings to help guide room design projects. These can be particularly helpful for those without an interior home designer background.

Many of the best design software and room layout planners are available for free. This allows users to test out the various features without any financial commitment. Many of the unpaid versions still allow downloads of the digitally designed spaces.

However, basic versions likely will be more limited in what users will be able to access. Paid versions tend to offer greater versatility or improved functionality, such as when a user needs to access a more robust library of images to drag onto floor plans or needs access to more templates to guide the designs.

Mobile App Availability

Many of the best PC-based interior design tools offer mobile apps as well. These can be convenient for designing spaces and allow users to keep the designs with them in their pockets. Some of the best interior design software may be more limited in their mobile offerings for smartphones and tablets. They also may be limited to either iOS or Android devices. If users prefer to access a tool beyond a desktop computer space, they will want to check the extent of its mobile functions and usability.

Tutorials and Learning Resources

Users shouldn’t need interior design expertise to use some of the best interior design apps. The program’s ease of use will likely be an important factor in deciding between interior design tools. Many of the easiest interfaces have drag-and-drop functions that allow users to change layouts in just a few clicks.

Many of the best interior design apps also have video tutorials or instructional blogs with guidance on how to get the most out of their programs. Some platforms may even offer access to live instructors so users can ask questions and get answers in real time.

Our Top Picks

With so many choices, the process of finding the best interior design tools can seem daunting. Our research compared design functions, cost, and the availability of mobile apps and learning resources to determine the best interior design apps and software available for room and design planning.

• Design functions: Room visualizer
• Cost: Free; $5 or $25 monthly for individual users
• Mobile app availability: Yes
• Learning resources: Video tutorials, webinars, blog
• Easy-to-use software designed for novices and hobbyists
• Over 150,000 3D furniture and decor renderings included
• Mobile and desktop software available with all plans
• Compatibility with every web browser
• Relatively limited design possibilities with free plan

Why It Made the Cut : Floorplanner is an excellent tool designed for novices and hobbyists who want to create instant 2D and 3D designs, whether it’s for redecorating one small space or an entire home. Floorplanner allows users to do a little bit of everything, from creating a floor plan, choosing colors or flooring, swapping out accessories, and more. Users can create a realistic 3D rendering of a room from a 2D floor plan. Using the software’s intuitive drag-and-drop interface, they can use an existing template or start from scratch. Floorplanner has several video tutorials, webinars, and blog posts for users to learn the ins and outs of designing with its software, making it an excellent choice for DIYers and first-time users. After creating a floor plan, users pull from Floorplanner’s robust library—with more than 150,000 3D furniture and decor renderings—to dress up the room. Floorplanner can be accessed for free, but its basic plan is relatively limited in its capabilities. Paid options allow users to unlock more advanced features and accessibility and a broader decor catalog. Paid options are relatively affordable and start at $5 per month. Mobile and desktop software is available with all of Floorplanner’s plans, and Floorplanner is also compatible with every web browser.

• Design functions: Floor plan creator
• Cost: Free; $119, $299, or $699 annually
• Mobile app availability: Yes (iPad only)
• Learning resources: I nstructors, video tutorials, blog, user forum
• Fully customizable work space
• Unlimited cloud storage with all subscription plans
• Interior design instructors available for live video-based support
• iPad and desktop software available with all plans
• No templates or premade object renderings included

Why It Made the Cut: SketchUp lets users create accurate 3D floor plans to make buying furniture or planning a remodel easier and faster. Having a floor plan of a home can come in handy when homeowners need to know the dimensions of a room to order the right amount of flooring or choose the right size couch. Users can create 2D floor plans and turn them into fully customized 3D models with SketchUp. To learn how to use the program’s features or troubleshoot any issues, users can connect to video-based support from SketchUp’s support team, which includes interior design instructors. Users can also access guidance through video tutorials, a user forum, and the site’s blog. SketchUp is a favorite software of professional interior designers, and its functions allow for much more customization. The program enables users to customize their work space with various extensions and layouts. However, this flexibility also means that there are no premade templates or object renderings available. Users have access to unlimited cloud storage, which is available with all subscription plans for saving any digitally created renderings. SketchUp also offers an iPad mobile version and desktop software with all of its plans. Plans are available for free, but paid options can unlock more design features and start at $119 annually.

• Design functions: Color matching and color palette creation
• Mobile app availability: No
• Learning resources: F AQ, user forum
• Streamlined color palette creation
• Color theme and gradient extraction tools
• User creations and trend galleries available for inspiration
• Some knowledge of color theory may be required

Why It Made the Cut: Adobe Color allows users to experiment with color palettes and trends to inspire a room’s design. Adobe Color is a free web-based tool that allows users to test out color choices and create color combos to guide a space’s design. Users can pull from the color wheel to generate a customized color palette, or they can access prebuilt color combinations based on color theory. Users also can upload photos of actual rooms they like and then “extract” the color themes or gradients used. Adobe Color also offers photo galleries for users to gather inspiration. Design jargon is commonly used throughout the Adobe Color tool, but novices can still get plenty of use without having any advanced color theory knowledge. Learning resources are available via FAQs and a user forum is available to help troubleshoot any issues or help users gain more insight into how to use the tools.

Best for Flooring

• Design functions: Flooring visualizer
• Learning resources: N/A
• Wide variety of flooring options
• High-quality, downloadable renderings
• Estimate scheduling available directly on the webpage
• Some broken links to product pages

Why It Made the Cut: Carpet One offers a room visualizer that allows users to consider different flooring options without having to pick up dozens of samples. Carpet One is a retailer that offers a free visualization tool to test out different flooring options. Users can upload a picture of their room and select a floor type from Carpet One’s products to “try on.” Flooring options include carpet, woods, and tile in nearly every color and finish imaginable. The realistic photos generated allow users to get a sense of exactly what the room will look like before they commit to a purchase. When using the tool, users may find that some of the flooring options to the product links may be broken, so they may have to manually search for specific items on the site. To gather inspiration for what flooring to try, demo rooms are available to peruse if users don’t have a photo of their own space. Once users find a flooring selection they like, they can add the flooring product directly from their visualizer into their shopping cart to purchase. Users can also schedule consultations or gather price estimates from Carpet One’s visualizer page.

Best for Gallery Walls

Artfully walls.

• Design functions: Gallery wall planner
• Easy-to-use, customizable interface
• Wide variety of art and frames available for purchase
• Limited room view options

Why It Made the Cut: Artfully Walls allows users to plot out and decorate a home’s walls with artwork and create digital renderings of galleries before making a purchase. Gallery walls can be intimidating to assemble, especially for those who don’t feel confident with visualizing a space. Artfully Walls is an artwork retailer that allows customers to “test” out artwork before they buy. The website has an extensive collection of thousands of pieces of art to fit any home’s aesthetic. Users can select the art pieces they want and mock up a gallery wall to know exactly what frame sizes and layouts will work best. Artfully Walls’ visualizer tool tool does not allow users to upload their own photos of rooms they want to decorate, and users can only choose from three preset room drawings. However, the interface is intuitive and customizable, allowing users to change the perspective, grids, and background wall color to make the rendering better resemble their space.

Our Verdict

Our top pick for best interior design tool is Floorplanner because of its easy interface in generating 2D and 3D designs for a variety of rooms. It boasts more than 150,000 3D furniture and decor items to drag and drop onto layouts to visualize and decorate a space. SketchUp is another great resource for creating 3D floor plans to reconfigure spaces and plot out design layouts.

How We Chose the Best Interior Design Apps, Tools, and Software

The list of the best interior design apps and software was developed from extensive research. Companies were carefully vetted by each tool’s usability and functionality, the diversity of its design capabilities, cost, and the availability of mobile apps and learning resources. Programs were favored that could easily be used by novices and those without interior design expertise or backgrounds. We also factored in the company’s brand reputation to narrow the list. Tools were given awards based on their strengths and unique features.

Before You Use the Best Interior Design Apps, Tools, and Software

In determining the best tool to use, users will want to carefully consider their personal design needs, timelines, and individual skill sets; using DIY design apps or software is not always the most cost-effective or efficient route. Users may still struggle using design software to pick out flooring, wall colors, accessories, furnishings, layout, and more. At times, hiring one of the best interior design services may be better than going the DIY route. Interior designers are trained to know design techniques and principles, how to maximize space, problem solve awkward areas, and leverage color theory—all items that an app or software may not be able to guide users on. Designers can also create a budget and serve as a connection point between contractors as designs are put into action.

Nevertheless, interior designers are increasingly turning to the best design software for interior designers as well to do prep work in planning and collaborating with customers on design configurations. So a starting point, regardless of whether a user opts to employ a professional or decides to go the DIY route, is often the use of interior design software.

Cost of Using the Best Interior Design Apps, Tools, and Software

Many of the best interior design apps and software have free options available that provide room planning and decorating capabilities. But basic options may be more limited in scope on certain features, especially when users are tackling more complex design tasks. Users may want to consider stepping up to a paid version to unlock advanced features or more photo or library stock images for decorating floor plans. The cost of paid versions of the best interior design tools ranges widely, starting at $5 per month and reaching up to $699 annually, depending on the functionality needed.

Design software can be a great starting point for beginning to visualize a space in a new light. An interior designer also can help with this process. The cost of hiring an interior designer can range from $1,900 to $12,000, depending on project scope and designer experience. The national average is $6,300.

The Advantages of Using the Best Interior Design Apps, Tools, and Software

The best interior design apps, tools, and software allow users to start plotting out new designs for room planning, whether it’s for a home remodel, kitchen or bathroom refinish, exterior upgrade, or just sprucing up the wall color or artwork around the home. Some of the benefits to using these digital visualization tools include:

• The ability to envision a space with a photorealistic rendering of what it could look like before committing financially or hauling away or bringing in any new furniture or decor.
• The opportunity to narrow choices by experimenting with different designs, allowing users to easily move around items digitally to test out several configurations and design scenarios.
• The chance for novices to access advanced design tools to help problem solve space layouts and gather suggestions for choosing colors and accessories to make a space look like it was designed by a professional.

Redesigning a space can be an exciting yet complex task to take on, particularly if you’re taking on most of the process yourself. Many programs and tools are readily available to help. Here are a few answers to commonly asked questions before you embark on a new design project.

Q. Is there an app where you can take a picture of your room and visualize it?

Some of the best interior design app tools listed in this guide allow users to upload a picture from an actual room and then digitally decorate it. For example, Carpet One offers a tool where users upload pictures of their own room and then can virtually “test” out different flooring options.

Q. How do you plan a room layout?

There’s a lot to consider! Take into account traffic patterns, function of the space, seating arrangements and needs, room measurements, windows, doorways, any built-ins or fireplaces, odd wall angles, and more. Then, decide on a focal point (like the fireplace, bay window, or built-in shelves) and plot the design around it.

Q. How do you visualize a room makeover?

There are several low-tech and high-tech ways to visualize a space. Some low-tech ways include creating a mood board (collecting images of products and colors that can be used as inspiration), physically taping out dimensions of the room in space planning, or trying out a paint swatch for a new color. An increasingly popular high-tech way to design a home is to use an interior design app or software program to test out ideas and get a digital rendering before beginning.

Q. Where do you start when designing a room?

One place to start is with a budget. Decide up front how much you plan to spend and your priorities for the project. Will you hire an interior designer or DIY? Regardless, consider what colors, layouts, furniture, and accessories can help you bring your vision to life. The best interior design apps and house layout software can help create a plan to visualize the possibilities.

Q. How do interior designers mock up designs?

Interior designers often turn to design apps, software, and tools (like the ones mentioned in this guide) or they use more general-purpose software, such asPhotoshop. The programs help them sketch out their designs, collaborate easily with clients in reaching a final design plan, and get a better sense of required materials and costs ahead of time.

How to Create a Winning Interior Design Presentation

We see them every day. Beautifully sketched interiors artistically finished off with watercolors, stunning 3D renders that immerse you into an interior designer’s vision for a space. Instagram is overflowing with rows of striking interior design plans to scroll through, while animated walkthroughs in TV makeovers hint at the big reveal that’s yet to come. Impressive as they are, being able to create such stunning visuals is not as hard as you might think. Yes, it takes practice and effort to master these skills, but the benefits are more than worth it. Our team over in Dubai have put together a great guide to help you master interior design presentation skills. You’re welcome!

Interior Design Presentation Techniques & Skills

As an interior designer, creating a stunning presentation can be the difference between you winning a job or it going to someone else. But you might ask yourself “Isn’t it all about the end-result and not impressive artistic skills?” In any design field, first impressions count for everything. In lieu of a physical representation of your ideas, you’ll need strong visual presentation skills to convince your client or interviewer that you’re the right person for the job. This guide can help those already out there pitching for work as well as those of you who are just starting out. Applying these tips to your portfolio, as well as to client presentations will help you to stand out from the crowd from the off.

There are heaps of advantages to having strong visual presentation skills.  These tips will stand you in good stead throughout your career working in interior design. Good visual communication skills help designers sell their ideas to clients more easily, clearly and professionally. They ensure that designers and clients are on the same page and seeing the same thing. They also speed up designers’ work and simplify making changes as needed. In addition, they make

With all these benefits, it’s no wonder that designers are flocking to add these tools to their skillset. There are a wide variety of visual communication and presentation techniques for interior designers. Here, we’ve chosen three key skills and tools to use for the concept development and planning stages of the interior design process.

Stage 1 – Sketch for Initial Concept

So you’ve just signed on a new client! You’ve met with them, taken some photos and dimensions of the living room they want designed, and if needed, you have your survey plan ready. You’ve already discussed conceptual options, what trends and colours they prefer, and gone over examples of designs they like. Your client is now waiting for an initial concept from you. What do you do?

You’re excited to start working on your design, but it’s important to first ask yourself: what level of detail in the design is required at this stage? Your focus here should be on communicating a general direction for the plan, and using that to initiate feedback and more detailed discussions.

One of the best ways for you to quickly express an initial idea is to use the age-old reliable technique of hand drawing. A hand-drawn sketch will take you minutes to do. Not all interior design presentations have to be perfect. It’s allowed to look a little messy, and proportions and accuracy don’t need to be spot on. The bare bones are there to build on, but it hasn’t fully taken an exact shape yet.

At this point, you will have a rough idea of your floor-plan, and the amount and type of furniture that fits the space, but haven’t yet defined the exact items and their measurements. The loose style of the sketch reflects the fluidity of the design at this early stage.

The three types of sketches you can use are:

• Floor-plans to give an idea of space distribution, zones and traffic flow
• Perspective drawings to show specific zones
• Elevations to show specific walls and furniture in that view.

This handy blog will teach you the basics of room planning.

What sophisticated tools will you need for this? Mainly, the humble pencil… as well as an eraser, good quality art paper, a pen to finish off the sketch with. And if you want to add colour at this stage, then either colouring pencils, watercolours, or pastels.  You can also go the digital route and use tablets or smart phones with sketching features that make it really easy to add colour and make changes.

As a designer, you’re not required to show off exceptional artistry, but it is recommended that you develop good skills in sketching and perspective drawing. The better you sketch, the clearer you’re able to communicate your ideas. This creates a more professional impression as well as a more impactful interior design presentation that you can share with your client.

If you’re lucky, your client will approve the idea right away. But if you find that your design direction is off-track, then it’s back to the drawing-board for a revised concept. If your client agrees with your concept but wants minor changes, you can either send a revised sketch, or the same draft can be signed off, with notes added on the amendments.  

Stage 2 – Line Drawings for Layouts & Materials

Now’s it’s time to fine-tune! The basic concept you’ve presented needs to become more accurate, and your measurements need double-checking. You’re also starting to identify specific options for furniture and get their measurements. 

Creating accurate floor-plans at this stage will give you a clear idea whether you’re overloading your space with pieces or still have plenty of room left. Along with these, you’ll also create detailed elevations showing the different heights and openings. All of this will help determine the nature of your shopping list.

What should be your tool of choice? AutoCAD , naturally! This software has been the industry standard to draft floorplans and elevations for decades, and for good reason. Using AutoCAD will ensure that your interior design presentations look slick, professional and jump off the page.

With AutoCAD, it will take you just a few hours to create your drawings. You can also draw your furniture items as per exact dimensions, or easily add them from the program’s furniture library. This will ensure that all the furniture you’ll order or custom-make will fit in its designated areas, and help you make quick calculations for quantities of materials needed for all types of wall and floor finishes.

In our imaginary scenario, your AutoCAD 2D plans are now done and shared with the client. They reply informing you that after thinking about it, they’ll need to add a reading corner, and they’re not a big fan of the L-shaped sofa. No problem! Because you have a digital file that can be easily edited. It takes minutes to make the changes and send the revised drawings, which get approved this time around. Imagine this using hand-drawn sketches which need to be done from scratch each time a change in made?

To use AutoCAD, you’ll need to subscribe to a software license and install the software on your computer. AutoCAD is free for students studying with the NDA. All you have to do is download the software and upload proof of your student ID or confirmation letter. Find out more here on the Autodesk website.

There are plenty of video tutorials on the dedicated AutoCAD website as well as on YouTube. Or you could sign up for a short online course with a provider like Udemy to master these skills quicker.

Stage 3 – 3D Models to Illustrate Zones, Furniture & Accessories

You’re now progressing fast with the design development. This is one of the best bits of putting together an interior design presentation for a client. You get to go shopping for everything from flooring, paint, wallpaper and fabrics, curtains, cushions, and furniture pieces all on someone else’s budget!

Because there are many decisions that will be based on this stage, your client will now want a clear idea of the exact finishes you’ve chosen and how they go together. It’s critical that you present this stage with confidence and clarity.

What’s the best way to show all these different finishes and styling choices? You’ll need to make sure that you create a realistic feeling of the layout and different zones as well as represent your colour, texture and furniture choices with accuracy and to the best of your ability. This is the big one!

SketchUp Pro is the most popular and easiest way to achieve a professional presentation which shows your scheme in its best light. This 3D modeling software not only helps clients visualize the finished design, but it’s also invaluable to help designers audit their concepts before final decisions are made.

You can create a 3D model for the project by inputting your AutoCAD drawings and incorporating all of your selections. When you see your scheme in 3D, say you find that the walls look too dark and the flooring doesn’t quite work. SketchUp will enable you to mockup different ideas and test different materials so that you can either present the choices to your client or work out which fits before presenting.

But now that your client has a clearer idea of what the space will feel like, they ask if it’s possible to add a custom-made piece of furniture as a semi partition. So it’s back to SketchUp again, where you easily calculate the space you have and digitally design a bookcase to fit. Easy peasy!

As with AutoCAD, you’ll need to subscribe to SketchUp Pro and download the software on your computer. There is a web-only version that’s free, but it’s not recommended if you want to use the program for interior design projects as it’s just too limited in functionality. Again, students at the NDA get a special deal on SketchUp Studio which includes SketchUp Pro, LayOut and StleBuilder. CadSoft Solutions currently have a student offer for £46.80 for an annual subscription . Tutorials are easily found on the website and YouTube , or again you can sign up for a short course.

Stage 4 – Animated Walkthrough for Final Sign-off

So what’s next? You’ve done all of your plans; your interior design presentation is complete, and your client has made all the changes they want. Surely now you just need to make the concepts into reality? Wrong. Changing things past this point will cause serious issues for you and your suppliers so it’s best to make sure that your client is 100% happy and can visualize the entire scheme and how they will live in the space.

Using SketchUp again, you can create a few simulation scenes to help your client visualize each zone as well as the full space. When you finally meet with your client with the full and final presentation, they will be able to walk through each room or area and fully immerse themselves in the room of their dreams. There’s nothing quite like that level of realism to prove that you’re a pro at this game! It’ll be at this stage the you get the green light and can finally move things from dream to reality.

Because you’ve invested in learning practical skills and helpful tools, you’ve saved lots of time, presented your vision clearly, and left little room for miscommunication.

Study Interior Design Online

Here at the NDA, we’ve been teaching Interior Design for over 30 years. Our courses don’t just teach you the basics of styling your home, they lead to a fully accredited professional qualification. Whether you study an Interior Design Diploma or one of our specially created interior design degrees, you’ll be trained by experts in the field. 

All of our qualifications are taught via our Virtual Learning Studio so you can fit your studies in at a tine to suit you. Click the link in the box below to find out more. 

Want to Learn to Create Professional Interior Design Presentations?

From Diplomas to Degrees, we offer the best interior design courses to fit in with your busy life! Take a look at our courses.

Share this Blog

7 responses.

Such a detailed post on how to create an interior design presentation!? That is interesting! Thanks for writing and sharing this post with us.

Thank you for posting this wonderful knowledge about interior designs.

Interesting and insightful post on interior design. Thanks for writing and sharing this post with us.

It was very informative .Thank you

Awesome It is really very informative.

Nice it is very informative ,thank you for sharing this blog

It very informative blog ,thank you for sharing this information.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name and email to use for future comments.

Recent Blogs

Spring Colours 2024: Tutor Top Tones

Student Spotlight: Ashley Dawkins, Professional Interior Design

Spring 2024 Trend Report

Questions request a call back.

Our admissions team will be happy to discuss your options.

COPYRIGHT © NATIONAL DESIGN ACADEMY

Terms of Use

Privacy Policy

INTERNATIONAL

Got any suggestions?

We want to hear from you! Send us a message and help improve Slidesgo

Top searches

Trending searches

teacher appreciation

11 templates

tropical rainforest

29 templates

46 templates

pediatrician

27 templates

spring season

34 templates

23 templates

Interior Design Presentation templates

If you have a passion for tidiness, are attentive to the "visual noise" that furniture can convey, or play home decorating games in your free time, interior design might interest you. whether you're a professional designer or an amateur decorator, you'll love these creative templates about interior design and decorating..

Interior Design Catalog

How much peace these images transmit! A home decorated perfectly and following design trends is a delight... This template has a catalog structure in which interior design is the protagonist. There are a variety of photos and sections to include your products with all their features. Anyway, all the structures...

Industrial Design College Major

Is your creative mind capable of designing objects that are going to be used by lots and lots of people? Perhaps industrial design should be your major! If you work in a college, you might want to take a look at this template to talk about this awesome degree. Most...

Interior Design Portfolio

Inspire your prospects or employers with our latest work portfolio template created exclusively for interior designers. Show off your expertise and wow them with what you’re capable of by adding your own photos and even design touch to this fully editable template.

Design Inspiration Business Plan

Download the "Design Inspiration Business Plan" presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides. Conveying your business plan accurately and effectively is the cornerstone of any successful venture. This template allows you to pinpoint essential elements of your operation while your audience will appreciate the clear and concise presentation, eliminating any potential...

Premium template

Unlock this template and gain unlimited access

Interior Architecture Renovation Project Proposal

Bring life to any interior architecture project with this elegant and deluxe template! It contains a simple design but with a creative tone that will help you make an impact on your audience. Perfect for any interior renovation project proposal, this template will give you all the resources you need...

Interior Design Company Profile

When thinking about the design of this template to present the profile of an interior design company, we were inspired by elegance, sophistication and good taste. The result: a beautiful minimalist black and white template with a highly stylized sans-serif typeface. Download it now and discover the structure you were...

Bath Interior Design Brochure

We may live in a digital world these days.. but still, there’s nothing like pressing a piece of paper in someone’s hand to give them information and make sure they retain it! That’s why we have created this printable brochure template to help your bathroom interior design business along. Short...

Interior Design Project Proposal

Interior design is in fashion! These decoration professionals help us to create the perfect environment depending on the needs of our home. It's a bit like what we do at Slidesgo, offering you amazing designs according to your needs to decorate and present your information in a wonderful way. Let's...

Home Decor & Furniture Catalog

If the Sims and Animal Crossing were among your favourite games growing up, you will love this catalog full of furniture to decorate your home. These modern slides have lots of resources so that you can sell your furniture in a way that your clients will love. Picture the perfect...

Living Wall Decoration Project Proposal

Download the "Living Wall Decoration Project Proposal" presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides. A well-crafted proposal can be the key factor in determining the success of your project. It's an opportunity to showcase your ideas, objectives, and plans in a clear and concise manner, and to convince others to invest...

IDEA Furniture Factory Company Profile

We've just unpacked some slides, assembled them together following the instructions and, finally, created this template! Help the public have a better idea of your company profile by showing a slideshow like this one. Is your business related to furniture? Then get some inspiration from our layouts. Talk about your...

Interior Design

Create a new presentation using this template and find out how design affects the way your audience perceives your message. Square lines and shapes will give balance to your work. Add some pictures to the mix and you’ll get a dynamic and attractive message.

Rustic Interior Designer Portfolio

Interior designers listen up! We have a special portfolio here for you: This Google Slides and PowerPoint template exudes a rustic charm with its light brown background and thoughtfully crafted elements. Showcase your creativity and expertise with help from the AI-generated placeholders, customizing each slide to reflect your unique style....

Minimal Interior Design Guide

If you really want to feel comfortable at home, maybe you should seek some professional help. Interior designers can help you with that, and Slidesgo can help them get a great guide in the form of a slideshow. Build trust with your potential customers by editing these minimalist slides, containing...

Furniture Delivery and Assembly Business Plan

If the Swedish can do it, why can't you? There are businesses whose main product is furniture. More precisely, furniture that you assemble yourself. It's double satisfaction: you decorate your home and build something with your own hands. If you work for such a company, then you just have to...

Visual Arts Major for College: Interior Design

Interior design is the art and science of enhancing the interior of a building to achieve a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing environment. If you have studied this degree, it’s your turn to talk about it with this helpful template and encourage future students to take this major. The slides...

Office Interior Design Portfolio

As the saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Whether you're looking to impress a potential client, or foster a sense of creativity and innovation, a portfolio is the way to showcase your personality and style. Since a lot of people work in offices,...

Cottagecore Interior Design Guide

With its bright, cozy aesthetic and charming farmhouse style, cottagecore is one of the most popular interior design styles today, and that’s why we have a template for you here to create your very own Cottagecore Interior Design Guide! Whether your clients are interested in bright, airy rooms or cozy,...

• Page 1 of 3

New! Make quick presentations with AI

Slidesgo AI presentation maker puts the power of design and creativity in your hands, so you can effortlessly craft stunning slideshows in minutes.

Register for free and start editing online

BoardPro - Mood Board App

Called “Addictive” by ELLE DÉCOR and awarded “Best Apps” for interior design and architecture, Board is the dream mood board software. Perfect with iPhone, Mac, and iPad, Board combines your ideal inspiration, decor or furniture library with powerful moodboard and collage tools to design or present anywhere. Whether you’re designing kitchen, nursery or home office mood boards or just moodboaring style, fashion and inspiration, Board is everything you need to be an interior designer in one amazing app.

Welcome to your new favorite interior design app.

Download for iOS and Mac

Moodboard Super Tools

Powerful layers, amazing image controls and smart text.

Pinterest Connected

Seamless access to your pins, boards and favorites.

Curated Products Library

Beautiful designs, brilliant brands and addictive categories.

Custom Boards and Grids

Smart grids, stunning colors, textured backgrounds and infinite sizes.

AR Furniture

Experience products in your space to scale.

Explore furniture, palettes & more by color.

AR Color Capture

Virtually sample & explore color from the world around you.

Custom Library

Organize your favorites in your own personal folders.

Automated Furniture List

Make spreadsheets & cut sheets instantly.

Board for iPhone

Mood board maker in your pocket.

Board on Mac

Mood board maker at your desk.

Download for Mac

Board Videos

AR Board Turns Your iPad into a Virtual World of Color to be Captured

Board Pro Presents Four Interior Design Game Changers

Board Pro Presents Four Design Game Changers

Meet Ava …Board Pro’s New Super Tool for Interior Design

Board Technologies

A new tool that lets anyone virtually sample, experience and record colors from the world around them. Not only is this a new way of experiencing color, but also a new way of allowing color to influence décor, design and sourcing.

Meet Ava: the new best friend to designers of all types who want to think and work with images, while allowing precise, as well as beautiful, deliverables to be generated for them. Short for Automated Visual Assembly, Ava is the patent-pending future of interiors added into the new Board Pro. It was invented to package images and information more intelligently - optimizing beauty, clarity, and ease - and allowing designers to navigate seamlessly from process to presentation.

AR Product Library

Morpholio and Theia Interactive have teamed up to bring Morpholio Board products up to the highest level of Augmented Reality using Apple’s USDZ models and ARKit. Learn more about Theia and their amazing process on Theia website .

Board Ecosystem

Why morpholio board for architects and interior designers.

Morpholio Apps are not only the best apps for architects, interior designers, decorators and landscape designers, they also now work as a perfect compliment to, and seamlessly with, all of your favorite architectural and interior design software. This includes Autodesk AutoCad, Revit, SketchUp, Rhino, Pinterest, Adobe Photoshop, Shapr3D, UMake and many more. In addition, your Apple iPad, iPhone and Apple Pencil will never be more exciting to use as Morpholio’s suite of drawing, design and mood board apps become even more essential in your design process.

Board's "Interior Elite"

Morpholio Board is proud to feature the following "Interior Elite" and we thank them for their amazing design, innovation and support of a creative world.

15 West Studio 5mm. Abnormals Anonymous Aimee Wilder Alice Tacheny Design Another Country Aquatica Arborite Artek Artistic Tile ARTLESS Asa Pingree Atipico AXOR Bensen Bernhardt Design Bert Frank Biggs and Quail Blu Bathworks Blu Dot Boffi Bower Brunschwig & Fils Bujnie Bulo Caesarstone Campaign Carl Hansen & Son Carnegie Case Ceramics of Italy Coalesse Coco-mat Community A Jasper Group Brand Contardi USA Copeland Furniture Council Cumberland Furniture Curated Kravet Daltile Davis Furniture De Padova NY Design Within Reach Designtex Desiron Droog Dune Dyson B2B Inc. Earthed by William Clark Egg Collective Eskayel Ethnicraft fferrone FilzFelt Flock Frama Galanter & Jones GAN gentner Gessi graypants Gus* Modern Design Hagit Pincovici hansgrohe HBF Furniture HBF Textiles Herman Miller Hive Modern Humanscale inoow design Interface J.Adams & Co Jaime Derringer Janus et Cie JSI a Jasper Group Brand Juju Papers Kasthall Keilhauer KGBL Knoll KnollTextiles Kohler Koncept Kravet LACAVA Laetitia de Allegri Laetitia de Allegri & Matteo Fogale Lanzavecchia + Wai Designers Lee Jofa LEFF amsterdam Ligne Roset Lutron Madheke Maharam Marset Martin Forster Studio Mater Mats Inc. Matter MenuDesignShop Merkled Studio Mobilia modularArts Moleskine Moooi Mullan Lighting NANIMARQUINA NEO/CRAFT Niermann Weeks OFS Brands Oliver Gal Pedro Paulo Venzon PELLE Perez Ochando Peter Danko Designs Phase Design Pickett Furniture Piet Boon Pintark Plank Road Woodworks Poliform Poppin PORCELANOSA Procario Designs Rejuvenation Restoration Hardware Roche Bobois ROOM Room & Board Rubbermaid Commercial Products Sauder Woodworking SENTIENT SHIMNA Sifas Skagerak Skram Furniture Company SONNEMAN Sony's Life Space UX Spinneybeck Stefano Cavazzana Stephen Kenn Stickbulb SUTLA Design Taamaa Tandus Centiva TOKEN Tom Dixon TRNK Trueing Two Parts Uhuru Design Vitra VOLK Wallshoppe Waterworks WETSTYLE Wilkhahn WOHAbeing WORKSTEAD

Morpholio Announces Products of the Year 2024

Nostalgic Chic. According to our editorial team, the selection of “Peach Fuzz” as Pantone’s Color of the Year confirmed that we have officially reached PEAK 80’s nostalgia. Between the year of Barbie, metallics, florals, high-def marble and super saturation, everything old is new again. Some say we are looking for familiarity and connection in uncertain times while others argue that it is an embrace of the “ultra-feminine” with soft texture, tone, and form. Either way, we’re totally okay with all the ways we’re seeing the very best designers re-mix retro patterns, themes, and colors to create their own contemporary take. The results feel both exhilarating and comforting at the same time - very “of-the-moment” and yet timeless. Here’s a few we can’t wait to get our hands on! Thank you for inspiring the worldwide Morpholio Board community! Morpholio Board looked at thousands of products to track trends amongst its growing community of professional and DIY interior designers. Morpholio’s curatorial team, user data and influencer insights all helped to inform this selection for 2024. You can see more about these products in the Board App’s “Featured Products Gallery” or @MorpholioBoard on Instagram.

20 Tips to Master The Art of Client Presentation for Interior Designers

13 Mins Read

February 4th, 2024

Kimberly Elizabeth

With over a decade of expertise in the design realm, Kimberly is trained at the prestigious FIT in NYC, she excels in curating harmonious spaces with a keen focus on symmetry and function.

Currently at

Jump ahead to:

Importance of Client Presentations to Close Deals

What is the one thing that can improve your chances of landing an interior design project? A presentation ! It is a visualization of what interior designers will offer for any customer. As a result, your customers will have a better idea of what they will achieve at the end of the project. However, the question that most interior designers may ask is, how do you present the interior design to close the deal?

When designing for any interior design client, there are several important factors to consider like the space (office or home design), budget, clients and their family members, client’s style, and way of living. As a designer, these are your styling cues that help create better visualizations for the client. 

In the typical interior design process, it can take up to 2-4 weeks to collate design inspirations, elements, quotes and create a presentation board. However, it is essential to have a signed contract or a retainer before you begin the process of creating a presentation board.

The interior design contract clearly defines the budget, pricing and other prerequisites for the project, so you keep that in mind while planning the design. Also, sourcing the data related to the client’s vision of the space and expectations are crucial for your deadline planning as a part of project management. Once all of these activities are over, the next phase is a one-on-one presentation with the client.

It is here that you need to have a presentation plan ready to execute. There are several elements of a successful client presentation, and here we will discuss twenty of them.

Read also – 14 Tips To Build Strong Brand for Your Interior Design Business

20 Best Client Presentation Tips for Interior Designers for Successful Deals:

1. design rendering.

When it comes to client presentation tips for interior designers , 3D rendering is an approach used as a last resort. However, we are discussing it first here for two significant reasons. First is the advanced form of visualizations that a render may offer to the clients. It allows them to visualize the exact design in a three-dimensional format that resembles the final result. 

The second reason is how it can positively influence the client. It is more than just a design mockup that digitally enhances the look of furniture pieces, floor plans, and even entire spaces like the living rooms. Your clients get to know what the design will be once the project is complete. 

However, it is not so popular among designers as most of them outsource rendering. Thus, there is an extra cost that is to be reimbursed.

Read also – 15 Best 3D Rending Software

2. Design Boards

One of the critical foundations of interior design presentations is design boards that help clients understand different design elements and their final outlook. Design boards can be created with cork boards, pins, and paper. It is a simple board that does not need anything fancy and can yet convey the design effectively. 

You can print images of furniture pieces, create swatches for color schemes, print pictures of rugs, different features, lighting, and flooring, and pin them on the board. Adding fabric samples and upholstery or curtains can make it more intuitive.

Image Credit: Unsplash.com

Design boards allow you to get all the data related to different design ideas, and space heuristics can help in better visualization. However, it is essential to understand that a design board is different from a mood board. The presentation is related to the real design of space with a design board than inspiration images used in a mood board. 

With modern technologies and digitization, you can now use software like Photoshop to create a digital design board. Then, you can either print out such a digital design board or present it directly from a device like a tablet or PC. 

Read also – 15 Best Interior Design Software To Design Digital Boards

3. Dress Code

It may sound stupid to many, but dressing up relevant to the client’s style, space, and environment can make a difference. According to Victoria Sanchez , a prominent interior designer and founder of Victoria at Home, “Walking into a client’s home with your four-inch high heels when you will present designs for a family with kids can be awkward.”

Youtube Video – The Art of Client Presentation by Victoria Sanchez | FoyrTalks2020 | September 23 – YouTube

She further states that walking in with a pair of jeans on for presenting an interior design for a country club project may not be a great idea. Thus, the concept is to dress according to the project’s theme, adding to the aesthetic element of interior design and aligning with the space heuristics.

4. Organized Presentation

Victoria also asks interior designers to stay organized for their presentations. She emphasizes that if your interior design presentations are not organized, they will act as an indicator of how inefficient your services will be for a client.

Here are some tips that she shares:

• Try to have every aspect of the presentation planned before the meet.
• Don’t have the swatches, material samples, or even a digital board unorganized.
• Keep all the design elements in chronological order, which can assist you in explaining the process.
• Don’t waste time going back to your studio for little things related to the presentation, as that can be deemed inefficient.

Read also – Digital Marketing Strategies for Interior Designers

5. User Experience of Presentations

While interior design is an aesthetics-based concept, there are some design elements that you need to have in physical form. In layman’s terms, the feel of touching a material can be more stimulating than just visual appeal. This is related to the fabrics, material of furniture pieces, curtains, carpets, etc. 

Adding physical samples of the fabrics and allowing your clients to feel them through touch will help drive the decision-making. You can even create a sample board with all the materials pinned for a better experience. There can be one hero sample with other options, which will enable clients to make a choice.

6. Moodboards

Apart from the design boards and sample boards, mood boards are also a great way to design presentations. It is a collation of different design inspirations that offer cohesive visualization for clients. However, mood boards are highly suited for presentation to a new client. But if you are looking to close a design project deal, you may need a more comprehensive design board. 

Read also – 14 Tips To Create Mood Boards for Interior Design

7. Master of the Art

There is no denying that you should be at your best for the entire project, but you need to assert your expertise when it comes to a design presentation. However, it does not mean you throw jargon that your clients don’t understand, but help them with expert advice and choices.

Also, try to communicate your anecdotes from different projects you have worked on over the years to showcase your expertise.

Read also – How To Revive Your Interior Design Business Post-COVID-19?

8. Optional Concepts

Sometimes a single design concept is enough for your client to be impressed, and most of the time, it might not be a possibility. It’s a luxury that every interior designer does not have, and you should be prepared for it. 

Especially when it comes to new clients that do not have an extensive idea about interiors or your work, you need to offer multiple options of design concepts. One way to do that is by creating multiple mood boards for presentations. 

In such a scenario, when you need to present multiple concepts and there is a shortage of time, you can leverage mood board-creating software for multiple digital iterations. For example, you can create three iterations:

• A design concept of your choice
• Your client’s choice
• The middle ground

Read also – AI-Powered Interior Design Software

9. Design Context

Most designers get the presentation wrong when they attempt to present too many aesthetic-based concepts out of context, making it a beauty contest. One of the critical client presentation tips for interior designers is to showcase a single concept contextual to the client’s needs rather than showing multiple options without context.

You can use a PowerPoint slideshow, which will help clients better understand the design plan and visualize the project. 

Read also – 10 Best Interactive 3D Presentation Software

10. Naming Your Idea

Showing exuberance and confidence is essential to ensure that your client understands the potential in your design plan and design firm. One way to ensure confidence is to name your concepts. If you don’t name it, these ideas will be just vague thoughts in your mind. So, name your design concept suitably to present your idea better.

11. Design Sketches

One of the best ways to express your ideas during the design presentation stage is using the age-old hand drawing technique. You can create hand-drawn design sketches and include them in the presentation slideshow. However, it can look messy, and you may opt for software that can help you create 2D sketches digitally. 

Image Credit: nda.ac.uk

It can offer a rough idea of the floor plan, furniture pieces, and even different design elements that fit the space. The sketch may not define the exact elements and measurements,  but it will offer a fluid design for early-stage visualization. 

There are three types of sketches that you can create: 

• Floor plans sketches (showing space heuristics)
• Sketches to define space zones
• Elevation sketch

A word of caution, don’t skip a sketch just because it’s a conventional method.

Read also – How To Draw A Floor Plan?

12. Layouts & Materials

When you move on from a basic design sketch to a more enhanced presentation plan, you will need a layout with accurate measurements. You will define your clients’ placements, sizes, and materials, from the floor plan to the furnishing. However, while you can offer options for materials, quantity can be discussed during the presentation, especially if the agreement is signed.

13. Storyboards

Storyboards are an old-school method related to any concept presentation, but you can use the concept of storytelling for design presentations. For example, if you are designing an office for an online platform like LinkedIn, you need to have that vision embedded in the design.

The best way to ensure visualization of the vision is to employ a storytelling-type design presentation with several anecdotes from the client’s journey.

14. Keeping It Realistic

Interior designing is a profession where creativity meets excellence to create the magic of aesthetics and comfort. However, it is essential to understand that there is a budget on the line, and you need to create the design plan according to it. So, make a realistic and practical interior design solution for the presentation.

Read also – Pricing Strategies for Interior Designers

15. Client-Specific Approach

As a designer, you will have to present your designs to different types of clients. While it can be a little easier presenting a new concept to clients you have worked with before, new clients need a solid design plan. So, devise a client-specific approach to create presentations as per the client’s sensibility, behavior, and requirements. 

16. The Problem-Solving Game

A design is not just about aesthetics but also has to offer solutions to the client’s problems. For example, a corporate client might be looking towards a work-from-home setup that is more functional than aesthetic during the pandemic. So, your design presentation needs to be innovative and offer solutions for the client’s problems.

Read also – How To Get Clients for Interior Design Business?

Image Credit: unsplash.com

17. Self-explanatory Details

Apart from being contextual and using the storytelling approach, your design presentation should be self-explanatory in many ways. For example, furniture piece designs, placements, and even the overall look can be self-explanatory by leveraging 3D mockups that you can design using software like Photoshop. 

18. Attention to Clients

Your design presentation is not just yours, and that is the most significant thing to keep in mind. Being attentive is one of the best client presentation tips for interior designers . Try to listen to what your clients want from the interior design, and then fuse your expertise to bring that ‘wow’ element to the project.

Read also – How To Pick The Right Interior Design Clients?

19. Business Aspects

Apart from all the design elements, materials, mockups, and aesthetics, you need to discuss the business aspects of the project. These factors can include budget, material procurement, vendor details, and a timeline for the project.

19. Noting Inputs

Throughout the design presentation, you need to note down each input from your clients. It will help your design sync with what your client wants and help you quickly adjust your presentation. 

Read also – How Do Designers Get Interior Design Clients On A Low Budget?

With all these client presentation tips for interior designers, the recipe is ready for any professional to win their projects. 

Having the right business tools will make each stage of the interior design process simpler and more efficient. Foyr Neo is a powerful interior design platform built with you, the designer, in mind. Take design ideas from concept to a photo-realistic rendering in just minutes with a suite of advanced tools, including:

• The ability to choose from thousands of preloaded items like furniture, plants, accessories and much more – or upload your own 3D models to create the exact look your clients want.
• Produce 4K, photo-realistic renderings on demand.
• Advanced lighting options and visualization settings.
• Real-time 3D editing capabilities.

By combining the functionality of multiple tools in one platform we empower designers to spend less time with software and more time with their clients. You can try Foyr Neo free for 14-days now and experience the power of limitless design.

Subscribe and follow

You might also like.

Interior Design

Discover the Benefits of Using Interior Design Software for Your Business

January 20th, 2024

15 Ways To Improve Customer Service for Interior Design Business

January 25th, 2024

How to Design Functional and Aesthetic Interior in 5 Easy Steps

Importance of Blogs for Your Interior Design Business

Join 50,000+ designers and teams.

Using Foyr Neo is as easy as 1, 2, 3. First, upload a floor plan or create one from scratch. Then drag and drop from over 60K 3D models to fill your rooms. Lastly, just set the shot and let the AI create stunning 4K renders for you in less than 10 minutes.

No Credit Card Or Download Required

Specially built for Interior Designers

Get started for free