The 9 Best Floor Plan Software Tools for Interior Designers
Looking for that perfect software for your interior design projects? Look no further! We've gathered a top 9 list for you.
Article Summary:
In this article, we rank nine popular tools and show how they compare for creating 2D and 3D layouts, testing finishes, and presenting polished designs. RoomSketcher tops our list as the best floor plan software for interior designers, thanks to its mix of ease, accuracy, and professional visuals.
Using floor plan software is the best way to showcase an interior design project. That way, you can show clients a project for approval before you start painting or furnishing a space.
We put nine floor plan software tools to the test and ranked them from best to least suited for interior design work.
Why Use a Floor Plan for Your Design Projects?
Floor plan software helps you bring design ideas to life with professional 2D and 3D layouts. Before moving a single piece of furniture, you can test different room layouts, experiment with colors and materials, and show clients exactly how a space will look and feel. This helps you save time and avoid costly mistakes.
For interior designers, it's an essential tool for communicating ideas clearly, streamlining the design process, and giving clients confidence in your vision. Features like live 3D walkthroughs and levels are helpful for a design project.
How Do Interior Designers Use Floor Plan Software?
Interior designers use floor plan software to present their ideas clearly and help clients visualize every detail of a space. With the right tools, you can:
- Create accurate 2D floor plans that show room flow and dimensions
- Generate 3D floor plans to bring layouts to life with furniture and finishes
- Present designs in Live 3D so that clients can explore the space interactively
- Replace materials and brand floor plans for a professional look
These features make communicating design concepts easier, getting faster client approval, and ensuring projects run smoothly from concept to completion.
Top 9 Floor Plan Software Tools for Interior Designers
1. RoomSketcher
RoomSketcher is a complete solution that interior designers love. The software is intuitive, so you can get started fast. It's professional enough for client presentations and flexible to handle any design challenge.
What makes it different? With RoomSketcher, you can draw from scratch, save hours by importing blueprints, or order redraws with a next-business-day turnaround. Replace Materials makes experimenting with fabrics, flooring, and finishes easy, while branded templates help you deliver polished client presentations.
RoomSketcher is your go-to choice for flexibility, ease of use, and stunning results.
Standout features:
- Interactive Live 3D walkthroughs
- Replace Materials for furniture and finishes
- Redraw services with editable projects
- Levels make it easy to create multiple versions of a project
- Offline access on tablet and desktop
- Branding tools with logos and custom templates
- Extensive furniture and décor library
Join over 10 million people who already use RoomSketcher
2. HomeByMe
HomeByMe focuses on interior styling and photorealism. Its 3D renders are highly realistic, with lighting and ambiance controls. The furniture catalog includes recognizable brand names, making it helpful in creating mood boards or styled visualizations.
However, HomeByMe lacks advanced measurement tools and branded templates. It also requires an internet connection, and redraw services are slower than RoomSketcher.
Pros:
- Realistic rendering with lighting controls
- Brand-name furniture for style inspiration
- Good for mood boards and client presentations
Cons:
- Limited technical floor plan customization
- No offline work
- Slower redraw turnaround
Read our full HomeByMe review.
3. Homestyler
Homestyler is a browser-based design tool that leans toward interior decorating and high-quality rendering. It comes with a wide selection of real brand-name furniture, customizable lighting, and the option to render in 4K. Designers who prioritize ambiance and styled visuals may enjoy its strong rendering focus.
However, floor plan customization is limited. You can't add branding, advanced measurements, or order redraws, and many premium furniture items are locked behind subscriptions or "coins".
Pros:
- Large furniture catalog, including brand-name items
- Strong rendering with adjustable lighting and 4K exports
- Browser-based with mobile apps
Cons:
- Limited customization for floor plans
- No redraw service
- Many features behind paywalls
Read our full Homestyler review.
4. Planner 5D
Planner 5D is fun and approachable, making it popular among DIY enthusiasts and entry-level designers. You can furnish in 2D and 3D models, and the extensive furniture library makes it easy to test styles.
The downside is that the desktop version often lags, and there's no snapping tool for precise placement. It's better for casual projects and concept visualizations than polished client-ready floor plans.
Pros:
- User-friendly on tablets
- Large furniture library
- 3D walkthrough available
Cons:
- Furniture alignment is tricky
- Customization is limited
- Render quality varies
Read our full Planner 5D review.
5. SketchUp
SketchUp is an advanced 3D modeling tool used by many architects and designers. It gives you total creative freedom to model anything, but it's not floor plan-specific. Drawing walls and layouts takes longer; high-quality rendering often requires third-party plugins.
For interior designers with the time to learn, SketchUp offers unmatched flexibility. However, it may feel too complex for those who need speed and polished visuals.
Pros:
- Ideal for advanced, custom 3D projects
- A vast object and plugin library
- Industry standard for modeling
Cons:
- Steep learning curve
- Time-consuming for simple plans
- Basic visuals look unfurnished
Read our full SketchUp review.
6. Sweet Home 3D
Sweet Home 3D is an open-source design tool that appeals to tech-savvy DIYers. It lets you import furniture models, adjust lighting, and even create video walkthroughs.
However, the interface is more technical, and floor plan exports lack polish. It's flexible if you're comfortable tinkering, but less suited for quick client presentations.
Pros:
- Open-source with plugins and add-ons
- Video walkthrough feature
- Works across multiple platforms
Cons:
- Interface feels technical
- Smaller default furniture library
- Limited export options
Read our full Sweet Home 3D review.
7. Houzz Pro
Houzz Pro is best if you already use Houzz for marketing and client management. The 3D Floor Planner integrates into their platform, making it convenient for designers who want everything in one place.
That said, customization is limited, and pricing is higher since it's bundled with business tools you may not need.
Pros:
- Integrates with the Houzz client platform
- Includes basic 2D and 3D floor plans
- Walkthrough mode available
Cons:
- Limited customization and branding
- No redraw service
- Expensive annual subscription
Read our full Houzz Pro review.
8. Cedreo
Cedreo delivers strong 3D visuals and caters to builders and remodelers. It's less intuitive for interior designers, furniture placement can be frustrating, and the snapping tools is rigid.
It lacks tablet support and a redraw service, which limits flexibility for busy design workflows.
Pros:
- Good 3D visuals
- Furniture and materials included
Cons:
- Clunky interface
- No redraw service
- Limited furniture customization
Read our full Cedreo review.
9. Floorplanner
Floorplanner is quick and browser-based, suitable for creating simple 2D and 3D layouts. The Magic Layout feature can auto-furnish rooms, though the results may need editing.
It has a large furniture library, but customization is basic. Exports and advanced features require higher-tier subscriptions.
Pros:
- Easy drag-and-drop interface
- Instant 3D snapshots
- Large furniture library
Cons:
- Limited customization
- Weak measurement tools
- No redraw service
Read our full Floorplanner review.
Final Takeaway
For interior designers, RoomSketcher leads the list with its balance of accuracy, ease of use, and stunning visuals. HomeByMe is strong for styling and realistic ambiance, while Planner 5D and SketchUp are good for concept exploration.
Get Started With RoomSketcher
If you're looking for an easy-to-use floor plan tool that doesn't sacrifice power or professional features, RoomSketcher is the perfect fit.
But don't just take our word for it. Create an account today and explore the features yourself!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
For interior designers, Roomsketcher leads the list with its balance of accuracy, ease of use, and stunning visuals. HomeByMe is strong for styling and realistic ambiance, while Planner 5D and SketchUp are good for concept exploration.
RoomSketcher is a good alternative to Houzz Pro.
Houzz Pro is a solid option if you're already using the Houzz platform and want a bundled tool for floor planning and business management.
But if you’re looking for a more affordable, flexible, and easy-to-use floor plan solution, RoomSketcher stands out. It offers powerful 2D and 3D features, full customization, and excellent support without being locked into a complex system or high yearly cost.
Here's how to draw a floor plan for interior design:
Start by analyzing the space, taking measurements, and taking photos, and doing some sketching by hand.
Sketch the layout, which means drawing walls, both interior and exterior, and windows and doors.
Download the RoomSketcher app and start drawing the floor plan from your sketch. This is when you start placing fixed elements and furniture and can experiment with textures, colors, and placement.
Refine and detail the plan by adding dimensions, labeling, and doing final placements before presenting the project to your client.
The simple answer is yes and no. It depends on the floor plan's purpose. Usually, exterior walls include the entire wall structure, while interior rooms only include the dimensions measured between the interior surface walls.
Recommended Reads
RoomSketcher or HomeByMe: Choosing the Right Software for Interior Design
If you're deciding between HomeByMe and RoomSketcher for creating 2D and 3D floor plans, you've probably noticed they offer similar features on the surface. Based on first-hand testing, this guide explains the key differences so you can choose the best software for your needs.
Homestyler vs RoomSketcher: Which Is Better for Design Projects?
Trying to choose between Homestyler and RoomSketcher for creating professional 2D and 3D floor plans? Both tools help you design layouts and visualize spaces in 3D, but they're built with different priorities. This guide breaks down the key features, strengths, and limitations.
The 8 Best Floor Plan Software Tools
The market is flooded with floor plan software options, each promising to make your processes easier and more efficient. We've put the top tools to the test!