Share
The home design market is constantly evolving, and with developments in technology, this exciting hobby has become widely available in homes across the world. Home design apps are a helpful tool as well as an interesting pastime. They let you design rooms in your home however you wish without leaving your sofa and guarantee a final design that you will love. As the homeware market continues to expand – with an expected worth of 13.8 billion pounds by 2022[i] – home design apps are set to take devices by storm next year. To help you get ahead of the curve, these are the best home design apps we expect to jump in popularity in 2022. With options available on various devices, including computers, phones and tablets, you’re bound to find some home decorating apps that you love.
1. HomeByMe
- IOS and Android
- Free
An easy to use application starts our list with HomeByMe. It’s a basic room planning tool that allows you to begin building a room in 2D. You can choose materials, make design choices, alter the layout however you wish, and add furniture and accessories to your design. Once you’re happy with your plan, the app can then render it in 3D. With this, you can see what your designed room would look like in real life.
Although this app is a simple one, it is a powerful one too. Perfect for people focused on basic room design above all else, this application can help you see the final design of your room as it would be in your home with little fuss or extravagance.
2. Roomstyler 3D Home Planner
- Online/macOS
- Free
One of the most exciting home decorating apps, Roomstyler 3D Home Planner allows you to upload the floor plan of your own home and design every corner precisely as you want. It also allows you to move your view around a project, meaning you can see each room from every angle. Other design features include the ability to insert walls, doors and windows, choose colour palettes from an extensive range of shades and place real products into your design. If you like any of the real items that you include, the app also allows you to purchase them for your home.
Although the Roomstyler 3D Home Planner is available to download on the Mac app store, the application is also accessible online via a browser. There is an option to register, but it’s not necessary to access all the great features.
3. Sweet Home 3D
- Windows, macOS
- Free, with the option to purchase
If you’re looking for a complete interior design experience, Sweet Home 3D is the app for you. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced designer, it’s perfect because it is simple to use yet provides a professional experience. The app includes a 2D planning format, a 3D view, the option to scale and trace over your floor plan, and a vast furniture catalogue that you can easily drag and drop from. The furniture catalogue also provides the exact dimensions of each piece of furniture, making it easier to see what will fit in each room of your home.
Sweet Home 3D is available to download to a computer from their website, though you can add it to a portable device through the Mac app store. However, you will need to make an account to access the features, and downloading from the Mac app store will cost £11.99.
4. IKEA Home Planner Tools
- Windows/macOS
- Free
IKEA has been held in high regard by customers for years due to its affordable furniture and exciting store journeys. Now, you can take everything you love about IKEA everywhere you go! With their collection of home decorating apps, the interior design giant provides their customers with a way to see what the stores’ wide range of furniture would look like in their own homes. These room-specific tools allow you to edit your floor plan, add furniture from their wide range, work out the cost of your favourites and print out your shopping list. However, it doesn’t currently give the option to purchase your favourite pieces through the app.
IKEA’s design tools are available to download through their website on every operating system and are entirely free.
5. Design A Room
- IOS and Android
- Free with in-app purchases
Design a Room is a powerful home decorating app that allows you to check out various floors, walls, furniture, countertops and colours. One of the best features, though, is the choice of styles. Whatever style you’re into, whether it’s a period fashion, a rustic vibe, or global fusion, this app will be able to cater to all your needs. As well as placing these interesting products onto your floorplan, you can learn about them too. The app will give you tips about the best use for items you are looking at and tell you how functional it will be for your chosen room.
Design a Room is available on IOS and Android, meaning you can carry it with you wherever you happen to be. Although it is free to download and use, there are several in-app purchases that you should watch out for.
6. SmartDraw
- Online
- Free for first 7 days
SmartDraw is an incredibly versatile tool, especially when it comes to floor planning. The application is simple enough to use yet has plenty of advanced features and elaborate designs to keep more advanced designers satisfied. There is a vast collection of floor plans and templates to choose from, as well as thousands upon thousands of furniture, building materials and even cars that you can insert. SmartDraw is a number of programmes for graphics and presentations, and you can find the floor plan option under the flowchart application.
Although SmartDraw does charge monthly, it also provides a 7-day free trial at the beginning for you to thoroughly test it out. However, due to its extensive range of features, investing in this app may make quite the difference to your interior design experience.
7. MagicPlan
- IOS and Android
- Free, with in-app purchases
MagicPlan is one of the more advanced home decorating apps that can create floor plans from users’ photographs. From this, it will estimate the measurements of each room, meaning this information is only a click away no matter where you are. Although this app specialises in creating floor plans, it also allows you to choose from more than 150 objects with which to furnish your rooms. Even better, it gives you the option to draw or import your own, meaning you can add your favourite tub chairs or wingback chairs to any room of the house. Also, the app provides a material and cost estimator, making it perfect for those in the middle of a renovation.
It may take a while to get the hang of inserting information, especially if you’re technology skills aren’t up to scratch. However, the intuitive design the app provides will likely prove vital to many budding interior designers. This useful application is free to create your first two projects. After that, however, you will have to pay monthly if you wish to continue using.
8. Pinterest
- IOS and Android
- Free
An oldie but a goldie, Pinterest often gets a mixed reception. Interior designers have a love-hate relationship with the app, yet it’s undeniable how useful it can be. So many wannabe interior designers spend chunks of time creating mood boards and scanning the vast database that Pinterest is home to because it is easy to use and can spark inspiration for future projects. Although Pinterest won’t allow you to design rooms, it gives you an idea of what décor and designs you’d like. This will give you a head start before you get stuck in.
The Pinterest app is essentially the same as the website interface; only now you will be able to access it wherever you are. The app is straightforward to use and available on all operating systems, so don’t let the industry snobbery put you off!
9. Planner 5D
- IOS, Android and Online
- Free, with ads and in-app purchases
Although Planner 5D might be too advanced for beginners, experienced interior designers will appreciate this tool loaded app. As long as you are competent with technology, this is one of the best home design apps out there. It allows you to design every inch of your interior, including walls, staircases, doors and architectural specifications. It also branches out into the exterior, with options for pools and gardens, all in 3D. In addition, Planner 5D’s furniture catalogue is loaded with over 4000 items that you can try in your home, plus the gallery provides you with many ideas and on-trend concepts from other designers.
Planner 5D allows you to upload and customise projects however, if you want your whole collection to be open, you will have to pay. Despite this, Planner 5D is one of the most valuable apps any advanced interior designer could hope to have.
Try Before You Buy
The beauty of home decorating apps is that they allow you to try multiple room designs without any commitment. Home décor is expensive, but with an arsenal of handy apps on your side, you’ll be able to save some cash while getting emerged in the fascinating world of interior design.
What’s your favourite interior design app? Let us know in the comments below!
Sources
[i] https://aspin.co.uk/2021/04/08/homewares-and-furniture-to-see-17-market-value-increase-for-2021/
Office and marketing manager for Sloane & Sons Stylish Chairs, who sell a range of high-quality tub chairs, accent chairs and more.
