Professional Interior Design Software – Is it worth the cost?

In a previous post, we shared some independent reviews of some of the current desktop design software apps you can use. To some extent, these apps are designed for consumers more than professionals, though they all have features that pros can benefit from. In this post, we will offer a glimpse at what might be called professional interior design software products; apps that offer even more features that design pros may want and need.

Needless to say, these programs tend to be more expensive than those we shared before but, they also offer more advanced features and greater versatility. Then again, some are only available for use online, while others can be used as a desktop app – usually at a higher price. The good news is, virtually all of them will offer mobile viewing, which is very handy for showing your design concepts to clients.

Which Pro Design Software is Right for You?

Perhaps at the top of the Most Popular list is SketchUp. Available at various levels, from personal use to an enterprise version, this high-level software can be used for the 3D design of buildings and exteriors, as well as interior spaces. “The layout of SketchUp Pro ($695) is very intuitive and easy to use, even for the least knowledgeable CAD designers. The 3D Warehouse is a great resource that will provide a generous supply of models and symbols to choose from and work with.” (Ranked “Easiest to Use” at TopTenReviews.com)

Ease of use may be the most attractive feature of the SketchUp software, offering a “simple interface with large icons to help you quickly find and use the tools you need.” Compatible with both Mac and Windows operating systems, there is also a cloud version available.

AutoCAD 2019 receives a “Best Overall” ranking from Top Ten Reviews. Perhaps the best-known CAD software on the market, it is essentially a 2D design tool with a base price of $200 per month (with discounts available for longer subscriptions).

“Like other CAD programs, this one works in layers, allowing you to keep track of your various elements and change them when needed without disturbing the entire design. You can easily add and edit text both in 2D and 3D format… [it] can be viewed and edited on computers, tablets, and smartphones, which makes it easier to share your work with your customers, coworkers, and bosses.”

TurboCAD Deluxe is ranked the “Best Value” among professional interior design software programs reviewed. The product is a ready-to-use, desktop-based, 2D drafting, 3D modeling and rendering software. Easily adjust the interface to access hundreds of drawing, modification, dimensioning and annotation tools.

“This software costs under $200 and includes unlimited technical support, so you won’t have to pay additional money once it’s purchased. Its 3D rendering capabilities, while not the best, are impressive for the price and can help you make lifelike designs. The toolbars are also customizable so you can rearrange them to make your workflow more efficient.”

While it is not our place to endorse or promote any of these software programs as the “best” for you to use in your interior design business, we hope that the information shared from an outside source is helpful. Then too, more research and asking friends and associates in the industry for their opinions will go a very long way toward helping you decide on the best professional interior design software program for you.

Looking for more interior design tips, design trends, marketing tips, new products, and furnishing ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.

Interior Design Software – Should You & Which is Best for You?

If you're not familiar with the website TopTenReviews.com, you might want to take a look. They post reviews for products of every description: from electronics to health and beauty, and from hobbies to home and garden. Among the digital products they examine, they also have a page of reviews on interior design software, which is what concerns us.

From Best Overall to Best Value, Best for Mac, and Best for Small Projects, they rank the software as “the best programs for designing interiors, ranked by their ease-of-use, the size of their object libraries and their import/export features.”

Not only does the site offer reviews of individual design software programs, they also present their finding in a table that makes it easy for you to consider their features and benefits relative to the others (as shown in the partial screen shot below).

We should probably throw in a cautionary warning here that the name of the software may not be indicative of how effective the program is as an interior design tool. In a world where so many try to be all things to all people, that may be a simple marketing choice on the part of the manufacturer.

Instead, read the reviews and take a test drive of the software (where possible), before making a purchasing decision.

Having said all of that, let’s look at a few interior design software programs and the parameters for ranking them.

Interior Design Software Reviews

First, the ranking parameters used by the reviewers:

• Ease of use and learning curve

• Object library and object import functions

• Cost estimator and material sheets

• Available for both PC and Mac

• Sample plans available

• Cost and support

Understandably, learning how to use the software is one of the most important features for the reviewers, as was ease of use when designing a space. Design flexibility and the size of their object library are also important features since they are huge time savers. Ultimately, execution is critical; the way in which the software performs the featured functions as well as doing so intuitively.

Best Overall Rank: Virtual Architect Ultimate ($99.99)

“The primary reason our reviewers chose Virtual Architect Ultimate as their 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.

“[The] 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.”

Best Value Rank: TurboFloorPlan Home & Landscape Deluxe ($49.99)

For those who don’t need every top-of-the-line feature… “It’s about $50 less than our top choice and includes many of the same design tools. It has essentials like moldings, window coverings and a preprogrammed object library (4,700+ items) as well as custom designers. They’re not as intuitive or comprehensive as those in other programs we reviewed but still more than enough to meet the needs of most users.

“However, you can’t import floor plans made with other professional design programs, trace floor plans, generate material lists, or export your plans in DXF or DWG file formats. Still, while these tools are very useful, they’re not essential to designing a home.

“This software is a bit harder to learn to use than the best programs. In our ease of use tests, TurboFloorPlan Home & Landscape Deluxe earned a B grade. It’s by no means impossible for a novice to master, but you should expect a slight learning curve before you can use it to its fullest potential. If you have any problems using the application’s tools, you can always check out its video tutorials.”

Best for Small Design Projects Rank: Virtual Architect Instant Makeover 2.0 ($24.99)

Virtual Architect Instant Makeover 2.0 is “a unique interior design program. It lets you design directly on a photo of a room but is limited if you plan to reconstruct your living space.

“It has essential tools, such as window and door designers, and you can import existing floor plans and images into the software. In addition, it has nine sample plans you can use as jumping off points and a cost estimator that can give you an idea of how much it will cost to realize your plans in the real world. However, it’s missing advanced tools such as an object library and third-party object library compatibility. Also, you can’t export your plans as DWX or DWG files, the formats used by professional interior designers.”

While we would never presume to endorse or promote any of these interior design software programs as the “best” for you to use in your business, we do hope that the information shared from an outside source is helpful. Then too, more research and asking friends and associates in the industry for their opinions will go a very long way toward helping you decide on the best software program for you.

Looking for more interior design tips, design trends, marketing tips, new products, and furnishing ideas? Get in touch with TD Fall today.