Interior Design Apps for Apartment Planning: Compare Tools by Task
The right interior design app depends on what you need to decide.
Some tools help you draw an apartment layout. Others let you experiment with furniture and finishes, organise inspiration or work with a designer.
Choose a tool according to your task: measuring the space, testing a layout, visualising a room or preparing a design brief.
This guide compares 12 options, including mobile apps, browser-based software and one designer-assisted service. The selections are based on published features, not hands-on testing or a scored ranking.
Editorial disclosure: This guide is prepared for Houspire and includes Houspire’s service alongside independent tools.
Interior Design Apps at a Glance
| Tool | Useful for | Main consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Planner 5D | Exploring apartment layouts and interiors | Check feature and export entitlements |
| Floorplanner | Testing furniture arrangements | Verify paid rendering and output options |
| RoomSketcher | Creating 2D and 3D floor plans | Check which outputs require payment |
| HomeByMe | Furnishing and visualising an apartment | Confirm model dimensions and product availability |
| Homestyler | Exploring room styling and visual concepts | Mobile and web experiences differ |
| magicplan | Documenting existing rooms | Check device compatibility and verify measurements |
| SketchUp Free | Custom 3D modelling | Requires time to learn modelling |
| Sweet Home 3D | Combining floor plans with 3D views | Compare available versions |
| Live Home 3D | Planning rooms across supported devices | Check platform-specific features |
| IKEA Planning Tools | Planning around IKEA furniture and systems | Catalogue-focused |
| Houzz | Collecting and sharing inspiration | Reference images do not establish fit |
| Houspire | Designer-assisted room visualisation | A service rather than a DIY layout editor |
1. Planner 5D: For Exploring Layouts and Interior Ideas
Planner 5D lets users develop floor plans and work with room designs in 2D and 3D. Its published guidance includes starting from scratch or uploading an existing plan. Planner 5D
For an apartment, it can help you explore how furniture might be arranged across several rooms.
Start with the actual room dimensions and openings. Then test alternative positions for the main pieces before spending time on decorative details.
Check before committing: Whether the features, catalogue items and export quality you need are included in your chosen plan.
2. Floorplanner: For Comparing Furniture Arrangements
Floorplanner is a browser-based tool for drawing rooms, adding doors and windows, and viewing designs in 3D. Floorplanner
It is worth considering when your main question is about placement: whether to use a sectional sofa, where a dining table belongs or how to fit a desk into a bedroom.
Create alternatives using the same room dimensions so the comparison remains meaningful.
Check before committing: The conditions attached to project upgrades, rendering quality and exports.
3. RoomSketcher: For Clear 2D and 3D Floor Plans
RoomSketcher supports floor-plan creation, furnishing and 3D viewing. Its documentation distinguishes between drawing and previewing a project and generating particular finished outputs. RoomSketcher
It can suit homeowners who want an overhead layout they can discuss with family members or a service provider.
For a compact apartment, review circulation and furniture operation in the plan rather than relying entirely on perspective images.
Check before committing: Which dimensioned plans, images and export formats are included or separately charged.
4. HomeByMe: For Furnishing and Visualising an Apartment
HomeByMe allows users to create a 2D floor plan, furnish the space and view it in 3D. HomeByMe
This can help you explore a consistent direction across the living room, bedrooms and dining area.
Use the furniture catalogue to develop ideas, then confirm the dimensions and availability of the products you intend to purchase.
Check before committing: Project allowances, image-generation limits and whether catalogue products are available in your market.
5. Homestyler: For Exploring Room Styling
Homestyler offers tools for room layouts, furniture placement and visual design. Its mobile app and full web design tool provide different experiences, according to its product information. Homestyler
It can help when you want to compare wall finishes, furniture styles or decorative arrangements.
For apartment planning, keep existing doors, windows and fixed features in view while experimenting.
Check before committing: Which platform supports your intended workflow and what access you receive to rendering and other features.
6. magicplan: For Documenting Your Existing Apartment
magicplan focuses on creating floor plans and provides workflows for viewing and exporting those plans in 3D. magicplan
It is useful to investigate when your first challenge is recording the space rather than decorating it.
A documented layout can provide a starting point for later design discussions. Verify important dimensions before using them to order fitted furniture.
Check before committing: Supported devices, available capture methods and the exports included in the subscription.
7. SketchUp Free: For Custom 3D Modelling
SketchUp Free runs in a browser and provides core 3D modelling tools, with access to models through 3D Warehouse. SketchUp Free
It can suit users who want to model unusual room features or explore custom furniture forms.
That flexibility comes with a learning commitment. You need to build and check the model rather than assume the software will resolve the design.
Check before committing: Whether its modelling workflow and file formats meet your needs, and the applicable terms of use.
8. Sweet Home 3D: For Floor Plans with Furnished Views
Sweet Home 3D combines 2D floor-plan creation, furniture placement and 3D visualisation. Its official website offers online and downloadable options. Sweet Home 3D
It is worth exploring if you want to work from an overhead plan while seeing the room take shape in 3D.
Use actual furniture dimensions when assessing whether a layout works.
Check before committing: Differences between versions, included model libraries and export capabilities.
9. Live Home 3D: For Room and Whole-Home Visualisation
Live Home 3D supports floor plans and 3D renderings, with versions listed for platforms including Mac, Windows, iPhone, iPad and Android. Live Home 3D
It can help you explore both individual rooms and the apartment as a connected space.
Review the layout from different views to identify awkward furniture relationships before finalising a proposal.
Check before committing: Feature availability on your device and whether licences or purchases transfer between platforms.
10. IKEA Planning Tools: For IKEA Furniture and Storage Systems
IKEA India provides planning tools for rooms and product systems, including storage and kitchen arrangements. Its planning pages also describe IKEA Kreativ for visualising products in a space. IKEA planning tools
These tools are particularly relevant when you already intend to use IKEA products.
Build the arrangement around the actual catalogue components, then confirm delivery availability, assembly and installation requirements.
Check before committing: The complete shopping list, additional fittings and services needed beyond the furniture price.
11. Houzz: For Building a Clear Design Brief
Houzz lets users collect design photographs and other references in ideabooks, add notes and share them with others. Houzz
It can help you identify preferences before opening a layout tool or speaking with a designer.
Organise references by room and explain what you like about each image. A note such as “retain this colour combination, but use less open shelving” is more useful than an unexplained collection of photographs.
Check before committing: Whether a reference suits your room’s dimensions, budget and maintenance needs.
12. Houspire: For Designer-Assisted Room Visualisation
Houspire is an online design service rather than a self-service modelling app.
Its published offer includes a photorealistic view of each selected room covering up to three walls, with Budget Direction and Vendor Direction. Additional drawings are separately priced. The website describes AI-assisted work with real interior designers. Houspire
It may suit homeowners who prefer to submit a brief and receive design assistance instead of building a digital model themselves.
Check before committing: Room coverage, revisions, delivery conditions and any additional documentation required by your contractor.
How to Choose the Right Tool
Start with the question you need to answer.
| Your immediate need | Options to investigate |
|---|---|
| Record the existing apartment | magicplan |
| Compare furniture layouts | Floorplanner, RoomSketcher, Planner 5D |
| Explore room appearance | HomeByMe, Homestyler, Live Home 3D |
| Build custom geometry | SketchUp Free |
| Combine a plan with furnished views | Sweet Home 3D |
| Plan IKEA purchases | IKEA Planning Tools |
| Organise references | Houzz |
| Get designer-assisted visualisation | Houspire |
You may need only one tool, or a combination for different stages. Avoid paying for several subscriptions before identifying the output you actually need.
What to Check Before Paying for an Interior Design App
Look beyond the availability of a free account or trial.
Confirm:
The number of projects you can create.
Access to furniture and material libraries.
Whether dimensions can be entered and displayed.
Image quality and export formats.
Credits or charges for additional outputs.
Subscription renewal and cancellation terms.
Device and regional availability. Test one room before modelling the entire apartment. This helps you judge the workflow and the usefulness of the result.
What Apps Cannot Confirm on Their Own
A polished image does not establish that a proposal is ready to build. Verify measurements, clearances, appliance specifications and materials before ordering. Custom fabrication needs the relevant drawings and construction details.
Choose the Output You Need
Test one room before committing to a subscription. Compare the export you receive, the time needed to learn the tool and the support available.
If you prefer design assistance, explore Houspire’s plans. Read what a 3D visualisation can show before deciding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these options ranked?
No. The list compares published features and is not based on a hands-on performance test.
Is Houspire a DIY design app?
No. It is a designer-assisted service included as an alternative to building the model yourself.
Can a free account provide every output?
Check each provider’s current plan. Rendering, exports, catalogue access or extra projects may require payment.
Can app measurements be used for fabrication?
Arrange final site verification before ordering fitted furniture. Do not rely solely on a scan or rendered image.
Official product pages checked on 21 October 2026. Confirm current features and terms before subscribing.