Table of Content
The user of Home Designer software does not really draw or sketch a design, but builds and constructs a home. If you begin with the Build drop-down menu, you will see Wall at the top of the list. Each wall section is considered an "Object," so once each object is placed, you can select and move it around. If you’re a professional such as an architect or interior designer, you’ll want to check out the Chief Architect Premier and Interiors products.

The truth is, none of these options will give you reassurance that you’ll ultimately get what you want – a home. Another user who was less happy with their purchase commented that it was “not for the technologically challenged”, and that without the ability to use the software it would be “pretty useless”. Watching these videos will no doubt help with the steep learning curve of using Home Designer Pro. Since you have to pay for this software, the plus side is there’s very good support in many formats. Your license includes access to many plans, tutorials and customer service.
Should you buy Home Designer Suite?
You can even add in pictures with this design software, and mock-up designs of your family sitting at your new breakfast bar if you wanted to. In our search to find the most useful home design software programs, we found that the best home design software for Mac by far was TurboFloor Plan Home & Landscape 2020. It has a dedicated Mac app, and wins out due to its extreme level of detail.
At this critical moment, it is the duty of architecture to rethink the everyday, to create alternative imaginaries and to tell new stories. Home designer suite 2020 by chief architect review top ten reviews. For professional use there are architectural and professional versions at $199 and $495 respectively.
Interior Design Tools: Don’t start from scratch
However, you don’t need to depend on such niceties, and actually have full control over the entire design process. Click on an item to select it, then drag its edges to change its dimensions. Need more control, ‘open’ the object to be presented with a vast array of parameters you can alter, to make every item look and work exactly as you intend it.
You can choose from a variety of appliances, bathroom fixtures, cabinets, doors and fireplaces. Further, this software includes a host of flooring options, light fixtures, railings, windows, furniture and even houseplants. It also has materials and objects to create a handicap-accessible home.
Home Designer Pro is ideal for professional use, though the cost and steep learning curve are likely to scare beginners away.
SketchUp isn't just a home design app; it's a 3D design app that you can use to design homes. That means it lacks the wizards, samples and objects of dedicated home apps, and while there's a giant online selection of other people's plans and objects it can be very tedious to navigate. But if you're willing to put up with that, SketchUp Free is easy to pick up, fast to use and includes superb camera options that enable you to see your design from every conceivable spot.

It would be difficult to find fault with the abilities of this program, with the power to create magnificent-looking homes. It’s also extremely practical for professionals, with cost estimating sheets and the ability to choose the materials for construction down to the finest degree. To furnish your new home design, Home Designer Pro comes loaded with object libraries for furniture, accessories, electronics, appliances, lightings and various other household items. Plus, there’s a brand-specific library with more than 46,000 brand-name products that you can download. You also have the ability to craft your own custom products and import specialized objects from other sources. So, there’s effectively no limit on how detailed your plan can be.
Chief Architect Home Designer Suite 2022 review
But you can expand this and get more options like a greater number of exports by paying the various tiers in the paid versions available. It's also possible to get a 3D model of the room and even add in objects – all very impressive for a free software. Aside from the odd glitch when viewing in 3D, this is a very capable and powerful tool that is easy to access for all, making it one of the best options out there for beginners. You can build a 3D model that can be viewed using the 3D viewer and, thanks to CAD tools, is usable by professionals to create a useful export to work from.

Plus, it might be a little daunting if you’re brand new to this type of software without automatic tutorials to guide you through. Overall in terms of the software however, it’s hard to see Home Designer Pro beaten. The idea behind this software is to help you see what your ideas might look like.
The Home Designer line builds on years of experience with a complex interface. The heftiness of the manuals and the need for so much support suggests the possible need for a more intuitive user experience. After a day of tinkering and discovering what is possible, anyone's imagination should soar.Home Designer can be challenging to master, but well worth the effort.
There is a very affordable base level version of this software, but you can also spend more and go for the Architectural or Pro versions to get even more features. Using HomeStyler is a lot like playing the Sims, without the Sims themselves. It’s a lot of fun building your structures, with drag and drop walls and floors, and there’s, even more, to enjoy when it comes to decoration, with an extensive prop library.
There is a generous assortment tutorial videos and numerous how-to articles as well as community forums with product training, tips and input from other users to help you get the most from this software. In addition, you can get direct customer support via live chat and phone. However, the program doesn’t include outdoor furniture for patios, porches and lawns. Since many people regard these spaces as outdoor rooms and very much a part of the house, that may be a drawback. Still, this software has the second largest object library of the programs we reviewed – the biggest is found in Virtual Architect Ultimate. Home Designer Pro is the software you buy when you’re really serious about planning your new home down to its smallest details.
