Back

7 Design Apps for Interior Inspiration

Mar 07, 2025
7 Design Apps for Interior Inspiration
Whether you’re on a budget or a DIY enthusiast, interior design apps can help you choose the right colour scheme, furniture and layout for your new home. You can download them to your tablet or smartphone and control everything with a simple touch. So, ready to start designing the home of your dreams? Explore our favourite room design apps and their pros and cons in this guide. 

What is an interior design app?

Room planner apps let you create, visualise and manipulate interior design elements within a virtual representation. These range from floor plans, wall colours and furniture placement to lighting and decorative ornaments.
 
Our top seven picks include:
 
• SketchUp
• Planner 5D
• Homestyler
• Houzz
• IKEA Place
• Floorplanner
• Dulux Visualizer
 

1. SketchUp

Pro version: $349 per month (£265) (30-day free trial)
 
One of the most popular room planner apps, SketchUp is famous for its 3D modelling and rendering features. You can create and modify any design, from furniture to decorative elements. The basic version is free, but you can upgrade to enjoy advanced features. 
Pros Cons
It has powerful and easy-to-use 3D rendering capabilities. It has a steeper learning curve compared to other apps.  
It boasts a diverse selection of furniture and décor items. You may need additional plug-ins to use advanced features.
It caters to beginners and professional designers.  
 

2. Planner 5D

Premium version: from $9,99 per month (£7,60)
 
Planner 5D is an intuitive interior design app that helps you create 2D and 3D floor plans for your rooms, house and entire landscapes. It boasts
an extensive selection of real-life furniture, décor elements and materials to help you achieve your dream design. You can access basic features for free, but you need to upgrade for more customised projects. 
Pros Cons
It boasts a comprehensive toolset and catalogue of furniture and décor pieces.
 You need to pay to upgrade to some advanced features.
It has a user-friendly, easy-to-navigate interface.
 It encounters occasional glitches.
You can access it offline. 
  

3. Homestyler

Individual Pro version: from $4,90 per month (£3,80)
Master Pro version: from $9,90 per month (£7,50)
 
This 3D interior design app helps you create realistic home layouts using augmented reality. All you need to do is take a picture of your space and add decorative elements to see how they look. The basic version is free.
Pros Cons
It’s easy to use, making it perfect for beginners.
 You may need to make in-app purchases to use advanced features. 
It supports both 2D and 3D renderings.
 The 3D renderings’ quality could be improved.
It lets you share your work with other collaborators.
 It may lag on devices with low processing power. 
 

4. Houzz 

Houzz lets you see how furniture would look in your room in 3D. It's a great way to find new pieces that will complement your existing décor. It helps you connect with professionals and offer décor products, furniture and lighting. It’s free to use. 
Pros  Cons
It has an extensive product catalogue split by room.
 The amount of options can become overwhelming.
It uses planning tools and a calculator to help you budget.
 It uses a lot of data and storage space.
You can save your favourite designs to idea books.
 Idea books may become cluttered with unused images.
 

5. IKEA Place

You can now see how IKEA furniture looks in your home before buying it. This app features realistic 3D models of IKEA products, which you can place wherever you wish and adjust to the space. It’s free to download.
Pros Cons
It has an extensive product catalogue.
 It has limited options compared to IKEA stores.
You get a realistic 3D preview of how your house would look. 
 It doesn’t account for existing furniture.
It accurately measures the rooms. 
 The app can be slow and freeze.
 

6. Floorplanner

Plus version: $5 per month (£3,80)
Pro version: $24 per month (£18)
 
Floorplanner does exactly what it says on the tin – it lets you create your floor plans in 2D and 3D in just a few clicks. You can share them with others and add furniture to design your ideal layout. Its easy interface makes it perfect for professionals and DIY enthusiasts alike. Its free version supports one project with basic features, but you can upgrade to Plus and Pro versions. 
Pros Cons
It has an intuitive and user-friendly interface.
 It has limited customisation options for fixtures and furniture.
It provides 2D and 3D rendering options. 
 The free version has limited features.
It lets you share your floor plans with others and collaborate in real time. 
 High-quality 3D images are only available with the paid version.
 

7. Dulux Visualizer

Getting your colour scheme right can be daunting, with so many shades to choose from. That’s where Dulux Visualizer comes in! This user-friendly interior design app can help you find the perfect tone for your rooms. You can choose paint and wallpapers, place an order and have them delivered to your door for free. One of the key features is the ‘Live Mode’ – a simulator that shows you colour transformations in real time.
 
Pros Cons
It’s free to use.
 It’s only suitable for colour schemes, not furniture, accessories or textiles.
It boasts easy-to-use paint and colour visualisation tools. 
  
 
If you’re ready to start looking for your new home, browse David Wilson’s brand-new properties across the UK. We also have a wide range of offers available for first-time buyers and existing homeowners. 
 
Call or visit our Sales Advisers today to learn more.  
 

 

Related Articles