The best renovation software for planning your remodel

Successful home renovations start with a plan. While pencil and paper works for some, DIYers in the age of technology can take advantage of a number of different apps and renovation software offerings to help mock up their space. As we discuss in our article, Do you need a designer for your home renovation? A guide on how to act as your own designer, we give tips for how to do design work on your own.

Creating your own designs can be a fun process, giving you full creative freedom. However, it can also be intimidating! Design options are limitless, and mistakes can be costly. What is ultimately important, is that you are happy with your space when your project is finished. But, some things are hard to envision without a sketch or rendering. Creating a 3D mockup allows you to experiment with different layout and design ideas without making a commitment. It can also just be a fun way to dream about what your house could look like in the future.

We’ve found that home remodel software often falls into one of two categories. They are made for homeowners, with basic functionality and not enough detail to explore different ideas. Or, on the flip side, they are made for professionals and require weeks for novices to learn. Learning how to use complicated software may not be the best use of your time. We ultimately found two types of software that I thought were user friendly and helpful in the renovation process. 

The first, Magic Plan, is a free iPhone and Android app that is best used for getting a general idea of the floor plan, layout, and cabinet elevations. The second software, Chief Architect, is made primarily for contractors, designers, and architects. However, if you are fairly tech savvy, you can pick it up as well.

Magic Plan is a free app, which allows you to build simple floor plans and layouts

Magic Plan allows you to build simple floor plans and layouts including cabinets, basic fixtures, and appliances. It is free to use, but there are optional in-app purchases. In my opinion, Magic Plan is best used in the early stages of a remodel. It will not help you make finishing selections (such as paint color, hardware, cabinet face) but is valuable for deciding your overall layout and orientation. For help with finishing selections, take a look at A Full Guide to Cabinet Design: What You Need to Know and The Ultimate Guide to Selecting a Countertop.

To get started with Magic Plan, first download it on your iPhone or Android. Then, you can either scan your room to create a blueprint, or input your room’s dimensions into the app. You have the option of mocking up one room or as many as you’d like within the same design. After your have your walls created, you should add any doors, windows, or openings.

Then comes the fun part – you can play around with different layouts, removing walls, adding cabinets, appliances, fixtures, and furniture. Cabinets can be edited to any size. You are able to look at your designs in overhead view, elevation view (2D of each wall), or a basic black-and-white 3D view. You can expect to spend an hour or two getting familiar with the app before feeling fully proficient.

I love that Magic Plan is free, so it is a no obligation way of dipping your toes in the water on home design software. If you find that you love using it, and it is helpful to you, keep reading for why you should consider downloading Chief Architect as well.

Chief Architect – a renovation software that will help you plan every detail of your remodel

Chief Architect is an amazing tool if you want to get down to the interior design details, as well as for the layout and floorplan. It’s made for industry professionals, but if you are good with technology, you should be able to pickup on it. Don’t worry about understanding every component of it – rather, focus on the areas that you are remodeling. If you have ever played The Sims, it is similar to building a home in their software.

Within Chief Architect, you can try different cabinetry, appliances, furniture, flooring, paint colors, countertops, layouts, tiles, backsplash, trim… you name it! It comes with a vast library of materials/options. You can also download items from their website if you are looking for something specific.

Chief Architect can give you a good idea of the look that you are going for. However, try paint colors and material samples in your home as well, since they can vary with lighting.

As with Magic Plan, you can view your Chief Architect designs in overhead, elevation, or in a fairly realistic 3D view. This includes every color, material, and texture, so it gives you a great idea of what your final product will look like. You can also export these files into PDFs with measurements, and provide to your contractor or cabinet maker.

There is a trial version of Chief Architect that is free for one month. You are not able to save your designs with the trial version, but this is great for trying out the software to ensure that you like it before purchasing it. After that, you can rent it for $60 – $200 per month (depending on which version you select). It is definitely worth it, because any design mistake will cost much more than that!

Overall, I highly recommend using a 3D software as a homeowner when thinking about a house renovation

Magic Plan and Chief Architect greatly helped us to figure out what we wanted in our kitchen, dining, and bathroom, and how we could make that come to life. It also helped us to dodge some design mistakes and take some calculated risks that we love!

If you are interested in a 3D design but aren’t sure if you want to tackle it yourself, check out our 3D rendering service, as well as our other virtual design services!