Best Apps for Interior Design in 2026

Planner 5D is the app we would hand to a friend who wants to rearrange a living room this weekend. You draw walls, drag furniture into place, switch to 3D, and walk through the result without learning modelling terms. The catalogue covers everyday rooms well, and the cross-device sync means a plan started on a laptop can be checked on a phone in the shop. Premium adds more of the catalogue and higher-quality renders. That is the main decision point. If the free catalogue covers your style, you may never need to pay. If you keep hitting locked items, the annual price is still modest compared with hiring a designer for a single room. Planner 5D is not a construction drawing tool, so use RoomSketcher or SketchUp when exact measurements and building details matter.

Homestyler suits people who want a pretty, believable picture of a room without installing software. You design in a browser, choose furniture, and render the result to see light, colour, and layout together. The Basic plan, with unlimited 1K renders, is generous for testing ideas before committing to paint or furniture. The limits appear when you need print-quality images or precise dimensions for a contractor. Paid plans improve render quality and add more features, but Homestyler still prioritises visual design over technical drawings. Use it to compare styles and colours, then move to a measured plan tool if a builder needs exact figures.

RoomSketcher takes measurement more seriously than most apps in this list. You draw a plan to scale, add doors and windows, furnish it, and generate 3D photos or a live walkthrough. Estate agents, landlords, and homeowners preparing a renovation brief will value that accuracy, because a plan that looks right but measures wrong causes expensive mistakes. The free plan lets you test the workflow, but serious use needs a paid tier. Check how many projects, floor plan levels, and 3D views your plan includes before starting a multi-room project. If you only need one room for personal use, Planner 5D may be cheaper. If you need a plan someone else will build from, RoomSketcher earns its fee.

SketchUp is for people who find catalogue apps too limiting. Want a window seat with storage, a kitchen island at an exact size, or a sloped ceiling that matches your real room. SketchUp lets you build it, rather than searching for a close-enough item. The web-based Free version is a genuine way to learn modelling, and Go adds desktop and iPad tools for regular use. That freedom comes with effort. You will need to learn how to draw, push, pull, and group shapes, and photorealistic rendering usually needs an extension or a separate renderer. Designers and keen DIY builders will find that trade worthwhile. Casual decorators who only want to try sofa positions will finish faster in Planner 5D or Homestyler.

Sweet Home 3D is the budget pick that asks for nothing in return. Download the desktop app, draw a plan, add furniture, and view it in 3D, all offline and without a subscription. Students, landlords with simple properties, and anyone who refuses another monthly bill will appreciate that honesty. You can also import extra furniture models if the built-in set feels thin. The interface looks older than its rivals, and renders will not impress a client who expects a magazine-style image. Treat Sweet Home 3D as a planning tool first and a presentation tool second. For checking whether a bed fits, a door swings clear, or a table blocks a walkway, it does the job without cost or fuss.

Houzz starts where most design projects start: looking at rooms you like. Its photo library, idea books, and product links help you move from a vague feeling to a shortlist of styles, colours, and items. You can also find local designers, architects, and contractors, read their past work, and contact them from the same app. Do not expect Houzz to replace a floor planner. It is best used alongside Planner 5D, RoomSketcher, or SketchUp. Save the rooms that inspire you, note the products you like, then build the layout in a planning app and check measurements there. Houzz Pro, the separate business tool for professionals, starts at a much higher monthly price and is not needed for a home project.

IKEA Kreativ solves a narrow problem very well. Instead of guessing whether a sofa fits your room or clashes with your rug, you can place IKEA items into a scan or photo of your own space. That preview removes the most common buying regret in home design, which is ordering furniture that looked right in a showroom and wrong at home. The limit is obvious: it is an IKEA tool, so it will not help you plan a room full of items from other shops. It also does not replace a measured floor plan for structural changes. Use Kreativ when you are close to buying IKEA pieces, and use a general planner when you are still deciding the layout itself.

Floorplanner is the quickest way to get a clean floor plan on screen. Open a browser, draw rooms, add furniture, and switch to 3D to check the layout. Estate agents and homeowners who need a simple plan for a listing or a renovation chat will find it faster than learning a full modelling tool. Exports are where you should check the cost. Free projects and basic images cover simple needs, but higher-resolution renders and extra features use credits or a paid plan. Before you build a large project, confirm what your plan includes and what an export will cost. For a one-off plan, that check takes two minutes and avoids a surprise at the end.