5 Best Software for Designing Furniture (2023)

Are you looking for the best software for designing furniture? You’ll find some of the top products in this article. We’ll talk about how they work, what they can do for you, and how good software can transform your furniture design process.

Have you ever asked, “I wonder what this would look like?” This is a common question when people are trying to design a piece of furniture. It can be hard to visualize the best color, shape, or how the furniture will look in a real room.

If you want an answer to these questions, then stick around to learn about the best furniture design software.

What is Furniture Design Software?

Furniture design software allows you to build a digital blueprint. With the power of a computer, you can create a 2D image and seamlessly convert it into a 3D model. Furniture design software is used by hobbyists and professionals to design, plan, and build their unique projects. As you’ll see, it’s also used to market and sell projects. 

Software is a great way to save time and money when designing furniture. There are many different types of furniture design software available, ranging from free versions to paid versions. Furniture design software allows you to quickly and easily create designs for new pieces of furniture or modify existing ones. This type of software is particularly useful for those who are looking to create custom furniture or for those who want to save time and money by designing their own furniture.

There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing furniture design software, such as the features that you need and the price. Free furniture design software is a great option for those who are just getting started with designing furniture, as it provides a basic set of tools and features. Paid furniture design software is a good option for those who are looking for more advanced features and tools. It is important to compare different furniture design software options before making a final decision, as there are many different products on the market.

Five of the best software programs for furniture design: 

Now we’ll go over each of these in-depth. You’ll learn about pricing, best uses, and why each software works for different people. 

1. Sketchup: Furniture Design Software Features

Sketchup is probably the quintessential software for furniture designs. It’s among the most popular 3D modeling platform in the world, with over 40 million users. As you’ll see, it’s simple to use and can grow with you. 

Best For: The professional, serious remodeler, or avid DIYer. Sketchup allows you to work from your computer or mobile device and share plans and designs with others. Sketchup has tons of resources to get you started with the program, and it has endless features that are ready when you need them – but not overwhelming. It’s an ideal furniture design software for professional furniture designers.

Pricing:

There are three pricing plans available for commercial use in Sketchup.

• Sketchup Free: $0/yr
• Sketchup Go: $199/yr
• Sketchup Pro: $239.20/yr
• Sketchup Studio: $699/yr

Annual Discount: Sketchup is purchased as a yearly plan, with pricing already included. 

Promotions: Sketchup will get you started with a 30-day free trial. They also have associates ready to help. They offer a free trial version that allows you to familiarize yourself with the SketchUp experience. 

Sketchup Key Features

Sketchup gives you easy collaboration. They also have technology that allows you to easily free-draw and sketch your plans. 

Also, Sketchup allows you to create aesthetically pleasing designs for use in marketing or portfolios. 

Sketchup User Experience

Most people say that SketchUp is easy to use overall. There is a learning curve. But once you figure it out, you’ll be designing things for a long time. 

What I Like and Dislike About Sketchup

Likes: I like SketchUp because it’s familiar and commonly used. For collaborations in the DIY world, you won’t go wrong with SketchUp. I use SketchUp software to design furniture for many of my DIY projects.

Dislikes: Not many dislikes. Sketchup delivers on its promises; however, there may be simpler options for the person who just wants the most basic application. 

2. FloorPlanner: Furniture and Interior Design Software Review

Best For: Individuals who want to see how their furniture will look in their home or want to stage their furniture in a real room. For those who sell furniture, you can use this software to virtual build your client’s home and then show them how the furniture will look before it’s even constructed.

Pricing: 

Floorplanner uses a credit-based system based on how much work you need to do. For $5 per month, you get 4 credits, or you can pay $29 per month and get 30 credits. Business accounts will be more expensive, as there are more users. 

Promotions: There is no annual price, but they do offer free demonstrations as well as a free version (though you will have limited credits). Let’s look at Floorplanner in more detail.

FloorPlanner Key Features 

Floorplanner is known for its simple 2D to 3D design features. Just get the measurements right, and you have your room pop right up! 

Floorplanner offers a super simple user-experience, and it’s easy to share on the cloud. Also, the inclusion of reasonable individual pricing is great for the hobbyist. 

FloorPlanner User Experience 

Most people find Floorplanner easy to use. It’s built with the beginner in mind, and they have many blog posts and resources on their site explaining the process, ensuring you get the most from your experience. 

FloorPlanner Likes and Dislikes 

Likes: I like FloorPlanner’s ease of use. It also has thousands of pre-set furniture options and colors, allowing you to really get a feel for your home. 

Dislikes: Will need to pay extra each month if you use it a lot. 

3. HomeStyler: Furniture Software Review

Best for: DIY furniture designers, people who want to collaborate on projects and see how their furniture will look in their space. This software gives you the ability to customize and plan. Will your bench fit on that wall? This tool gives you that ability. 

Pricing:

There are four pricing available for Homestyler. If you’re a large business, they require you to contact them for a quote. 

• Basic: Free
• Pro: $4.90/month
• Master: $9.90/month
• Team License: Contact Homestyler

Promotions: they offer a free version that gives you the chance to become familiar with their system. 

Key Features of HomeStyler 

HomeStyler is VR compatible, so if you have a VR set, you can really get the ultimate pre-planning experience! 

Also, HomeStyler has online tutorials built right into their website, showing you how to perform different tasks. 

User Experience Home Styler 

Homestyler is made to work with a mobile device, allowing you to edit and customize your project with easy controls. The website offers all sorts of resources to ensure you don’t get lost with all the features. 

Likes and Dislikes of HomeStyler 

Likes: It’s affordable and scales to your needs, allowing you to stage and see how your furniture would look in a real space. 

Dislikes: The website itself seemed a little more difficult to navigate, but that’s a personal opinion. Some might find it works well. 

4. HomeByMe: Furniture Design Software

Best for: This application is best for those that want a simple design software experience that gets the job done. Also, HomeByMe gives you the option of employing expert design help and they are ready for the DIY furniture builder.

Pricing:

You can buy HomeByMe for $16.50 for a few renders, or you can buy a monthly subscription for $29.99. However, they do offer an annual program. 

Annual discount: $300 for the entire year ($25 per month). They do offer a free version to get started and see if you like the program. 

Key Features of HomeByMe 

HomebyMe offers you the ability to hire someone to help with the design – the price looked reasonable, at around $70 to have someone decorate for you. Also, you can hire someone to sketch for you or to have your plan rendered into a real-life looking image. 

Also, they allow you to take pictures of furniture and virtually insert them into your space, giving you the ability to rearrange a real-life room and see how it will look.

User Experience for HomeByMe 

Home by me is ready for the new or seasoned designer. They are there to help anyone get the plan they need. You can either hire a professional or use their tools to design the room of your dreams. 

Likes and Dislikes of HomeByMe 

Likes: HomeByMe is smooth are ready for any design, be it an entire home or a piece of furniture. The virtual viewing right on a smartphone will make buying decisions simple. 

Dislikes: There is a fair price to pay to use it monthly, though you get what you’re paying for. 

5. Autodesk: Furniture Design Software Overview

Best for: Autodesk is best for the person or team who wants the full range of possibilities from DIY to professional. Autodesk offers tons of services for engineers, carpenters, and construction teams, making them a professional standard. 

Pricing: 

Autodesk CAD LT is currently $60 per month. However, there is a wide range of prices as they offer many different services. The best bet is to contact them and tell them what you need. 

Annual discount: $460 if you pay annually. They also have an option to pay every three years for an even greater discount. Keep in mind that Autodesk is the real deal and is used by many professional businesses. 

Key Features: AutoDesk

Autodesk might be called the supermarket of software design – it’s got everything. So, if you finish your furniture design and decide to try your hand at designing a bridge, Autodesk will get you there. It’s also integrated, so all your Autodesk programs can work together. 

User Experience: AutoDesk 

Autodesk is geared toward professionals. It’s not going to be as easy to use (in the beginning) as some other applications on this list (though, this will vary drastically based on the person). However, what you lose in ease-of-use, you gain in functionality. 

Likes and Dislikes: AutoDesk 

Likes: Scalable functionality that won’t overlook any details. Will work well for the construction side of furniture design. 

Dislikes: Price. And may not be as easy for the beginner who doesn’t need all the extra features – they do offer training. 

Last Take on Furniture Design Software

Often, DIYers and woodworkers hear the word software and cringe. It’s true that software can be complicated, and it’s difficult to narrow down the best tools. Hopefully, this article gave you a place to start. 

For furniture design, you want a blend of software tools to build the actual furniture and software tools to see how that furniture will look in a real home. These tools are not only helpful for designing and building furniture, but they are also helpful for marketing and selling your projects.

Reach out to a few of these furniture and interior design software companies. Test things out and see what you like. After getting some hands-on experience, you’ll have a better idea of what kind of tools you need to make your projects just the way you want them. 

Frequently Asked Questions