Please meet Jonas Gavelis, Marketing Director of Planner 5D. Jonas tells us more about this interior and landscape designs creating app, it’s beggining and present challenges.
Building a home is a difficult task in the human world. However, this is a daily routine. If you want to experience the true feeling of a beautiful home, Planner 5D – the creator of home and interior design is the best choice. Game & Simulator App. First of all, Planner 5D is an entertaining game, so it will definitely work to meet your needs. Planner 5D makes it easy to turn raw ideas into realistic layouts in a more interesting and efficient way. It allows users to collaborate with colleagues, share designs with friends, export high-quality images, add furniture from an integrated manufacturer’s catalog like IKEA, and more.
So what is Planner5d? How it works?
Planner 5D is a user-friendly app that any ordinary person can use to easily create their interior design and home layout. This app is mostly used by people who need assistance for real design issues, such as interior layouts and floorplans or renovations and furniture rearrangements. The app offers floor plan creation, customization of furniture with the ability to change textures, colors and sizes, a Virtual Reality (VR) tool and creative suggestions for home design. The tool runs smoothly on all major platforms, including iOS, MAC OS, Android, Windows 10 and the web.
What are your competitors and competitive advantages?
The Planner 5D app is one of the leading apps in the interior design market and it often recommended in Apple, Android and Windows stores. The major competitors in the interior design-focused market include Dassault Systèmes, Anuman, Floorplanner and BeLight Software.
Planner 5D’s competitive advantages are the advanced 3D renderings, the variety of customizable items in the digital catalog, and the achievements in applying new technologies (such as Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI)). Users can create 3D renders (called snapshots) without any additional programs – the snapshots create photorealistic images of their designs, including shadows, reflections and illumination. There are over 3500 generic items in the digital catalog that can be customized to the user’s preference. The size, color, texture and even measurements can be customized to suit the taste and style of each individual designer. Additionally, we keep up with innovations from Google’s ARCore and Apple’s ARKit and focus on implementing the latest technological developments in VR, AR and AI to ensure a competitive product.
What were the reasons behind coming up with this idea and launching this product?
Planner 5D was formed when the founders – a programmer and a designer – experienced the need to design and furnish their personal homes. At the time, they were not able to hire an interior designer and found the design process difficult without the help of a professional. The duo set out to create a user-friendly and effective app that would allow them to create their own interior design quickly and easily.
When exactly did you launch, what were the main challenges before launching?
Planner was founded in 2011 in Russia with the help of various seed funding organizations and investors. A major challenge was restarting the company in 2014, when the main investment firm made the decision to move the investment business out of Russia, and settled on Lithuania as the new company location. Since Planner 5D was one of the promising startups, it was offered to relocate to Lithuania. The founders decided to close down their Russian office and had to build a new team in Lithuania.
What are main challenges while working on this product and how are you overcoming them?
The main challenge has been finding suitable IT specialists in Lithuania. There is a shortage of IT staff, especially when searching for applicants with an interest in 3D design. We are working on making IT positions more attractive, focusing on more marketing and tweaking our branding to attract the relevant candidates. Another challenge is integrating innovative technologies – such as VR, AR and AI – into the interior design market. These technologies are rapidly evolving and require creative solutions to keep up with the latest developments.
How are you funded? Do you seek extra funding?
The app is mainly funded with user in-app purchases, software package purchases and investments. The full catalog and special features are available with in-app purchases, and purchasing these is a popular choice with our users. We have seen success with software package purchases, such as White Label collaborations and working with academic institutions. We have worked with American education programs and the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators, who have utilized Planner 5D for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education.
Currently Planner 5D is profitable and successful without financial investments, although we are always open to strategic investments.
Please introduce your founders, your core team and your broader team?
Planner 5D was founded by Sergey Nosyrev, a programmer, and Alexey Sheremetyev, a designer. With a team of 18 people, Planner 5D does not follow the standard company structure, but works in groups: the Development Team, Product Team, Business Team and 3D Design Team. Every project requires individual and collaborative effort, and the team seeks advice from each other when developing new features, working on app design and assisting with marketing.
How has business been so far? Could you share some numbers to illustrate this (users, sales, etc)?
Planner 5D has a community of more than 122,000 daily users worldwide, with a large web and mobile userbase. The app has over 18 million mobile downloads, with over 10 million downloads from Android devices alone. The main markets are USA, Brazil, Russia and Germany.
We are very happy with our open-office space at Vilnius Tech Park – a popular campus for the Vilnius IT community and a hub for the country’s leading startup communities. The campus buildings offer excellent internet speed, new computers with additional monitors, private meeting rooms, skype and chat rooms, as well as extracurricular activity space (lounge areas, gaming screens, kitchens with free coffee and snacks, etc.) The employees have the perfect conditions for a balance of productive work and leisure time.
Future plans, ambitions? Simply speaking – what’s next?
The vision of Planner 5D is to become a virtual assistant in planning home and interior design, instead of an app-based tool. In the future, our service can replace mid-level designers using high-quality artificial intelligence services, applicable anywhere in the world. You can read more on Planner 5D and AI in interior design here.
Until Planner 5D can become a virtual assistant, the company will continue to greatly invest in innovative technologies. We were one of the first to introduce virtual reality into an app. Planner 5D allows users to step into their own designs using Google Cardboard glasses – the users can feel like they have transported into their created interior. We have also recently added an Augmented Reality (AR) Feature using Apple’s ARKit that allows users to use their phone camera to take measurements of the room they are standing in, and input the floor plan straight into Planner 5D. We are excited to be part of a growing industry that is striving to make interior design accessible to anyone, anywhere.
Thank you for the interview, Jonas!
Designing rooms can be tricky, and it’s often hard to visualize what the end result will be but you don’t have to be a professional room designer to create. In fact, wouldn’t it be great if there was a room decorator app to see what your design ideas actually look like before you implement them? There is — and it’s free! The following list of the best free online virtual programs for planning and designing your home is all you need.
We found the programs below to be easy to use for room designing, even if you’ve never used a online room planner before. You can accomplish most of your room design tasks, such as crafting the perfect layout for your space and choosing the right décor.
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12 Best free home design apps
These are our favorite online room decorator tools and apps:
1. Planner 5D
Planner 5D bills itself as the most extensive free room design app on the market. Easily design rooms down to the smallest architectural details, including windows, stairs, and partitions. Don’t stop at interiors; this room designing app also lets you do landscaping and pools — all with stunning 3D graphics.
You can also get inspiration from their gallery. Explore new and trendy designs created by other virtual room designers.
Rating: 4.3 stars on both the App Store and the Google Play Store.
Download Planner 5D on the App Store or on Google Play.
2. Roomstyler
Use this outstanding room design app to upload your own floor plan or play around with preloaded room layouts. The Roomstyler 3D Home Planner allows you to insert walls, doors, and windows and select from a gallery of interior finishes.
The interface is relatively simple to use and allows you to view your plan and 3D image at the same time. You can move the camera around the plan to see different views and choose from more than 120,000 brand-name items to insert into your model, which includes anything from small kitchen appliances to garden tools.
If you love the decor you put into your rendered model, click the “Available for purchase” button to find out the price and purchasing options. You can use the software for free without joining. But if you join, you can upload your model to Facebook for your friends to see.
Rating: 2.0 stars on the App Store.
Download Roomstyler on the App Store.
3. Ikea Home Planner Tools
When you flip through the Ikea catalog, do you ever wish you could see how a certain bookshelf and desk would look in your space? You can Ikea now has a room designing software! With the free, easy-to-use Ikea home planner tool online, you can configure your floor plan, choose from the store’s gallery of furniture and decor, calculate the cost, and print out your wishlist for in-store browsing.
Room-specific tools include a virtual kitchen planner, a bedroom planner, a bathroom planner, and storage planning solutions.
Rating: N/A
Download the Ikea Home Planner Tools. Note they are not available on the App Store or on Google Play.
4. Design a Room
Stop taking home dozens of material samples to try out all the combinations in your space. Instead, try the Armstrong 3D room decorator app that allows you to see different color combinations of flooring, cabinetry, ceilings, walls, and countertops from the comfort of your home.
Design a Room allows you to choose a room in your home, pick a style (like contemporary, traditional, global fusion) and virtually play around with colors, textures, and finishes. You can even coordinate Sherwin Williams, PPG, and Benjamin Moore paint colors to go with your design.
One of the best things about this free tool is the ability to learn about the products before you buy them. For example, when designing a bathroom, you might see a note saying hardwood flooring isn’t recommended. This ensures that your room designs will be functional and stylish.
Rating: N/A
No download needed. Try the Armstrong Design a Room tool online.
5. Homestyler
Autodesk, the creator of AutoCAD, REVIT, and 3ds Studio Max, is well-known for its professional design programs. It also created the Homestyler room design app, which they sold to Easyhome in 2017.
This user-friendly program doesn’t require formal training like the other professional programs the company offers. Simple drag-and-drop functions allow you to create your own designs and dream up floor plans. Homestyler’s 3D floor planner and 3D room designer tools are perfect for an amateur virtual room designer.
The furnish and decorate tool allows you to choose cabinetry, appliances, furniture, and nearly every decor item you can think of. Then personalize your space with area rugs and finish items by several manufacturers. Once your design is complete, you can print it out.
Rating: 4.5 stars on the App Store and 3.9 stars on the Google Play Store.
Download Homestyler on the App Store or on Google Play.
6. The Home Renovator
Room decorator apps are all well and good, but The Home Renovator lets you plan for and budget the materials you’ll need for your renovation project. The Home Renovator lets you choose from insulation, drywall, paint, ceramic tile, ceiling tile, and deck projects. You can use the site’s free worksheets to measure your space, enter your measurements, and review your tool requirements. This room designing software will then get a report telling you how much material is required for your project, a budget price that can be used to negotiate with local dealers, and illustrated instructions that show cutting and placement of materials.
Rating: N/A
No download required. Use the tool online at The Home Renovator.
7. Sweet Home 3D
This 3D room design app is for those who want more customization options for their room layout. The online software is free, though login information is required. You can also download a more advanced version of Sweet Home 3D (at an extra price) that allows you to save, export, and manipulate your home plans. The interface has four sections:
- The furniture catalog allows you to choose components by name, then drag and drop components directly into the floor plan.
- The home furniture list displays the dimensions of each piece by name and size.
- The home plan shows you in a 2D format where the walls, windows, doors, and furniture are placed (as viewed from above).
- The home 3D view shows your plan in three dimensions so you can visualize the plan as you design.
To bring in your floor plan, import it into Sweet Home 3D, scale it, and trace over your plan to remove the guesswork. This program can be simple, but it has advanced features for those who want more from their 3D virtual planning experience.
Cost: Free to download or use online here. $13.99 on App Store.
Rating: 3.5 stars on the App Store.
Download Sweet Home 3D on the App Store. No version available for Google Play.
8. SmartDraw
Smartdraw is a suite of programs for visual graphics and presentations, including project charts, timelines, marketing charts, and flowcharts. Under the flowchart application is a feature to design floor plans and individual room plans. You can use SmartDraw to plan office spaces, apartments, individual rooms, and even building elevations.
SmartDraw works well for individuals and businesses that don’t want to spend a lot on design software. This room designing software has a free trial period and if you’re satisfied, you can purchase the full program. With an almost infinite selection of furniture, cars, building materials, and preloaded plans, SmartDraw offers a lot of bang for the buck.
Cost: Free to try. $9.95/mo. or $297 for a single license.
Rating: N/A
Download SmartDraw or try the online version on the SmartDraw website.
9. HomeByMe
HomeByMe is a web-based room design app. Start in 2D and build your room from the ground up, finishing with furniture and accessories. Once you’re ready, convert it to 3D, where the walls fall away and you can look inside the interior design plan you created.
Cost: Free to try. $14.99 for the full version.
Rating: N/A
Planner 5d Alternative
HomeByMe is fully web-enabled.
10. MagicPlan
MagicPlan is a room design app for iOS and Android that creates floor plans from user-scanned photos. This makes creating a room design a snap, with “No need to measure or draw.” It’s the perfect app for those new to designing floor plans. As you might expect, it isn’t as detailed in its creations as more advanced apps, but it’s useful for quickly creating interior layouts for a novice room designer.
Cost: Free (first two projects), then $9.99/mo.
Rating: 4.7 stars on the App Store and 4.4 stars on the Google Play Store
Download MagicPlan on the App Store or on Google Play.
11. Amikasa
Amikasa is a room design app that’s won a Webby award thanks to its aesthetically pleasing interface. Users also praise the ability to create their room layouts using real brand products.
Once you’ve finished your design, there’s a 3D walkthrough feature that allows you to take a virtual tour of your new space. Plus, you can share designs on social media to get feedback. The iOS version recently had a $0.99 price-tag added, and there’s no Android version available. There’s a beta Windows version that can be downloaded for free.
Cost: $0.99 for iOS version; free Windows version.
Rating: 2.9 stars on the App Store. No Android version.
Download Amikasa on the App Store or from the Amikasa website.
12. DecorMatters
If you want to gamify the process of room design, then DecorMatters is for you. This iOS app brings augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and blockchain technology to the process of room design. And users are loving it.
There are leaderboards, virtual coins, and levels, plus special rewards for participating in design challenges. Users can create new virtual rooms based on templates, or they can tweak their real-life room with augmented reality. Rooms can be posted online and you can browse through other’s creations to get inspiration. Eventually, the team says content creators can be compensated through profits received from product recommendations and copyright authorizations.
Rating: 4.7 stars on the App Store.
Download DecorMatters on the App Store. No Android version available.
Ratings and pricing as of Jan. 7, 2021.
The bottom line
There are plenty of free online 3D virtual programs and room design apps that will allow you to plan, design, draw and view your space. You too can be a room designer with these room designing apps and software. Choosing the right one depends on your skill level, objective, and how you want to present your final drawings.
Whether you want to play around or start building a home to your personal specifications, this list of top 10 best free online virtual programs and tools will help you get started.
Frequently asked questions
A:That depends on what type of interior design you need to do, along with your knowledge and skill level in using these types of 3D software tools. Try several and see which one meets your needs the best.
A:Use one of the room design apps above to plan your next design project, or to have a little fun with design inspiration. Interfaces vary based on the specific app but play around with whatever free solution you choose. You’ll be inspired to tackle your next project in no time!
Q:Where can I find inspiration for interior design?
A:Inspiration for interior design is all around you. Take note of your surroundings wherever you go, or pick up some design magazines and books. You can also play with the tools in our guide to get more inspiration.
Steven Walters contributed to this post.
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