Best Interior Design Apps (2026): 10 Options Compared

Redecorating a room is exciting until you've bought a sofa that doesn't fit through the door. Interior design apps let you measure, plan and play with a room before you commit, whether you're rearranging a lounge, planning a home office or styling a rental.

Here are ten interior design apps, in no particular order and listed alphabetically. They range from simple floor plan tools to mood board apps and full 3D home planners, and I've included plenty of smaller makers alongside the big names. The details come from each app's own website or app store listing. If you're specifically after AI room makeovers, my guide on designing rooms with AI for free covers that separately.

Interior design apps at a glance

In the free plan column, Yes means the app's own site or listing says it's free to use or has a permanent free version, usually with some limits. Plans change often, so check each app's current limits before starting a big project.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
DecorMatters	Decorating app	Styling real rooms and playing design challenges	Yes
Floorplanner	Online floor plan tool	Quick floor plans and furniture layouts in a browser	Yes
Homestyler	3D home design platform	Turning a floor plan into a furnished 3D model	Yes
Houzz	Ideas and home pros app	Saving room ideas and finding local professionals	Yes
IKEA Kreativ	Retailer room design tool	Trying flat-pack furniture in a scan of your room	Yes
Live Home 3D	Home design software	Detailed floor plans and 3D views on many devices	Yes
Morpholio Board	Mood board app	Mood boards, colour palettes and shopping lists	Yes
Planner 5D	Home design platform	Drag-and-drop rooms with a big furniture library	Yes
RoomSketcher	Floor plan app	Clear 2D and 3D floor plans	Yes
Sweet Home 3D	Open source design program	Free desktop room planning with 3D preview	Yes

Ten interior design apps, alphabetically

DecorMatters

Best for: Phone users who enjoy trying decor ideas on their own rooms and picking up styling tips through design challenges.

Floorplanner

Best for: Homeowners planning a layout or extension who want to sketch rooms and test furniture positions without installing anything.

Homestyler

Best for: Keen home planners who want to furnish a 3D version of their home and see realistic renders before buying anything.

Houzz

Best for: Anyone gathering inspiration for a kitchen, bathroom or living room who may also want to find a local designer or builder.

IKEA Kreativ

Best for: Shoppers who want to see how specific furniture pieces would look in their own room before ordering.

Live Home 3D

Best for: People who want desktop-style home design across Mac, Windows, iPad and Android, with room to grow into detail.

Morpholio Board

Best for: Decorators who start with mood boards and want to turn them into presentations and shopping lists on iPad or iPhone.

Planner 5D

Best for: Beginners who want to draw a room, drop in furniture and switch between 2D and 3D views with little learning.

RoomSketcher

Best for: Homeowners and landlords who need tidy, easy-to-read floor plans and 3D snapshots to share with family or trades.

Sweet Home 3D

Best for: Hands-on planners who want a long-running, open source desktop program for drawing plans and placing furniture.

Types of interior design app and what each does well

• Floor plan apps help you get the room's shape and measurements right. Start here if you're moving walls, planning an extension or checking furniture fits.
• 3D home design apps let you furnish a model and walk round it. They're great for seeing how a room will feel, though they take longer to learn.
• Mood board apps focus on colour, texture and style rather than measurements. They suit decorators and anyone who thinks visually.
• Retailer tools let you place a shop's own furniture in a view of your room. They're handy for checking a specific piece.
• Ideas apps are for collecting inspiration and finding professionals when you're ready to hire help.

Many people use two together: a floor plan app for accuracy and a mood board app for the look.

How to choose an interior design app for your project

• Start with the job. A layout change needs measurements; a refresh needs colour and style tools.
• Check your devices. Some apps are browser-based, some are desktop programs and some are phone or tablet only.
• Look at the furniture library. A large library makes rooms look realistic, but free versions often limit it.
• Think about sharing. If a partner, landlord or tradesperson needs to see your plan, make sure you can export or share it easily.
• Consider the learning curve. Drag-and-drop planners are quick; detailed 3D tools reward patience.
• Read the free version limits on the app's own site, such as project numbers or watermarked exports.

Measuring and setting up your room in an interior design app

1. Measure each wall at floor level with a tape measure and note door and window positions.
2. Record ceiling height, radiators, sockets and anything fixed you'll need to work around.
3. Draw the room's outline in the app first, then add doors and windows before any furniture.
4. Add the furniture you're keeping, measured, so you're planning around real pieces.
5. Try two or three layouts and save each one, so you can compare them side by side.
6. Check walkways. Leave enough space to move round beds, tables and opening doors comfortably.

Flooring changes how a room looks and feels, so if that's part of your plan, my guide to choosing flooring for your home is worth a read before you finalise anything.

Interior design app mistakes that catch people out

• Guessing measurements. A few centimetres out can mean a wardrobe that won't open.
• Forgetting door swings and radiators when placing furniture.
• Falling for a render. Lighting in 3D views often looks brighter than real life, so check colours with real samples.
• Designing for photos rather than daily life. Think about storage, cables and where bags and shoes will end up.
• Ignoring the route in. Measure stairs, hallways and doorways for big pieces too.

When an interior design app is enough and when to call a professional

Apps are brilliant for rearranging, refreshing and planning simple projects. If you're moving walls, changing plumbing or electrics, or working on a listed building, you'll want a qualified professional involved. Many designers are happy to work from a plan you've drawn in an app, which can save time at the first meeting. If you work in the trade yourself, my roundup of AI tools interior designers use to mock up rooms covers the professional side.

Do you make an interior design or room planning app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

Starting your next room with an interior design app

Measure the room, pick one app that matches the job and runs on your device, and draw the space before adding a single piece of furniture. Try a couple of layouts, sleep on them, and only then start shopping. You'll make calmer decisions and fewer returns.

Frequently asked questions

What is the easiest interior design app for beginners?

Look for drag-and-drop furniture, ready-made room shapes and switching between 2D and 3D views. Browser-based planners and simple floor plan apps are usually the gentlest start.

Can I design a room on my phone?

Yes. Several apps run on phones and tablets, and some let you scan or photograph a room. A tablet gives you more space for detailed layouts.

Are interior design apps free?

Many have a free version or are free to use, usually with limits such as fewer projects, a smaller furniture library or watermarked exports. Check each app's own site.

Do I need exact measurements to use an interior design app?

For layouts, yes. Measure walls, doors, windows and fixed features first. Mood board apps don't need measurements because they focus on style.

Can interior design apps replace an interior designer?

They're great for planning and visualising, but they don't replace professional advice on structural work, lighting design or complex projects. Many people use an app to brief a designer.