Our Top Pick

Planner 5D: House Design Software

IT’S FREE!

Planner 5D is one of the easiest to use and best looking interior design rendering software around – it’s amateur friendly, making it an excellent starting point.

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The kitchen is the heart of the home so when redesigning this space a great deal of care and attention is needed. Whether you’re looking at designing your kitchen yourself or are an interior designer or builder who wants to offer clients their dream kitchen, the best place to start when planning this room is with a kitchen design software program.

Kitchen design software programs will let you map out the floor plan then add cupboards, worktops and appliances to build the ideal kitchen layout for the space. Many of these programs will also let you play with different finishes and fixtures to give you an in depth look at your final kitchen design.

But which kitchen design software should you use? There are numerous options to choose from ranging from clean and simple free versions to paid versions with all the bells and whistles to splurge on. What you need will probably depend on what you need it for.

If you’re designing your own kitchen you might not need an all singing all dancing software for multiple projects, however professionals who will be working on many projects at once might want to choose software aimed at interior designers.

To help you work out which kitchen design software is the best for your kitchen design, we’ve found 20 free and paid tools that are the best in the business…

Planner 5D

Cost: free for basic features, need to pay to access all features

Described as ‘created for amateurs’ Planner 5D is an excellent first port of call for novice designers and is a great tool for teaching you how to start planning your kitchen. Easy to use across iOS and Android devices and with a handy app too, this kitchen design software lets you create 2D renderings for free however for realistic 3D renderings you’ll have to upgrade to the paid version.

Cedreo

Cost: paid (with free trial option)

An excellent choice for those on the more professional side of kitchen remodeling spectrum, the Cedreo software lets you create a beautiful 3D rendered kitchen design in minutes. A great planning tool if you’re an interior designer or home builder, the real draw of this software is it’s not just limited to kitchen design and you can design the whole house with it.

Home Hardware Kitchen Design Software

Cost: free

This online kitchen planner lets you start the kitchen design process from scratch or you can choose one of their many templates. It’s available online so you don’t need to download anything and is a fully interactive 3D visualisation tool for all your kitchen design needs. It also includes many elements you might forget when designing your dream kitchen including sockets and vents.

Kitchen Planner

Cost: free

This no strings attached, browser-based kitchen design software is one of the best free options available. Simple to use, it’s anything but basic with dozens of flooring and countertop options to choose from and over 100 cabinet designs to suit any taste and interior design style.

Lowe’s Virtual Kitchen Designer

Cost: free

Free and relatively easy to use, this kitchen design software is more for homeowners looking to design their own kitchen rather than professional designers. Starting with the dimensions of your kitchen layout, you can see both 2D and 3D renderings of your design and if you want more help, you can also schedule a consultation with a Lowe’s design specialist to start working on making your kitchen design a reality.

Backsplash.com Online Designer

Cost: free

As its name suggests, this is one of the best tools for designing your dream backsplash and matching them to a wide range of kitchen cabinets. Their backsplash library contains hundreds of designs, colours, and pattern combinations and you can also buy backsplashes from popular brands once you’ve made your selection. It might not look the best in terms of graphics but it’s a great free option.

Homestyler

Cost: free

With the capability to create both a 2D and 3D floor plan of your kitchen layout, Homestyler is an intuitive, user friendly tool for amateurs and professionals alike. With hundreds of kitchen furniture pieces and furnishings available from well-respected brands, it’s easy to track what your need to buy after you’ve perfected your kitchen plan to help smooth out the entire design process.

Prodboard Online Kitchen Planner

Cost: free

An entry-level online kitchen planner, Prodboard is a fantastic option for those without a high-resolution graphics card on their computer. Whilst the floor plan might not turn out as crisp as some of the more professional programs, it’s perfect for individuals and there’s also a more in-depth licensed version for businesses.

Home Designer Pro

Cost: paid

One of the best kitchen design software options to splurge on if you have the funds is Home Designer Pro. With a full suite of industry-grade tools it can have a steep learning curve when you first start using it, but there’s a library of tutorials to help get you quickly acquainted with the advanced features of this software. It will help you to create the most detailed kitchen design possible.

SmartDraw

Cost: paid

A floor plan-centered software program, SmartDraw lets you quickly and easily plan out your dream kitchen in minutes and most importantly, work out what will and won’t fit. The interactive floor plan will let you add doors, windows, furniture, and even kitchen appliances, for a full overview of what your finished kitchen will look like.

ProKitchen Software

Cost: paid

ProKitchen Software lets you create real-life 3D models of products which can then be bought and installed in the finished design through the 500 appliance and fixture catalogues. It has an intuitive user interface which offers superb visualisation capabilities and they also offer a 7-day free trial before you need to take the plunge with the paid version.

HomeByMe

Cost: three projects free

With two speed options HomeByMe is a cool program with ‘go fast’ and ‘be precise’ modes. The fast mode gets you stuck in with your kitchen layout by using pre-made blocks, whilst the more precise mode lets you build the room from scratch using exact measurements. You can then modify your new floor plan in 2D and 3D views so you get an in-depth overall look at your kitchen design.

HGTV Kitchen Design Software

Cost: paid

A paid for program, but much cheaper than many others on this list, the HGTV kitchen design software is great for both professional designers and individual customers. It has a drag and drop layout that allows you to create a kitchen design using a wide range of materials, cabinets, countertops, appliances, and more, and the free technical support is another handy feature for new users.

Floorplanner

Cost: first plan free, then paid

A must for building your perfect kitchen floor plan, Floorplanner lets you create interactive 2D and 3D renderings. You get your first plan free and are allowed to make unlimited edits to the kitchen design, so that free plan could last longer than you’d think which more than makes up for the less realistic finish of this online kitchen planner.

IKEA 3D Kitchen Planner

Cost: free

One of the best free kitchen design planners out there (especially if you’re looking to buy your new kitchen from them) is the IKEA 3D Kitchen Planner. Easy to use, the layout of this kitchen design software doesn’t require the user to have any architectural expertise. You can simply input the measurements for your floor plan and the program will get started with building the best kitchen layout for the space which you can then edit as needed.

Foyr Neo 

Cost: 14 day free trial, then paid

Foyr Neo is a cloud-based and highly feature-rich interior design software. It has a variety of tools dedicated to different interior designing processes like mood boarding, building floor plans, selecting and organizing design elements and visualizing the final output in 3D.

The efficiency and effectiveness with which Foyr Neo’s various tools perform complex tasks like rendering designs and creating 3D walkthroughs will enable you to direct all your attention to the client-facing aspects of your business, thereby helping you delight existing clients and acquire new ones. In a nutshell, you can focus on growing your business with Foyr Neo helping you manage your administrative, day-to-day operations.

RoomToDo

Cost: free

Fantastic for interior design in general, Roomtodo software is simple but powerful. Letting you create walls with ease and even draw over existing floor plans, this software will help you with your kitchen planning with both 2D and 3D rendering and you can also go on a walkthrough view when you’re done. Whilst not a realistic as some of the more professional software options out there, it’s an excellent free program that caters to individuals looking to take charge of their own kitchen design and smaller businesses too.

SketchUp

Cost: basic version for free, paid pro version

A powerhouse of a kitchen design tool, SketchUp helps you to create your dream kitchen from the floor plan up. With a library of designs from fellow users to look through, you can adjust and customise the existing designs to suit your own space. It does have a bit of a learning curve which is often the standard with these more in-depth programs but peer support is on hand to help with any teething issues. They do have a basic free version, but the magic is of course in the pro software.

PlanningWiz

Cost: basic version for free, paid personalised version on consultation

A great start for interior design businesses, this program lets you share designs and ideas with customers through its cloud-based interface and you can even add your logo and other touches thanks to the personalised branding options available. Allowing you to create detailed designs from scratch, you can plan, visualise and configure rooms throughout the home, not just the kitchen design and the shopping cart integration will lead you seamlessly into the building stage.

Virtual Architect Kitchen & Baths 11

Cost: paid

One of the leading kitchen design programs, Virtual Architects is one of the most popular for a reason. With options to upload photos of your existing kitchen design or create a whole new space, it has a clever drag and drop function and a large library full of cabinets, lighting, appliances, and more to fill your remodel with. Add in the quick 3D rendering and panoramic walkthrough function which can be downloaded and shared with iOS and Android devices. it’s a very handy tool to have in your interior design arsenal.

Click here for further reading on the best home design software.

Interior design is the art and science of enhancing the interior of a building to achieve a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing environment for the people using the space. An interior designer is someone who plans, researches, coordinates, and manages such enhancement projects. 

Interior design is more than just about taste and appearances. Safety is taken into account when designing the interiors of a place. That is why most interior designers study for four years at a university to acquire a degree. There are also different areas of specialisation in interior design like engineering, architecture, health care, etc. The same skill set needed to design a house for seniors is not the same used for designing an engineers’ office. To design a house for seniors one needs to take into account their mobility, sight, and height. For example, walk-in showers for old people should be different from young people.

Interior Designers Around the World

In the United States of America, the salary of an interior designer is based on the City they live in, the company they work with, their area of expertise and also their years of experience. For instance, an interior designer who works in New York may make an annual salary of about 54000 USD to 78000 USD. This implies that the person makes an average of 65000 USD annually while the same interior designer now with the same skill set will make an average of 55000 USD living in Georgia. The same goes for all the other cities. Each has their average salary based on the cost of living in that particular city. Factoring in all of this, interior designers living in the United States of America make an average of 55000 USD annually and a monthly salary of about 4500 USD.

Moving on to the United Kingdom however, interior designers make different money. In London, an interior designer makes an average of 37990 GBP, in Manchester, they make an average of 31462 GBP, and in Leeds, an interior designer makes about 28161 GBP.

And Interior Designers living in the South West will have an annual salary of 38518 GBP. Someone living in London will probably make about 10000 GBP more than someone living in Leeds. The United Kingdom has an annual salary average of 35000 GBP for interior designers.

In Saudi Arabia on the other hand, while interior designers may be paid based on city, expertise, and experience, most of their salary gap comes from gender bias. They pay female interior designers drastically lower than they pay their male interior designers. Taking this in mind, the monthly range is from 7000 SAR to 23000 SAR. This means they have an average of about 15000 SAR.

In Australia, interior designers working there make about 41000 AUD to 99000 AUD per year. Since 2018, the pay rate for interior designers in Australia has taken a turn for the better and is still climbing.

In China, an Interior Designer makes about an average of 28300 CNY monthly. Taking in the city, the area of expertise and experience, Interior Design pays from 15000 CNY to 43000 CNY. This means they have an annual salary of 339600 CNY.

In South Africa, an Interior Designer makes about an average of 32300 ZAR monthly. Taking in the city, the area of expertise and experience, Interior Design pays from 16800 ZAR to 49500 ZAR. This means they have an annual salary of 387600 ZAR.

In Egypt, an Interior Designer makes about an average of 9550 EGP monthly. Taking in the city, the area of expertise and experience, Interior Design pays from 4750 EGP to 15500 EGP. This means they have an annual salary of 114600 EGP

A person working as an Interior Designer in Italy typically earns around 3730 EUR per month. Salaries range from 1830 EUR (lowest) to 5810 EUR (highest) 

A person working as an Interior Designer in the Philippines typically earns around 48000 PHP per month. Salaries range from 22100 PHP (lowest) to 76300 PHP (highest). There are, however, few people that earn slightly above the highest mark. 

A person working as an Interior Designer in Brazil typically earns around 10400 BRL per month. Salaries range from 5390 BRL (lowest) to 15900 BRL (highest). 

An Interior Designer living and working in Poland typically earns around 17000 PLN per month. Salaries range from 8490 PLN (lowest) to 26300 PLN (highest). Earning below 17000 is living below the cut. 

An Interior Designer who works in Ireland receives a salary of about 150000 EUR per year. Their annual pay ranges from 70400 EUR to 237000 EUR. If you make below 150000 EUR then you are living below average. 

A person working as an Interior Designer in Dubai typically earns around 15600 AED per month. Salaries range from 7340 AED (lowest) to 24700 AED (highest). Earning below 15000 AED is living below average and there is room for improvement.

In India, the Average Interior Designer Salary is 303938 INR annually.

Comparing Countries

As shown in the stats above, there is a sharp contrast in salaries from developed countries and developing countries. In Nigeria for instance, a well experienced Interior Designer will make less than 700 USD monthly while an interior design intern in the US will make 3000 USD monthly in Georgia. The cost of living in Lagos, on the other hand, is much lower than the cost of living in Georgia. So countries also play a big role in interior design salaries. When it comes to all developed countries, their salary range is much closer together.

So world wide, there are countries that Interior Designers make as low as 200 USD and there are countries where interior designers make as much as 8000 USD per month. If you live in Europe, North America, Asia or Great Britain, pursuing a career in the interior designer will be a great move financially especially if it’s something you have passion for.