I had to share this with you. I came across an app for the iPad that enables homeowners to make their own DIY floor plans!
You may know that I am partial to AutoCAD. Partially, because that is what I was trained on and it is what I have been using in the Interior Design field since starting Interior Design. I use it, because it allows Architects, Engineers, Contractors and I to have a visual conversation and work on the same drawing. This is a great benefit when doing a major renovation. We can all make changes quickly and easily.
But, AutoCAD is a very expensive program with a steep learning curve. So, it’s not geared to someone outside the building and design field. I was surprised how easy and intuitive it was to change room sizes and furniture sizes. This app is a great program for anyone wanting to try a different furniture arrangement without manually moving your furniture!
Now this is not a program you would build off of, but it is something, that you can use to reflect your room dimensions and create a furniture plan. You’ll never guess who it is affiliated with…Ballard Designs!
To see how well this program worked, I decided to try it on my living room and dining room. I have struggled with this room since moving in. We basically have a circulation path going through the living room coming from the dining room, in front of the sliding glass door traveling down toward the lower left portion of the drawing below . My goal with this space is to accentuate the view and not block any windows.
I had a double challenge, because the beehive fireplace is curved, so I couldn’t place my TV over it AND there was one wall (yes, just one) where the TV would work.
With those limitations in mind, I began entering my room, by adjusting my room size and entering the doors and windows. The program was really easy to use and I loved all of the furniture options.
This was our existing furniture layout. In the upper left, we have the fireplace. There is a large window to the right of the fireplace and an eight foot sliding glass to to the right of this window. There is an opening on the wall where the china hutch is. This opening is where the homework station and the door to the laundry room is. I didn’t show you in this plan, but the kitchen and entry is located just beneath where the dining room and living room are and it is one big great room, with a column shown above near the corner of the sofa. While the furniture was all centered, it felt very unbalanced with all of the furniture towards one side of the room.
All along I have had a few arrangements in mind. The one above was one that accentuated the fireplace and took the emphasis off of the TV, while still allowing for easy viewing. After making a couple of different plans, I ended up actually rearranging. So far everyone has been happy.
I was really impressed with intuitiveness of this app. Overall, I would highly recommend giving this program a try if you are looking for something to use for a furniture floor plan on your idevice. It makes for an easy way to try different furniture arrangements…perfect for someone who wants to try do a little DIY floor plan!
What do you think, is this app something that would help you? I would love to hear your experiences if you give it a try! You can find it in the app store with a search of “room planner”. It comes up under “Ballard Room Planner”.